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https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1646/

On Nikkei identity

I’ve been working on identifying myself as Nikkei, just to make it more part of my…the language that I use. But I end up saying…having to explain what Nikkei is and then I end up having to explain that I’m Japanese Peruvian American and Okinawan – or Okinawan I guess.

I consider myself Nikkei because I am of Japanese Okinawan decent outside of Japan. So that’s sort of how I define it for myself.


identity Japanese Peruvians Nikkei Okinawans United States

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)

Francesca Yukari Biller
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Francesca Yukari Biller

Fitting in to both sides of her family

Jewish Japanese American journalist

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Francesca Yukari Biller
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Francesca Yukari Biller

Hapa Haole

Jewish Japanese American journalist

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Tamio Wakayama
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Tamio Wakayama

Re-examining Identity

(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist

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Jean Hamako Schneider
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Jean Hamako Schneider

On international marriages (Japanese)

(1925-2024) War bride

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Jean Hamako Schneider
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Jean Hamako Schneider

Masao-san (Japanese)

(1925-2024) War bride

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Jean Hamako Schneider
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Jean Hamako Schneider

Conflicted about immigrating to America (Japanese)

(1925-2024) War bride

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Tamio Wakayama
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Tamio Wakayama

Defining "Nikkei"

(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist

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Paulo Issamu Hirano
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Paulo Issamu Hirano

The term Nikkei (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

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Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura
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Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura

Unique Identity from Having Multiple Backgrounds

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

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Robert T. Fujioka
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Robert T. Fujioka

Growing up Japanese in Hawaii

(b. 1952) Former banking executive, born in Hawaii

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Kishi Bashi
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Kishi Bashi

On being Japanese and American

(b. 1975) Musician, composer, and songwriter

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Kishi Bashi
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Kishi Bashi

His Shin-Issei parents

(b. 1975) Musician, composer, and songwriter

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Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman
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Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman

Her motto came from her mother

Sansei judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California

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Mitsuye Yamada
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Mitsuye Yamada

Expressing herself through poetry

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Jimmy Naganuma

Forcibly deported to the U.S. from Peru

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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