Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1677/

Representing her Family and the Japanese American Community in Acting

I don’t know that I felt like everyone else. I felt like I was – I had to behave, I was setting an example – everything I did reflected not only on my mother and father or my sisters, but on all the Japanese-American community. So I had to behave and be good, because otherwise I would bring shame to the community. I felt like I was very much a part of that Issei/Nisei community right after the war. Maybe that was good for me, kept me out of trouble.


acting actors artists communities entertainers identity

Date: November 8, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: June Berk

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

Interviewee Bio

Takayo Fischer, born in November 1932, is a Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress. During World War II, as a young child, she and her family were forcibly evacuated from the West Coast and spent time in the Fresno Assembly Center before being relocated to Jerome and Rohwer concentration camps. Fischer later lived in Chicago, Illinois, where, as a young adult, she won the crown of “Miss Nisei Queen.” She has appeared in dozens of major Hollywood films, including Moneyball (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). She also appeared in the stage production of The World of Suzie Wong in New York in 1958 and many productions with East West Players in Los Angeles. (June 2018)

Tanaka,Seiichi
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Tanaka,Seiichi

Differences between American and Japanese taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

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Sogi,Francis Y.
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Sogi,Francis Y.

Meeting Japanese Americans from the mainland in MIS

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Nikkei Sansei

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Inoue,Enson
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Inoue,Enson

Sudden acceptance in Japanese society

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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Inoue,Enson
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Inoue,Enson

Ring name: "Yamato Damashi"

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Getting on Kohaku (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Inoue,Enson
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Inoue,Enson

Citizenship and identity

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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Azumano,George
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Azumano,George

Downtown in Portland, Oregon

(b. 1918) Founder Azumano Travel

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Early consciousness of identity

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Hohri,William
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Hohri,William

Importance of self-representation in legislation

(1927-2010) Political Activist

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Finding parallels through art

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

The Hapa Project

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Sogi,Francis Y.
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Sogi,Francis Y.

Defining the term Nikkei

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Perceptions of uniqueness

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Fulbeck,Kip
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Fulbeck,Kip

Identity as a conscious ongoing process

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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