Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/767/

Learning Spanish (Spanish)

(Spanish) I was learning Spanish, more or less, but that was not enough because I learned only about the job. I had to learn the grammar and vocabulary, but I didn’t have money to go to school, or for a tutor. And an Argentine told me that I should go to night school, that it was free. [The night class] is not for foreigners [who want to learn the language] since every class was taught in Spanish and the official language was Spanish. Nearby was a school, and I went to take a class. I studied mathematics for six weeks. I received my diploma from an Argentine primary school, and afterward I enrolled in high school in the evening, which was difficult for me. But at least I persevered until I finished Argentine high school…and there I was able to learn many things. Afterward they suggested that I attend the university…I said no. I did not come to Argentina to study and that is not to earn a degree but to learn Spanish. Now I have to enjoy myself.


Argentina education languages Spaniards

Date: February 23, 2007

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama

Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino

Interviewee Bio

Takagi Kazuomi was born in Japan on March 27, 1925, in the Mie province. He arrived in Argentina as a tourist and never returned to Japan. By chance he started out in journalism, a profession that provided employment for more than fifty years on radio and in the graphic arts. Today, at eighty-one years old, he continues to fervently work as a journalist for the newspaper of the Japanese collectivity, La Plata Hochi (Japanese Section), including acting stints in various forms of publicity. He passed away on November 10, 2014 at age 89. (January 2021)

Kosaki,Richard

Lesson learned from community college faculty

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

Kosaki,Richard

Rewards of teaching

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

Shibayama,Art

Learning English upon discovering that family could not return to Peru

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

Shibayama,Art

Playing baseball along with American Nisei and Kibei

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

Wakabayashi,Kimi

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Ito,Mitsuo

Japanese school

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Kadoguchi,Shizuko

Strict school policy of separating boys and girls in Japan

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

Naito,Sam

Growing up outside of Portland’s Japanese community

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Tanaka,Seiichi

Japanese musical education

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Sumida,Alice

Education in a Buddhist temple and a country school

(1914-2018) Founder of the largest gladiolus bulb farm in the United States.

Kato,Alfredo

Post-war experiences in Lima (Spanish)

(b. 1937) Professional journalist

Hashizume,Bill

Father’s will to have Japanese education

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

Glaser,Byron

Supporting art because it's essential

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Hirabayashi,Roy

Learning Japanese at school and at home with family

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Kogiso,Mónica

Nikkei means fusion (Spanish)

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