Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1155/

Carrying on the Legacy in the Colony of Paraguay (Japanese)

(Japanese) In order to get through the tough times after World War II, many Japanese decided to leave for foreign countries. There is now a dilemma as to how to teach the children the Japanese spirit and the legacy their predecessors brought from Japan. Of course, the children born in the Japanese colony become citizens of Paraguay, but they are also allowed to keep their Japanese citizenship. Through this dual citizenship, these children should learn of Japanese culture through the Japanese language and keep hold of their valuable traditions. Within South America, Paraguay is probably the country that most values the Japanese language.

It rarely happens when I’m busy, but when I have some time on my hands, I find that I sometimes wish I could go back to Paraguay. 47 years of life in Paraguay, family, and 8 grandchildren call me back to Paraguay. I even have times when I wake up thinking it is all a dream. These feelings make me think that Paraguay is my second home and that my life is accustomed to life in Paraguay.


education identity migration Paraguay

Date: March 24, 2009

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Interviewer: Alberto Matsumoto

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

Interviewee Bio

Isao Taoka was born in 1943 in the Miyoshi District of Tokushima Prefecture. At the age of 14, he immigrated to the La Paz Colony in Paraguay. While engaging in agriculture, Mr. Taoka took on several community positions such as the chair of the Cooperativa La Paz Agrícola (Agriculture Union of La Paz), the chairman of the Central Cooperativa Nikkei del Paraguay (Central Nikkei Agriculture Union in Paraguay), and the supervisor as well as the director for the Federación de Cooperativa de Producción del Paraguay (Agriculture Union Federation of Paraguay). In 1987, he received the third class of the Paraguay Merit of Service Award. Between 1992 and 1996, and again from 2002 to 2003, Mr. Taoka served as the mayor of La Paz. In 2004, he became the first immigrant born in Japan to be inaugurated as an ambassador to Japan. Mr. Taoka served this position until October of 2009. (December 2009)

Takeo Uesugi
en
ja
es
pt
Uesugi,Takeo

Developing international programs

(1940-2016) Issei Landscape Architect

en
ja
es
pt
Peter Mizuki
en
ja
es
pt
Mizuki,Peter

Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner

Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Yamasaki
en
ja
es
pt
Yamasaki,Frank

Have compassion for all of humanity

(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.

en
ja
es
pt
Mónica Kogiso
en
ja
es
pt
Kogiso,Mónica

Identity crisis (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

en
ja
es
pt
Rose Kutsukake
en
ja
es
pt
Kutsukake,Rose

Why her parents came to Canada

(1918-2004) Interned in Slocan during World War II. Active member of the Japanese Canadian community.

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Never sang Enka outside the family

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Fujima Kansuma
en
ja
es
pt
Kansuma,Fujima

Both Japanese and American identities though Japanese dance

(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer

en
ja
es
pt
Takeo Uesugi
en
ja
es
pt
Uesugi,Takeo

Describing the meaning of "Nikkei"

(1940-2016) Issei Landscape Architect

en
ja
es
pt
Fred Sasaki
en
ja
es
pt
Sasaki,Fred

Family background of Fredrick Yoshihide Sasaki

(b. 1918) Issei businessman in Canada

en
ja
es
pt
Terumi Hisamatsu Calloway
en
ja
es
pt
Calloway,Terumi Hisamatsu

Four sisters had international marriages (Japanese)

(b. 1937) A war bride from Yokohama

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Coming to Japan

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota
en
ja
es
pt
Ota,Vince

The reason to stay in Japan after his third year

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig
en
ja
es
pt
Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga

Results of being more American than Japanese

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Trying to convey the meaning of the songs

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Shizuko Kadoguchi
en
ja
es
pt
Kadoguchi,Shizuko

Choice to move east or go to Japan

(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto

en
ja
es
pt