Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/596/

Easier to be a foreigner in Japan (Spanish)

(Spanish) In my case, when I was younger, I felt like…I felt…in Japan I felt very much a foreigner. Or I tried to feel very much a foreigner so that Japanese people wouldn’t…if Japanese people…let’s see, how can I explain this…if Japanese people see me as Japanese, in a way it’s like they treat me badly because I don’t…there are certain things that I don’t understand, which they feel I ought to understand. So then it’s much easier for me to try and be foreign than Japanese. But in the long run, over time, it’s like I’ve learned to understand them too and by understanding them I think it’s much easier, and now in Japan sometimes I don’t feel like a foreigner, though nor do I feel…you know, maybe I don’t feel that discrimination.


culture Japan

Date: October 7, 2005

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Ann Kaneko

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

Interviewee Bio

Monica Kogiso is a Nikkei Nisei Argentinian, born in Buenos Aires in the city of Escobar where the Japanese community thrives on floristry. She is licensed in tourism, currently working as a resource, tourism and event coordinator for Japan, serving as bridge between both Argentina and Japan. She is the former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino, a Nikkei organization located in Buenos Aires and is a representative for the Panamerican Nikkei Association. (January 23, 2007)

Enson Inoue
en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue

The reason for coming to Japan

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino
en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino

Interest in Japanese migration studies (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino
en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino

The Japanese society reacts to Nikkei living in Japan (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino
en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino

Learning from Nikkei (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

en
ja
es
pt
Mike Shinoda
en
ja
es
pt
Mike Shinoda

Connecting to Japan

(b. 1977) Musician, Producer, Artist

en
ja
es
pt
Mas Kodani
en
ja
es
pt
Mas Kodani

The performing arts not for Nisei

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

en
ja
es
pt
PJ Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
PJ Hirabayashi

Feeling empowered by taiko

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

en
ja
es
pt
Byron Glaser
en
ja
es
pt
Byron Glaser

Supporting art because it's essential

Illustrator and designer

en
ja
es
pt
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
en
ja
es
pt
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Her father as a typical Issei

(b. 1934) Writer

en
ja
es
pt
Roy Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
Roy Hirabayashi

Celebrating traditional Japanese New Years with family

(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.

en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota
en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota

Moving to and living in Japan

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota
en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota

The reason to stay in Japan after his third year

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota
en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota

Never being Japanese

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota
en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota

Japan as my home

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Francis Y. Sogi
en
ja
es
pt
Francis Y. Sogi

Visiting family in Japan

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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
4 p.m. PST | 7 p.m. 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!