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)

Paula Hoyos Hattori
en
ja
es
pt
Paula Hoyos Hattori

The importance of learning cultural diversity (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Akira Watanabe
en
ja
es
pt
Akira Watanabe

Origins of the Matsuri Daiko Group in Peru (Spanish)

(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru

en
ja
es
pt
Akira Watanabe
en
ja
es
pt
Akira Watanabe

Yes, Nikkei culture exists (Spanish)

(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru

en
ja
es
pt
George Yoshida
en
ja
es
pt
George Yoshida

Ways of Fitting In

(b. 1922) Musician

en
ja
es
pt
Jero (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
Jero (Jerome Charles White Jr.)

Hopes everyone pursues their dreams regardless of race or heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Terry Janzen
en
ja
es
pt
Terry Janzen

Growing Up in Japan

(b. 1930) Half Japanese and grew up in both Japan and the United States.

en
ja
es
pt
Tamio Wakayama
en
ja
es
pt
Tamio Wakayama

Re-examining Identity

(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist

en
ja
es
pt
Francesca Yukari Biller
en
ja
es
pt
Francesca Yukari Biller

Culture is an important part of one's identity

Jewish Japanese American journalist

en
ja
es
pt
Harunori Oda
en
ja
es
pt
Harunori Oda

Deciding to come to America

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

en
ja
es
pt
Toshiaki Toyoshima
en
ja
es
pt
Toshiaki Toyoshima

Difficulty of spreading authentic sushi (Japanese)

(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

en
ja
es
pt
Toshiaki Toyoshima
en
ja
es
pt
Toshiaki Toyoshima

Teaching how to eat sushi (Japanese)

(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro
en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro

Parents identification as Peruvian Okinawan

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro
en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro

Okinawan cultural appreciation

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro
en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro

Working together in Okinawa using three languages

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

en
ja
es
pt
Howard Kakita
en
ja
es
pt
Howard Kakita

Reuniting with parents in America

(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

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.
PROJECT UPDATES
New Site Design
See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon!
NEW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT
We’re on Instagram!
Follow us @discovernikkei for new site content, program announcements, and more!