Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/761/

The most memorable day of his life (Japanese)

(Japanese) Probably the day I went to pick my wife up when she came to Buenos Aires... well they have to come through Montevideo--that’s how they all get here. They come to Santos, and a lot of people get off in Brazil. My wife is from Heibara, and Heibara is connected to Taira.

I*: So your wife was from the neighboring district?

Yes.

I: When your wife came off of the boat, what kind of clothes were you dressed in to welcome her?

Just regular ones. Of course, I worked for a laundry company so we had proper clothing... When I was about to go pick her up, I remember my father asking me “Are you going to wear that to pick her up?” (laughs) I thought about wearing them (gloves) since I was going to pick her up, but I decided to leave them [at home] I still have those gloves, actually.

* ”I” indicates an interviewer.


Argentina families

Date: November 28, 2006

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama

Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino

Interviewee Bio

Ryoko Hokama was born in November 30th, 1917 in Heira of Ōsato Village, Okinawa. He studied at the former Dai-Ichi (First) Junior High School. Ran a laundry service in Rosario City, Santa Fe, and a flower nursery in Moreno City of the Pacheco district in Buenos Aires. Currently he lives in Caseros with his son’s family, who owns a flower shop. (November 28, 2006)

Ohtomo,Hachiro

My daughter couldn’t fit in Japan, so I decided to go back to America (Japanese)

(b. 1936) Shin-issei welding business owner

Naganuma,Kazumu

His sister Kiyo was like a second mother to him

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

Ninomiya,Masato

How he met his wife

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo, Lawyer, Translator (b. 1948)

Sakata,Reiko T.

Parent’s Marriage

(b. 1939) a businesswoman whose family volunterily moved to Salt Lake City in Utah during the war.