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Attitudes toward Hikiagesha

1954 when we applied for US citizenship, that we found out – we found out that we qualified for immigration or permanent residency here, in the United States, so our parents wished to come here. At that time, the returnees were not welcome, and there were a lot of negative attitude toward the returnees. They call it “hikiagesha,” and parents had a good life, and that was the first time that they were able to make decisions on their own, without older brother or head of the family to tell them what to do.


immigration Philippines United States

Date: July 12, 2017

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mitsue Watanabe, Yoko Nishimura, Leighton Okada

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura was born in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines on March 25, 1938 as the first daughter of Katsujiro and Ura “Mie” Ashizawa. She was 7 years old in 1945 when her family had to leave the Philippines after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Her family lived in Shizuoka for the next 10 years. ​Later the family received r​​esidency status in the United States ​and arrived in Los Angeles ​in March 1956. Sawako went to Alhambra High School and later studied at Pasadena City College. She eventually found a generous mentor who helped support her through her education at San Jose State University and became a​​n occupational therapist. Currently she is volunteering at the Sakura Garden (Formerly Keiro Retirement Home). (March 2018)

Bill Hashizume
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Bill Hashizume

Reason to come back to Canada in 1954

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

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Masako Iino
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Masako Iino

Impressions from interviews with Issei women (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

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Masako Iino
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Masako Iino

The differences between Japanese women who emigrated from Japan and those who did not (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

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Masako Iino
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Masako Iino

Interest in Japanese migration studies (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

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Mónica Kogiso
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Mónica Kogiso

History of her family's immigration (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

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Vince Ota
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Vince Ota

Moving to and living in Japan

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

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Vince Ota
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Vince Ota

The reason to stay in Japan after his third year

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

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Roberto Hirose
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Roberto Hirose

From the "middle" Nikkei (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

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Roberto Hirose
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Roberto Hirose

The various realities of Nikkei in Latin America (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

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Michie Akama
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Michie Akama

Reasons for immigrating to Brazil (Japanese)

Issei, Pioneer of women's education in Brazil

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Paula Hoyos Hattori
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Paula Hoyos Hattori

The arrival of her grandpa (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

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Ryoko Hokama
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Ryoko Hokama

Initial struggles with the language barrier (Japanese)

(b. 1917) Okinawan, Issei Argentinean

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Kazuomi Takagi
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Kazuomi Takagi

Decided to leave Japan to Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

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Kazuomi Takagi
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Kazuomi Takagi

Tango makes him to stay in Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

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Kazuomi Takagi
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Kazuomi Takagi

Leaving to Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

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