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Japanese Language School

I remember very well, there was one Nisei in our class who lived way out in the suburbs in Tacoma. So, therefore, he went directly home after school. And I remember, this was in the sixth grade, Miss Peterson, who was teaching geography at the time, she really blasted him for not going to Japanese language school. This was very common. It was the American school that told us to go to Japanese language school, not the Japanese teachers. They really didn’t care, but at least the Caucasian community really told us to go to Japanese language school. This is a rather strange thing.


communities education identity languages

Date: July 1-2, 1998

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mitchell Maki, Darcie Iki

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Clifford Uyeda was born on January 14, 1917, into a family of oyster farmers in Olympia, Washington. Uyeda studied at the University of Wisconsin and from 1941 to 1945 attended Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans, LA. Uyeda went on to become a medical doctor in San Francisco, CA.

Uyeda became involved in the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) in 1960 when he served as San Francisco Chapter chair of the Issei Oral History Project. He helped in establishing the School of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University and played an important role in restoring the U.S. citizenship and presidential pardon of Iva Toguri, also known as “Tokyo Rose.”

After retiring from medicine in 1975, Uyeda became a full-time activist. In 1977, Uyeda served as National JACL chair of the Japanese American Incarceration for Redress committee. He was elected to serve as president of National JACL from 1978 to 1980. Uyeda continued to serve the community in various roles until his death from cancer in 2004 at the age of 87. (April 11, 2008)

Michelle Yamashiro
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Michelle Yamashiro

American values she aligns with

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Michelle Yamashiro
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Michelle Yamashiro

Working together in Okinawa using three languages

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman
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Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman

Mother founded Japanese language school in neighbors’ backyard

Sansei judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California

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Mitsuye Yamada
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Mitsuye Yamada

Expressing herself through poetry

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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Mitsuye Yamada
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Mitsuye Yamada

Her brother’s reasons as a No-No Boy

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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Holly J. Fujie
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Holly J. Fujie

Her grandfather was pressured to teach Japanese

Sansei judge on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California

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Juan Alberto Matsumoto
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Juan Alberto Matsumoto

Changes in the Nikkei Community in Japan (Japanese)

(b. 1962) Nisei Japanese Argentinian, currently residing in Japan

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Juan Alberto Matsumoto
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Juan Alberto Matsumoto

About Escobar (Spanish)

(b. 1962) Nisei Japanese Argentinian, currently residing in Japan

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Monica Teisher
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Monica Teisher

Keirokai, the biggest celebration in the Cali Nikkei community

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

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Monica Teisher
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Monica Teisher

Her definition of Nikkei

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

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Mia Yamamoto
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Mia Yamamoto

Cofounding the Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

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Mia Yamamoto
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Mia Yamamoto

Understanding anti black racism in high school

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

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Mia Yamamoto
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Mia Yamamoto

Standing up for social justice

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

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Sabrina Shizue McKenna
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Sabrina Shizue McKenna

Impact of Coming Out on Her Family

(b. 1957) Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii.

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