Heriete Setsuko Shimabukuro Takeda

Heriete Setsuko Shimabukuro Takeda, 61, a descendant of Okinawans, was born and lives in the city of São Paulo. She is married and is the mother of two children. Now retired, she uses her writing to rescue memories and reach horizons.

Updated October 2018

Stories from This Author

Nikkei Chronicles #7—Nikkei Roots: Digging into Our Cultural Heritage

Crossing the World

Oct. 18, 2018 • Heriete Setsuko Shimabukuro Takeda

“Origami is a means of communication and expression; it's a universal language that brings together different generations and peoples around the same activity.” —Mari Kanegae Toshi came to Brazil on a paper bird. When her granddaughter, born in the oh-so-far-off city of Londrina [the second largest city in the Brazilian state of Paraná], went to Japan to meet her, she realized that she would have to renounce words to communicate with the little girl. She folded a tsuru. She most …

Brazil Japan origami

Nikkei Chronicles #6—Itadakimasu 2! Another Taste of Nikkei Culture

Cabbage soup

Oct. 9, 2017 • Heriete Setsuko Shimabukuro Takeda

When Geró was hired to cook for my family, I had no idea of the revolution it would cause in our lives. A native of Minas Gerais, a “hands-on” cook (as she introduced herself), she arrived with plans to please everyone with her wonderful recipes. He came across my mother, who was almost shameless when it came to determining menus. The situation deserves a brief history. There were nine of us then. Father, mother, six daughters and a very strong …

Brazil cabbage soup Discover Nikkei food Itadakimasu 2 (series) Nikkei Chronicles (series) soups

Nikkei Chronicles #5—Nikkei-go: The Language of Family, Community, and Culture

Gaijin

Oct. 6, 2016 • Heriete Setsuko Shimabukuro Takeda

I couldn’t understand my friend Emília. I brought her along to spend the holidays at my grandmother's house in Santos, hoping she would put to use her knowledge of the Japanese language, since I had almost none. Or rather, none at all. But after a few minutes of conversation, she calls me aside and confesses: I can’t understand what your grandmother says! - What do you mean? You told me you could speak Japanese! - I know, but I can’t …