Interviews
On his songfilm Omoiyari
Omoiyari means empathy. It’s kind of like acting on empathy. It’s in between consideration, sympathy, empathy, it’s like…people use it for guests. You think about your guest and what they would like. And you prepare for them, and that’s one use of omoiyari.
It follows me in my understanding about myself – my own identity and then also kind of question what it is to be an American citizen – what it means, what rights I have, what this country has done to the world, and how we can improve it and how we can improve equality.
I guess backtracking to why I’m making this film, after the election a lot of my fans were just really distraught, I could really tell. It was really bugging them. And I understand that and I think a lot of people look to my music to be kind of euphoric and to help them get through things so I think for me to do this is something that is important for…I do this for my listeners, to kind of help them cope or just to have a better understanding.
Date: August 21, 2018
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Sharon Yamato
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Growing up Japanese in Hawaii
(b. 1952) Former banking executive, born in Hawaii
Parents identification as Peruvian Okinawan
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Okinawan cultural appreciation
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Prejudice against Okinawans from mainland folks
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
American values she aligns with
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Working together in Okinawa using three languages
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Expressing herself through poetry
(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist
Being Confused about Racial Identity in Postwar United States
(b. 1932) Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress
His views on nuclear weapons
(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor
About Escobar (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Nisei Japanese Argentinian, currently residing in Japan
Her definition of Nikkei
(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States
Understanding anti black racism in high school
(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney
Impact of Coming Out on Her Family
(b. 1957) Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii.
Discover Nikkei Updates
We’re making a brand video and we want you to be in it. Click to learn how to submit!
Follow us @discovernikkei for new site content, program announcements, and more!