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Prejudice against Okinawans from mainland folks

I even heard it when I went to Okinawa, that it was still kind of there. There’s still this…just difference because you’re from Okinawa or… There’s a lot of stereotypes too that Okinawan folks are…they don’t come on time, always come later. That’s a funny one. Or that they’re kind of like just running on their own time and a little bit more chill and relaxed. Like island folks, small island folks. One thing that did stick out was in Peru, a lot of immigrants from Japan in general, and so some people would hide the fact that they’re Okinawan to try to marry someone or to try to fit in with this…Japan mainland folks. And I thought that was so funny, one thing that I remember was, even folks with the last name Kanashiro or Arakaki – which are very Okinawan – would try to be like “no, no, no I’m mainland,” “I’m a mainland person.” So that’s one thing that my parents did share with me. It’s like trying to deny that as much as possible.


identity Okinawans Peru prejudices stereotypes

Date: August 30, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Sharon Yamato

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

Interviewee Bio

Grew up in Gardena, California. Her parents moved to the United States from Lima, Peru where they grew up in the Japanese and Okinawan Peruvian community. Because of this diverse background, she was exposed to a mixing of different cultural traditions. She is involved with the Okinawa Association of America and has visited Okinawa and Peru.

She received her teaching credentials but with an opportunity at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI), she turned to non-profit work and is a volunteer at GVJCI and the Okinawa Association of America. (August 2018)

PJ Hirabayashi
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PJ Hirabayashi

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Ann K. Nakamura
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Ann K. Nakamura

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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki
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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki

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PJ Hirabayashi
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PJ Hirabayashi

Diverse membership in San Jose Taiko

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki
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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki

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(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.

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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki
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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki

Wife's family in Japan

(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.

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Yukio Takeshita
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Yukio Takeshita

Lack of notion of citizenship in Japan

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Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

Lack of language skills

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

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Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

Preserving traditional Japanese culture

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

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Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

Having patience in Japan, being both

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Byron Glaser
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Byron Glaser

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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama
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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama

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Wally Kaname Yonamine
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Wally Kaname Yonamine

His parents' experience with Japanese resistance toward intermarriage with Okinawans

(b.1925) Nisei of Okinawan descent. Had a 38-year career in Japan as a baseball player, coach, scout, and manager.

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Wally Kaname Yonamine
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Wally Kaname Yonamine

Working in cane fields as teenager, and how it helped in his athletic training (Japanese)

(b.1925) Nisei of Okinawan descent. Had a 38-year career in Japan as a baseball player, coach, scout, and manager.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Roy H. Matsumoto

Nickname

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