Nikkei Names: Writing Workshop in San Jose

Published: Nov. 5, 2014 Modified: April 11, 2025

Album

Workshop at Japanese American Museum of San Jose (Japanese American Museum in San Jose)

Susan Ito lead a Nikkei Names writing workshop in San Jose, CA on September 21, 2014. She co-edited the literary anthology A Ghost At Heart’s Edge: Stories & Poems of Adoption (North Atlantic Books).
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Japanese American Museum in San Jose

Japanese American Museum of San Jose
535 N 5th St,
San Jose, California, 95112

Susan Kiyo Ito

Susan Kiyo Ito is my second, adoptive name. My original birth name was Kobi Ikuta. When my parents named me, they wanted me to have a common American name. Susan was one of the most popular names of 1959 and throughout school, I was always on of many Susans. I was given the middle name Kiyo, for my father's sister Kiyo who had died as a college student before I was born. She went to college & died of kidney disease. My father's family did not have enough money to travel to bury her or have a funeral. So she is buried on rthe campus of Ohio Weslyan University. My brother in law recently found it and took a photo. Kyoko Ito it says. The aunt whose name I have but never knew.
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Photo taken and name story provided on September 21, 2014 at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose as a part of Discover Nikkei’s workshop warm-up excercise in conjunction with the Nikkei Names: Taro, John, Juan, João? stories project.

Toshiro (Toshiro Omoto)

The origin of my name mostly involves my paternal grandfather. Like many Japanese & Japanese Americans, I inherited my name. The first character (xxx) Toshi is one I have in common with him. I also have an aunto with that character, it spans 3 generations of my family. Will it see a fourth?
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Toshiro Omoto

Photo taken and name story provided on September 21, 2014 at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose as a part of Discover Nikkei’s workshop warm-up excercise in conjunction with the Nikkei Names: Taro, John, Juan, João? stories project.

Ben Yoneo Miyaji

After The Karate Kid movie came out, I was called Mr. Miyagi a lot. Even though Miyaji and Miyagi are spelled different and pronounced differently. But, I get Wax On - Wax Off even more. In my various capacities, I wear name tags and when people see my name, a few will bow and say Mr. Miyagi or saw Wax On - Wax Off. I do marriages fro the county of Santa Clara and the other day, one groom said, "I'm getting married by Wax On - Wax Off". I have adopted Wax On - Wax Off as my twitter handle.
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Photo taken and name story provided on September 21, 2014 at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose as a part of Discover Nikkei’s workshop warm-up excercise in conjunction with the Nikkei Names: Taro, John, Juan, João? stories project.

Agnes Chizuko Idemoto

Mom & Dad loved music and named me Agnes after their favorite Japanese singer. My middle name Chizuko was shortened during childhood by my grandmother as "Chichan", a term of endearment by family and close friends.

Since high school, Agnes became "Aggie" and stuck for life.
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Photo taken and name story provided on September 21, 2014 at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose as a part of Discover Nikkei’s workshop warm-up excercise in conjunction with the Nikkei Names: Taro, John, Juan, João? stories project.

Discover Nikkei presented a free writing workshop on September 21 at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose in conjunction with annual writing series called Nikkei Chronicles #3: Nikkei Names: Taro, John, Juan, João? to explore what your name says about you and the origins of Nikkei names.

Before the workshop, the instructor Susan Ito prepared a warm-up activity and asked participants "Tell us about your names." Check out their responses in this album.