Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1677/

Representing her Family and the Japanese American Community in Acting

I don’t know that I felt like everyone else. I felt like I was – I had to behave, I was setting an example – everything I did reflected not only on my mother and father or my sisters, but on all the Japanese-American community. So I had to behave and be good, because otherwise I would bring shame to the community. I felt like I was very much a part of that Issei/Nisei community right after the war. Maybe that was good for me, kept me out of trouble.


acting actors artists communities entertainers identity

Date: November 8, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: June Berk

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

Interviewee Bio

Takayo Fischer, born in November 1932, is a Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress. During World War II, as a young child, she and her family were forcibly evacuated from the West Coast and spent time in the Fresno Assembly Center before being relocated to Jerome and Rohwer concentration camps. Fischer later lived in Chicago, Illinois, where, as a young adult, she won the crown of “Miss Nisei Queen.” She has appeared in dozens of major Hollywood films, including Moneyball (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). She also appeared in the stage production of The World of Suzie Wong in New York in 1958 and many productions with East West Players in Los Angeles. (June 2018)

Inose,Yoshiko
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Inose,Yoshiko

The Secret to Youth (Japanese)

(b.1908) Daugther of the first publisher of the Rafu Shimpo

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Kuroiwa,Margaret
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Kuroiwa,Margaret

Beach & America

Daughter of an Issei doctor.

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Interest in Japan stemmed from his mother and grandmother’s stories

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Embraces his Japanese heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Dreamed of becoming an Enka singer

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

His clothes are part of his identity

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Hopes everyone pursues their dreams regardless of race or heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Considers Pittsburg his home, but always wanted to live in Japan

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Singing the way I sing (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

The first concert in the United States (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Todd,Kathryn Doi
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Todd,Kathryn Doi

On Justice Todd’s Involvement with the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center

(b. 1942) The first Asian American woman judge

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Nakamura,Robert A.
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Nakamura,Robert A.

Creating Culture

(b. 1936) Filmmaker

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Sakai,Stan
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Sakai,Stan

Cultural influences

(b. 1953) Cartoonist

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Nakamura,Robert A.
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Nakamura,Robert A.

Formula for Freedom

(b. 1936) Filmmaker

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Nakamura,Robert A.
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Nakamura,Robert A.

A Pleasant Past

(b. 1936) Filmmaker

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