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How Yoshitaro Amano got to South America (Japanese)

(Japanese) Was it his dream? Walk around Yokohama even a little and you’ll see a bridge called the Bankoku Bashi (Bridge to the World). From there, you can see the Hikawa-Maru and other ships. Back then, it wasn’t airplanes but ships that people all over the world traveled on, you see. Ships traversed the globe and if you always saw them, you’d probably eventually want to work in a foreign country, too. Well, that’s fate for you, to sell all your worldly possessions, travel the world and find the best place. Amano ended up in South America, in Panama, no less—and he decided that that was the best place for him. If you’re in the business of moving commercial merchandise, Panama’s shipping volume is enormous. Compared to other places in South America, the volume of shipped goods is, of course, the highest there. So Amano set up a residence in Panama before the war, where business was very strong. When business was thriving right before the Second World War, he was working in the the biggest discount shop in Panama, or I should say, the biggest department store in Panama.


business economics management Panama prewar World War II Yoshitaro Amano

Date: May 7, 2007

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Born in 1948, originally from Tokyo. Graduated from Waseda University’s Department of Education. Years later, he moved to Lima, Peru. While learning Spanish, he helped the work of his grandfather, Yoshitaro Amano, who founded and operated Amano Museum. He later married a Nikkei Peruvian Nisei. Currently, as a Peruvian cultural researcher, pottery/textile collection expert, and executive director of the Amano Museum, he conducts excavation work and is responsible for the management of the museum. As a Peruvian citizen diplomat, he attends government officials, businessmen, handles media coverage and programming for television. He visits Japan several times a year, makes speeches and leads panel discussions throughout Japan, and remains active in various fields. (May 2007)

Oda,Harunori

Expanding business

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

Oda,Harunori

Life Philosophy

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

Schneider,Jean Hamako

Attending Kindergarten in Panama (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

Fukuhara,Jimmy Ko

Family nursery business

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

Fukuhara,Jimmy Ko

After being discharged and returning to the nursery business

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

Ohtomo,Hachiro

Business in Missouri (Japanese)

(b. 1936) Shin-issei welding business owner

Shikota,Antonio Shinkiti

Transition from a factory worker to starting his own business (Portuguese)

(b. 1962) Japanese Brazilian owner of a Brazilian products store in Japan.

Yuki,Tom

Father's business partner operated their farming business during WWII

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.