Discover Nikkei

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Deciding to come to America

In Tokyo, a lot of American soldiers going around there then. And I look at them, "those guys beat us...those guys." Those kind of feeling I had. I never learned English, 'cause I had a lot of chance to learn going to school if those kind of thing opening up all over, so I have a chance to learn, but I had ..ah, I don't wanna do that.

Then never thinking in my mind to go to America. Wish more like... the other way around, I kind of hate America because they beat us, then, but as times go on, then I met Mitsui, we marriage, after the Mitsui kept saying how America is better life than Japan, see.

That same time, the Korean War almost ended. Then soon the Korean War situation comes, my printing business, all economy same way, slowed down. Even my printing business wasn't doing too good. So my income is more less now. So I kinda thinking making some...thinking mind, start to twisting my mind a little bit. Hey, may be not too bad. Michi says so, and she really wanna go back there, so. May be I better think of it. Then I start talking, thinking a lot of, I think quite a bit, you know -s hould we do or not. Then finally I find, "O.K. if I stay this way, I'm not doing too good, either." say so. Might as well, let's change the life to see how American life gonna be. If I'm not gonna make it, I can come back to Japan. So, let's go try.

That's why I decide to come up. Kind of gambling decision, you know, 'cause I don't have nothning...any particular idea what to do in America. It's just try to go see it. If it's gonna suit me, I'm gonna try. But if not, I'm gonna come back.



generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration postwar Shin-Issei United States war World War II

Date: February 2, 2012

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Chris Komai, John Esaki

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

Interviewee Bio

Harunori Oda was born and raised in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, but moved to the U.S. after meeting and marrying a Nisei woman who was visiting Japan in the post WWII period. Though he hated the U.S., his wife, Mitsy, convinced him that he would have greater opportunities for success in the U.S., so he decided to take the chance. Though his English skills were limited, he worked his way up through the nursery business—an enterprise he determined would offer the most opportunity for a person with his abilities. Eventually, he started his own nursery, expanded, and later achieved great success as a developer of real estate in Orange County. He passed away on December 14, 2016, at age 91. (December 2016)

Kogiso,Mónica

History of her family's immigration (Spanish)

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

Kogiso,Mónica

Easier to be a foreigner in Japan (Spanish)

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

Ota,Vince

Moving to and living in Japan

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Ota,Vince

The reason to stay in Japan after his third year

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Ota,Vince

Never being Japanese

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Ota,Vince

Japan as my home

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Sogi,Francis Y.

Visiting family in Japan

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Sogi,Francis Y.

Being stationed in Japan during the American occupation

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Sogi,Francis Y.

Rebuilding Japan

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Sogi,Francis Y.

Investigating labor movements in Japan

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Sogi,Francis Y.

Feeling closer to Japan as a Japanese American

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Hirose,Roberto

Growing up with some Japanese families (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

Naka,John

Avoiding the Japanese military

(1914-2004) Nisei Bonsai master in the United States

Hattori,Paula Hoyos

The arrival of her grandpa (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

Hokama,Ryoko

From Japan to Argentina (Japanese)

(b. 1917) Okinawan, Issei Argentinean