Why I became an American citizen (Japanese)

Going to America after completing a three-year contract twice (Japanese) Opening of Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo (Japanese) Wanting to serve authentic nigiri sushi in America (Japanese) Difficulty of spreading authentic sushi (Japanese) Teaching how to eat sushi (Japanese) Presenting nebuta from hometown Aomori at Nisei Week (Japanese) Becoming a member of nikkei community (Japanese) Why I became an American citizen (Japanese) I’m worried about the future of sushi in America (Japanese) Unforgettable words of my mother (Japanese)

Transcripts available in the following languages:

(Japanese) I got permanent residency and I wasn’t thinking about getting citizenship, but I got citizenship in 2000. I’m grateful because I was probably the first American citizen who didn’t understand English, but they still allowed me to be one.

Since I had my own family, while I still have my hometown in Japan, I feel that I have my second home here and for my children, too, who were born here as American citizens. I felt the need to become one myself to live with them as citizens – that’s how I became one. I’m truly thankful.

Date: April 16, 2016
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Mistue Watanabe
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Citizenship Shin-issei