Interviews

1. Moving to Brazil wanting to see the world (Japanese)

2. In the boat on the way to Brazil (Japanese)

3. Experiences in the farmlands (Japanese)

4. The first Japanese driver in Brazil (Japanese)

5. Affect of the World War II (Japanese)

Kodama,Ryoichi

Kasato-maru immigrants

In the boat on the way to Brazil (Japanese)

(Japanese) So next, what's it called. I had some toys on the boat with me. I was playing with some toys I bought. There was nobody waiting in the room for me anyway-I didn't know anyone on the boat. Well, there was this one person from my town, so she was nice and looked after me. And the ship's crew-I got to know them well, made some friends, so I was the only one on the boat that got to eat some great food [with them]. Just like that (laughs). I came to Brazil like that, and I was very happy. Of course, when it came time to part with my parents, it was a little tough. But once I started walking on my way, I forgot all about it (laughs).

Date:

Location: Brazil

Contributed by: Caminho da memória - 遥かなるみちのり. São Paulo, Brazil: Comissão de Elaboração da História dos 80 Anos de Imigração Japonesa no Brasil, 1998. VHS.

Interviewee Bio

Ryoichi Kodama was born in Hiroshima in July of 1895. He immigrated to Brazil in 1908 aboard the Kasato-maru, which carried the very first group of Japanese immigrants to Brazil. Kodama, who was brought over to Brazil under a contract, worked on a farmland called Dumont, along the Mogiana railroads, for 4 years. Thereafter, he would become the first Japanese person to obtain a Brazilian driver’s license, and would make his living as a driver. He held a vast knowledge regarding the Kasato-maru immigration, and was known as the “Living Encyclopedia” in the city of Presidente Prudente. He was also an active member of the Hiroshima Kenjin-kai as well as the local cultural association. (1998)