Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1427/

On international marriages (Japanese)

(Japanese) I used to work on the fifth floor of the broadcasting station, and his office was on the sixth. Even at that, we’d always arrange to meet somewhere else. We were barely able to meet, though—and only at places where nobody would see us. I didn’t want to be like everyone else. There were a lot of Japanese women walking together with foreigners at that time, hanging off their hands and whatnot. I’ve never done that. When we walked through the streets of Tokyo, we walked apart, so that others wouldn’t find us out.

I didn’t want people to think that I was with him because I wanted things. But apparently, when I was working at the broadcasting station, my co-workers had a vague sense that I was together with a foreigner. At that time, we only met a tiny little bit, but everyone asked me, “What do you think about international marriages?” So, I told them. I said, “Personally, I am completely against it.” “Oh, really?” they asked back. Then, I said, “International marriages are for the most part dangerous, and now isn’t the time for it. I’m personally completely against it.” That’s what I told them then. Marriage might have been on my mind more and more at the time, though… The one thing I didn’t say to my co-workers was this: “But my case is different.” I wanted to tell them that, but I didn’t.


identity postwar World War II

Date: January 26, 2012

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki, Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Jean Hamako Schneider (former name: Amano) was born in 1925 in Yokohama.  In 1933, she went with her father, who was to run a business in Latin America, to Panama where she stayed for two years.  Her father remained in Panama after her, but came back to Japan in 1942 on a prisoner of war exchange ship.  While working at a radio station after the war, Hamako met Harry Schneider, who was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service (MIS).  In 1948, the two married in Japan, and, in 1950, Hamako left for America as a war bride.  After that, she gave birth to a daughter and quickly acquired American citizenship.  Currently, she lives in Encinitas, California.  (September 2014)

Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Imposing identity upon others

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

The right to say who you are

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Alfredo Kato
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Kato,Alfredo

What does Nikkei mean to you? (Spanish)

(b. 1937) Professional journalist

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Kristi Yamaguchi
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Yamaguchi,Kristi

Support from the Japanese American community

(b.1971) Professional figure skater and Olympic gold medalist.

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Lorraine Bannai
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Bannai,Lorraine

Heightened awareness of identity as a Japanese American

(b. 1955) Lawyer

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Dale Minami
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Minami,Dale

Reasons for conformity and competitiveness in Gardena, California

(b. 1946) Lawyer

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Dale Minami
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Minami,Dale

Reflections on the importance of history

(b. 1946) Lawyer

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Johnnie Morton
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Morton,Johnnie

Growing up and identity

(b.1971) Professional football player.

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Mako Nakagawa
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Nakagawa,Mako

Message for future generations

(1937 - 2021) Teacher

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Chiye Tomihiro
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Tomihiro,Chiye

Don’t Make Waves

Chaired the Chicago JACL's Redress Committee.

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Chiye Tomihiro
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Tomihiro,Chiye

What to Do Next

Chaired the Chicago JACL's Redress Committee.

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Roberto Hirose
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Hirose,Roberto

From the "middle" Nikkei (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

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Roberto Hirose
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Hirose,Roberto

Advantages of being Nikkei (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

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George Yoshida
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Yoshida,George

We’re Still Japanese

(b. 1922) Musician

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William Marutani
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Marutani,William

Childhood shame for being Nikkei in Enumclaw, Washington

Judge, only Japanese American to serve on CWRIC.

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