Laura Honda-Hasegawa
@laurahhBorn in São Paulo, Brazil in 1947. Worked in the field of education until 2009. Since then, she has dedicated herself exclusively to literature, writing essays, short stories and novels, all from a Nikkei point of view.
She grew up listening to Japanese children's stories told by her mother. As a teenager, she read the monthly issue of Shojo Kurabu, a youth magazine for girls imported from Japan. She watched almost all of Ozu's films, developing a great admiration for Japanese culture all her life.
Updated May 2023
Stories from This Author
Episode 24: The diary of a girl who wanted to be Japanese - Part 1
Jan. 28, 2015 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
January 26, 2009 Why? Why do you have to go back to Brazil? Hey, is it true? I asked Mommy, but she was busy cleaning up in the kitchen. Unusually, she didn't say, "Jessica, help out too." I really don't want to go back! Mommy told me, "You'll be a junior high school student next year, so you should study English more." Mommy taught English at the Brazilian school I went to. But she suddenly decided to go back to …
Episode 23 (Part 2) I wanted to say "You don't have to come"
Dec. 31, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
Hiroyuki steeled himself and told Sanae the truth. He told her that while he was a student in Brazil, he had a child and moved in with the child's mother, Maria do Rosario, and that two years later, he came to Japan alone to work. Sanae listened in silence. Hiroyuki was surprised that she didn't show any anger or upset. Then she took out a box from the dresser drawer and handed the photos inside to Hiroyuki. "He was an …
Episode 23 (Part 1) I wanted to say, "You don't have to come," but
Nov. 25, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
That day, when he hung up the phone, Hiroyuki was so surprised that he was stunned for a moment. "I'll come over there next time!" the words of his wife, whom he had left behind in Brazil, rang in his ears. At first he thought she was joking, but Maria do Rosario was serious. "I told you before! I'd follow you to Japan! The time has come." Hiroyuki was confused. Until now, his wife had only called for one reason. …
Episode 22 (Part 2) Where is Glausha Now?
Oct. 15, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
Part 1 >> Kazue had fallen in love with Jackson, who was 12 years younger than her, but she was finally unable to bear the domestic violence and was thinking of running away. The next morning, when Fasineira 1 arrived at the apartment, she found Kazue collapsed in the living room. Fasineira called an ambulance. Kazue was taken to the hospital with serious injuries to her face and arms, and was hospitalized. Jackson stole jewelry, a computer, and credit cards …
Episode 22 (Part 1) Where is Glausha Now?
Aug. 27, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
"I want to be a hairdresser," Kazue said, so she left the town where she was born and raised and went to São Paulo. She even took a year off from high school to live and train at her uncle's hair salon. After that, she got her hairdresser's license and started working at her uncle's salon full time. One day, at her uncle's suggestion, Kazue participated in a national beauty contest and won first place. This prompted her to set …
Episode 21: Micchan and "Japanese Grandma"
July 30, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
It was the day after the typhoon had passed. It was a hot and humid morning, and Mitchan was walking to school with her red backpack on and a water bottle in hand. "Which is hotter? Summer in Brazil or summer in Japan?" she asked, still not sure. Mitchan had been living in Brazil until six months ago, and on sunny days she preferred to read books on the veranda rather than playing outside with her friends. She also loved …
Episode 20: See you at the Soccer World Cup
June 18, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
When it was decided that the Copa do Mundo 1 would be held in Brazil, Kent jumped for joy. The soccer-loving boy would always forget to do his homework and kick the ball in a nearby field when he returned from school. His mother had no choice but to accept it. Kent's father was also a soccer fan, and at one point he wanted to become a professional. "I wish Papai II could come back from Japan so we could …
Episode 19 (Part 2) Nakajima is coming!
May 28, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
Part 1 >> Nakajima decided to go to Japan. Until two months ago, he was working as a pizza chef in the Italian quarter of São Paulo. His wife, Maria Cecilia, enjoyed lace knitting and gardening. The turning point in their lives came when Maria Cecilia first said the words, "I would like to go to Japan at least once." At that moment, Nakajima remembered that his mother and brother had been living in Japan for about two years. He …
Episode 19 (Part 1) Nakajima is coming!
April 30, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
Nakajima, a second-generation Japanese, didn't want to go to Japanese language school. But in Bastos, a town in Brazil with a large Japanese population, a Japanese atmosphere permeated the town wherever he went. Most of the shops, including greengrocers, bakeries, and barbershops, were run by Japanese people. The same was true for hotels. The Nakajima family owned a chicken farm, and Nakajima, the second son, helped out by selling eggs. He didn't like that either, because he didn't like being …
Episode 18 "I'm back!"
April 2, 2014 • Laura Honda-Hasegawa
When Vandell was eight years old, his mother remarried. Her husband was a Japanese who worked at the same bank. His life changed because of her remarriage. He transferred to a private school and was able to take judo and computer classes. His family grew and became more lively. His stepfather had a 15-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. After three years had passed, my father-in-law suddenly decided, without any hesitation, to go to Japan to work. The children were …
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