Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/594/

Nihongo gakko - Preserving Japanese culture (Spanish)

(Spanish) It’s very difficult to preserve Japanese culture within what is Argentina because on the one hand it’s true that the number of Nikkei in Argentina is not…it’s not a lot. There are approximately 35,000 of us. I think that, until recently, until about 10 years ago, it was easier to preserve a bit more of what was in a certain way Japanese culture. I think through the nihongo gakko (Japanese school)…In every city where there are groups of Japanese families, there’s always a nihongo gakko and a Japanese social club, a nihonjin-kai (Japanese people’s association). There they teach Japanese and then, you know, they hold different events throughout the year.

But it seems like just recently all of that started disappearing, the events that they would do during the year. Maybe because young people aren’t so interested in following those events, or because those same young people have other interests that are more…that motivate them more than being within a community of Nikkei.

So, currently in Argentina, in a way it’s like we’re losing that identity or all those things that make up Japanese culture. But on the other hand it’s like there’s a return, there’s a sense of…a sense of and an interest in…not among everyone, but among certain people…But generally they’re Sansei, they’re…not Nisei, but rather from subsequent generations, they might be Sansei or Yonsei, that are more interested in everything about Japan. Maybe because of their grandparents.

And there are also a lot of Argentine people that are interested in Japanese culture as well. Perhaps the Nisei are more…they have a lot of reluctance and it’s harder for them to preserve the culture. For them it’s easier, or maybe it seems more worthwhile, to teach their children English instead of Japanese. I think that maybe they’re more interested in further integrating into Argentine society rather than preserving one’s own.


Argentina culture education identity Japanese language schools language schools

Date: October 7, 2005

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Ann Kaneko

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

Interviewee Bio

Monica Kogiso is a Nikkei Nisei Argentinian, born in Buenos Aires in the city of Escobar where the Japanese community thrives on floristry. She is licensed in tourism, currently working as a resource, tourism and event coordinator for Japan, serving as bridge between both Argentina and Japan. She is the former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino, a Nikkei organization located in Buenos Aires and is a representative for the Panamerican Nikkei Association. (January 23, 2007)

Kawakami,Barbara

First day of school

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Watanabe,Akira

Eisa: Modernity and Tradition (Spanish)

(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru

Uesugi,Takeo

Studying in Japan before working in the US

(1940-2016) Issei Landscape Architect

Hirabayashi,PJ

Feeling empowered by taiko

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

Hirabayashi,PJ

Sense of lineage between Sansei and Issei through Taiko

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

Watanabe,Akira

To be a Nikkei is a confluence of cultures (Spanish)

(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru

Nakamura,Ann K.

Image of Americans

Sansei from Hawaii living in Japan. Teacher and businesswoman.

Okasaki,Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi

Japanese influence growing up

(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.

Hirabayashi,PJ

Diverse membership in San Jose Taiko

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

Okasaki,Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi

Looking at your country from the outside

(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.

Okasaki,Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi

Wife's family in Japan

(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.

Takeshita,Yukio

Lack of notion of citizenship in Japan

(b.1935) American born Japanese. Retired businessman.

Watanabe,Akira

Generational Change (Spanish)

(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru

Yamano,Jane Aiko

Lack of language skills

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Yamano,Jane Aiko

Preserving traditional Japanese culture

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.