Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/229/

First work in America (Japanese)

(Japanese) I first went to San Pedro and worked in a cannery. Then I got on a boat for Washington to do tuna fishing which I did until I was 29 years old. I made 8000 yen (dollars?) and went home to Japan. When I went home…. My family had a grocery store. I said I was going home, and my mother fell and broke her leg and so was in bed. Ever since I was a child, my family had a store that sold everything.


aquatic sports families fishing migration

Date: October 14 & 17, 2004

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eriko Yamamoto

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

Interviewee Bio

Kazuo Funai, 104-year-old pioneer Issei from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, owned and operated a market on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. In 1941, prior to the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Funai had made arrangements to move to Tokyo to set up a business enterprise. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was unable to travel to Japan and was financially ruined. In addition, he and his family were incarcerated in an American concentration camp. He survived these obstacles to later start several successful businesses.

Mr. Funai passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2005 at the age of 105. (August 16, 2005)

John Naka
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Naka,John

Avoiding the Japanese military

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

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Kazuomi Takagi
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Takagi,Kazuomi

Tango makes him to stay in Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

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Kazuomi Takagi
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Takagi,Kazuomi

Leaving to Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

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Ryoko Hokama
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Hokama,Ryoko

From Japan to Argentina (Japanese)

(b. 1917) Okinawan, Issei Argentinean

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Henry Shimizu
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Shimizu,Henry

Building Japanese style fishing boats in Canada

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

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Henry Shimizu
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Shimizu,Henry

Japanese fishermen town in Steveston, Canada

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

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Henry Shimizu
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Shimizu,Henry

Government urged Japanese Canadians to go to Japan

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

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Doris Moromisato
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Moromisato, Doris

I’m a Japanese, Peruvian… who am I? (Spanish)

(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant

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Henry Suto
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Suto,Henry

Fitting back into American life

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

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Henry Suto
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Suto,Henry

Helping youth in the community

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

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BJ Kobayashi
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Kobayashi,BJ

Three important things learned from father

Hawaiian businessman, developer.

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Harunori Oda
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Oda,Harunori

Learning the nursery business

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Hiroshi Sakane
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Sakane,Hiroshi

On returning to post-war Peru (Japanese)

(b. 1948) Executive Director of Amano Museum

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Jimmy Murakami
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Murakami,Jimmy

Losing his sister in camp

(1933 – 2014) Japanese American animator

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Kathryn Doi Todd
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Todd,Kathryn Doi

On Getting the Call from J. Anthony Kline

(b. 1942) The first Asian American woman judge

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