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)

Hattori,Paula Hoyos

The arrival of her grandpa (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

Takagi,Kazuomi

Decided to leave Japan to Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Tango makes him to stay in Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Leaving to Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

His first jobs in Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Learning Spanish (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Conflicting relations between Argentina and Japan (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

To feel uncomfortable in Japan (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Argentina is my home (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Generational Gap (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Need generational change in Japanese community (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

No discrimination in Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Takagi,Kazuomi

Nikkei identity (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

Nishimura,Shunji

Going to Brazil to escape debt (Japanese)

(1911-2010) Founder of JACTO group

Nishimura,Shunji

Early life in Brazil (Japanese)

(1911-2010) Founder of JACTO group