Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/585/

Celebrating traditional Japanese New Years with family

I, naturally, because my parents were so much involved in the Japanese culture, because that’s their background, we really embraced the Japanese holidays and the celebrations. So for our family, New Year’s is a very important day with the celebration of the foods and everything and the family coming together. And even now for us, that’s the one day of the year where the entire family really tries to come back together to celebrate New Year’s. We all return home, and we get together for that. And so, those are kind of the things that, for us, have been really important.


culture families holidays New Year

Date: January 26, 2005

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim

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

Interviewee Bio

Roy Hirabayashi, managing director and co-founder of San Jose Taiko, was born in Berkeley, California in 1951 to kibei parents. The middle of five children, he was raised in Oakland, California. After graduating from high school in 1969, he attended San Jose State University where he received degrees in psychology and philosophy.

He has worked for the San Jose State University Asian American Studies Program, Japanese American Citizens League, the Pacific Asian Coalition, and the Buddhist Churches of America. It was through his work with the YBA (Young Buddhists of America) that he became involved with taiko. Reverend Hiroshi Abiko of San Jose Buddhist Church asked Dean Miyakusu and him to start something for the youth after being inspired by Kinnara Taiko. They started the group and it has since evolved into one of the most influential taiko groups in the Americas. (January 26, 2005)

Kazumu Naganuma
en
ja
es
pt
Kazumu Naganuma

His sister Kiyo was like a second mother to him

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

en
ja
es
pt
Masato Ninomiya
en
ja
es
pt
Masato Ninomiya

How he met his wife

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo, Lawyer, Translator (b. 1948)

en
ja
es
pt
Reiko T. Sakata
en
ja
es
pt
Reiko T. Sakata

Parent’s Marriage

(b. 1939) a businesswoman whose family volunterily moved to Salt Lake City in Utah during the war.

en
ja
es
pt

Discover Nikkei Updates

NIKKEI NAMES 2
Vote for Nima-kai Favorite!
Read the stories and give a star to the ones you like the most! Help select our Community Favorite.
NIMA VOICES
Episode 17
November 12
5pm PDT | 7pm PET
Featured Nima:
Graciela Nakachi
Guest Host:
Enrique Higa

Presented in Spanish
NEW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT
We’re on Instagram!
Follow us @discovernikkei for new site content, program announcements, and more!