José Watanabe
The late José Watanabe (1946-2007) is one of Peru’s most beloved contemporary poets. Along with his numerous articles, children’s books and screenplays, the author's publications feature seven original volumes of poetry. Watanabe is also a main contributor to La memoria del ojo: cien años de presencia japonesa en el Perú (Memory of the Eye: A Hundred Years of Japanese Presence in Peru, 1999), a riveting “photographic history” that narrates scenes of everyday life, loss, and northward “relocation” of approximately 1800 Japanese Peruvians to U.S. detention camps during World War II. The poem “Mama Turns 75” is excerpted from the maestro's third book of poems, Historia natural (Natural History, 1994).
Updated November 2018
Stories from This Author
Honoring
Nov. 15, 2018 • José Watanabe , Sesshu Foster , traci kato-kiriyama
This month, we are greatly honored to present a poem by renowned and beloved Peruvian poet, the late José Watanabe. In turn, his poetry here honors the 75th birthday of his mama and the indelible impact of mothers. The wonderful translation for the poem is provided by Michelle Har Kim. Joining Mr. Watanabe is a pair of poetic fragments from another the Los Angeles-based and another literary treasure, Sesshu Foster. To have two renowned Nikkei Latino writers published together in …
Glossary of Japanese words used in Peru
Feb. 16, 2010 • José Watanabe
This glossary 1 is compiled in four groups. The criteria for establishing this division is briefly explained at the beginning of each of them. It must be understood, however, that the separation is only referential. In everyday life, many words from one group can be heard in another. 2 FIRST GROUP These words of Japanese origin are widely used in the country. They can be found in newspapers and magazines, as well as in literature. To those that retain their …
Laredo: Where the Japanese were
Dec. 23, 2008 • José Watanabe
For years I have had a joke with some friends about my supposed unconditionalism towards everything Japanese. They pretend to hold me responsible for the failures of their Japanese-made devices and I pretend to take that responsibility. However, they also compensate me: I receive the most gratuitous congratulations for Kurosawa's films! But aside from this anecdote, there are those who assume that we Niseis actually live in a cultural duality. There is no doubt that our nationality has some peculiar …
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