Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/755/

Studying Japanese to understand her grandfather (Spanish)

(Spanish) In my case, because I study Japanese, for example, I believe that [I have tried to learn more about my grandfather] because, I don’t know, it combines many things from my life. I also study Letters and I believe…I am convinced that the language one grows up with, [that is] your first language shapes your way of thinking and of many things. I believe this. Therefore, my grandfather was Japanese, and to understand him exactly I have to learn to speak the language that he spoke; I ought to know his first tongue. This was the intent behind my learning the language.


education families languages

Date: July 12, 2006

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama

Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino

Interviewee Bio

Paula Hoyos Hattori is a sansei born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a student of letters and dance. Her father is a descendant of Argentine Indians, while her mother is a Nisei, a daughter of Japanese parents. Paula’s particular profile (half Argentine, half Japanese) provides a distinctive vision because of the fusion of these two cultures. (July 12, 2006)

Ariyoshi,George

Teacher who helped with lisp

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,George

Spending time with children

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,Jean Hayashi

Getting married

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,Jean Hayashi

Possibility of being adopted by aunt

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

Funai,Kazuo

First work in America (Japanese)

(1900-2005) Issei businessman

Hirabayashi,James

Little interaction with parents

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Hirabayashi,James

Politics in ethnic studies

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Hirabayashi,James

Center for Japanese American Studies in community

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Hirabayashi,James

Involvement with ethnic studies

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Hirabayashi,James

Gordon's parents' experience in prison

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Hirabayashi,James

Testing assumptions of Japanese scholars

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Kawakami,Barbara

Going back to Hawaii

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

Clothes of plantation workers

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

Surviving after father's death

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

Washing for Filipino bachelors

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.