Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/757/

From Japan to Argentina (Japanese)

(Japanese) My uncle was already living over here, in Rosario. All of my people from Hirara felt that [if we were to migrate] it would be Argentina, because my uncle had been successful over here. He became successful, came back home [to Okinawa], and bought four houses in Naha City—he bought four houses in the center of Naha, and lived quite a wealthy life. It was 1934—we left the port of Naha for Kobe, and I believe we stayed there for one night. We took the “Rio de Janeiro-maru” (name of the boat), and when it made a stop in Brazil, they loaded up a whole bunch of bananas. There were four… no, eleven people, including my aunt, who came on board from Santos. We all took the same boat from Santos, passed by Montevideo, and arrived in Buenos Aires. Everybody came like that. We got off in Argentina. Some who went before us got off in Brazil, and later moved over [to Argentina], too. It took 45 days. We all came, just like that.


Argentina migration

Date: November 28, 2006

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama

Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino

Interviewee Bio

Ryoko Hokama was born in November 30th, 1917 in Heira of Ōsato Village, Okinawa. He studied at the former Dai-Ichi (First) Junior High School. Ran a laundry service in Rosario City, Santa Fe, and a flower nursery in Moreno City of the Pacheco district in Buenos Aires. Currently he lives in Caseros with his son’s family, who owns a flower shop. (November 28, 2006)

Kadoguchi,Shizuko

Choice to move east or go to Japan

(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto

Tanaka,Seiichi

Coming to America

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Inoue,Enson

The reason for coming to Japan

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

Hashizume,Bill

Reason to come back to Canada in 1954

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

Iino,Masako

Interest in Japanese migration studies (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

Kogiso,Mónica

Nikkei means fusion (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

Kogiso,Mónica

History of her family's immigration (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

Kogiso,Mónica

Jobs for Japanese Argentines (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

Kogiso,Mónica

Nihongo gakko - Preserving Japanese culture (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

Kogiso,Mónica

Identity crisis (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

Ota,Vince

Moving to and living in Japan

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Ota,Vince

The reason to stay in Japan after his third year

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Hirose,Roberto

Growing up with some Japanese families (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

Naka,John

Avoiding the Japanese military

(1914-2004) Nisei Bonsai master in the United States