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)

Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura
en
ja
es
pt
Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

Life in Davao, Philippines

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

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

Gardening to nursery

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

en
ja
es
pt
Isao Taoka
en
ja
es
pt
Taoka,Isao

Carrying on the Legacy in the Colony of Paraguay (Japanese)

(b. 1943) Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan

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

Next phase

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

en
ja
es
pt
Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura
en
ja
es
pt
Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

First Impressions of the US

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

en
ja
es
pt
Robert T. Fujioka
en
ja
es
pt
Fujioka,Robert T.

Great grandfather working in Hawaii

(b. 1952) Former banking executive, born in Hawaii

en
ja
es
pt
Akira Takashio
en
ja
es
pt
Takashio,Akira

First impression of America (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

en
ja
es
pt
Akira Takashio
en
ja
es
pt
Takashio,Akira

Longing for a life abroad and getting a chef’s license (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

en
ja
es
pt
Akira Takashio
en
ja
es
pt
Takashio,Akira

Support from Nikkei (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

en
ja
es
pt
Akira Takashio
en
ja
es
pt
Takashio,Akira

Immigration ship Brazil-maru (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

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

Great grandfather Asato was a sumo wrestler

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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

Grandfather loved to tell her stories of her great-grandfather Arakaki

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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

Parents leaving Peru to move to California

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

en
ja
es
pt
Monica Teisher
en
ja
es
pt
Teisher,Monica

Grandfather migrating to Colombia

(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States

en
ja
es
pt
Masato Ninomiya
en
ja
es
pt
Ninomiya,Masato

What made your parents decide to move to Brazil?

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo, Lawyer, Translator (b. 1948)

en
ja
es
pt