Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/893/

Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner

I always had this dream of living abroad in a foreign country since I was in junior high school. And then when I was…originally, I wanted to live in Europe. Then I went to Europe when I was 19. I went for a summer. But I originally intended to go for 3 months. I ended up staying for 6 months. I had a one-year open ticket. I met some people in Germany. They were working for the military and I got a job as a janitor, just running wild – drinking…and they were…one guy was Canadian, two guys from America and I just kind of slept wherever – on the floor in their apartment. I didn’t have a room. I was kind of a bum. That was fun. I had a great time.

But living in Europe for a short time, I realized I didn’t want to live…I wasn’t comfortable in Europe because you stand out. I didn’t like being…like being in America. I don’t like standing out, being targeted with racial epithets and things. So I don’t need that in my life. So living in Japan was much more comfortable when I first came here. It’s that whole point of not standing out, I think, which makes my life comfortable here.


Finding Home (film) identity migration

Date: November 11, 2003

Location: Kyoto, Japan

Interviewer: Art Nomura

Contributed by: Art Nomura, Finding Home.

Interviewee Bio

Peter Mizuki, a Sansei, was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. As a child he helped in his family’s lumber business and was involved with the Japanese martial art of kendo. Later, while a student at the University of Washington, he was one of the founding members of the Kendo Club. As his interest in Japanese culture developed, he traveled to Japan on a cultural visa to learn Japanese and continue his study of kendo. There, he met his wife in Kyoto. He now has two sons, is a permanent resident of Japan, and continues to practice kendo and teach English part-time at universities. In his interview, Peter shares his experiences of being a Japanese American in Japan and the struggles he’s endured to be accepted by Japanese society. (2005)

Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Japanese Americans are more aware of their Hapa identity

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Discomfort at being labeled by others

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Issues of identity outside of America

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Imposing identity upon others

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

The right to say who you are

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Kato,Alfredo
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Kato,Alfredo

What does Nikkei mean to you? (Spanish)

(b. 1937) Professional journalist

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Yamaguchi,Kristi
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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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Bannai,Lorraine
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Bannai,Lorraine

Heightened awareness of identity as a Japanese American

(b. 1955) Lawyer

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Minami,Dale
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Minami,Dale

Reasons for conformity and competitiveness in Gardena, California

(b. 1946) Lawyer

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Minami,Dale
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Minami,Dale

Reflections on the importance of history

(b. 1946) Lawyer

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Morton,Johnnie
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Morton,Johnnie

Growing up and identity

(b.1971) Professional football player.

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Nakagawa,Mako
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Nakagawa,Mako

Message for future generations

(1937 - 2021) Teacher

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Tomihiro,Chiye
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Tomihiro,Chiye

Don’t Make Waves

Chaired the Chicago JACL's Redress Committee.

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Tomihiro,Chiye
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Tomihiro,Chiye

What to Do Next

Chaired the Chicago JACL's Redress Committee.

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Hirose,Roberto
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Hirose,Roberto

From the "middle" Nikkei (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

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