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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)

Luis Yamada
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Luis Yamada

Decision to settle in Argentina after WWII (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

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Luis Yamada
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Luis Yamada

Returning Argentina after the war (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

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Luis Yamada
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Luis Yamada

A lucky man (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

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Shunji Nishimura
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Shunji Nishimura

Going to Brazil to escape debt (Japanese)

(1911-2010) Founder of JACTO group

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Emi Kasamatsu
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Emi Kasamatsu

Treatment of Japanese Paraguayans during World War II (Spanish)

Nisei Paraguayan, Researcher

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Emi Kasamatsu
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Emi Kasamatsu

Inclusiveness of the first Japanese colony in Paraguay (Spanish)

Nisei Paraguayan, Researcher

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Emi Kasamatsu
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Emi Kasamatsu

Nikkei contributions to Paraguayan agriculture (Spanish)

Nisei Paraguayan, Researcher

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Yumi Matsubara
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Yumi Matsubara

Leaving for the States without telling my parents (Japanese)

Shin-Issei from Gifu. Recently received U.S. citizenship

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Venancio Shinki
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Venancio Shinki

We go to America (Spanish)

(b. 1932-2016) Peruvian painter

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Ryoichi Kodama
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Ryoichi Kodama

Moving to Brazil wanting to see the world (Japanese)

Kasato-maru immigrants

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Ryoichi Kodama
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Ryoichi Kodama

In the boat on the way to Brazil (Japanese)

Kasato-maru immigrants

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Ryoichi Kodama
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Ryoichi Kodama

Experiences in the farmlands (Japanese)

Kasato-maru immigrants

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Hideto Futatsugui
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Hideto Futatsugui

Deciding to migrate to Brazil upon the influence of my Senpai (Japanese)

(b.1911) Issei educator 

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Hideto Futatsugui
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Hideto Futatsugui

Looking back on my 50 years in Brazil (Japanese)

(b.1911) Issei educator 

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Doris Moromisato
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Doris Moromisato

The Nikkei Integration into society (Spanish)

(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant

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