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I want to restore my Japanese nationality

You know, I want to hold Japanese citizenship. I obtained Brazilian citizenship because it was necessary, so I don’t feel bad about that. If becoming a Japanese citizen means I have to give up Brazilian nationality, I may have to reconsider. But even if I restored my Japanese citizenship, I wouldn’t lose my Brazilian citizenship. I think it’s okay to have dual citizenship. But, according to Japan’s Nationality Act, if asked “will you give up your Brazilian citizenship?” I have to respond “yes”. But in reality, you don’t have to lose it. And so, I do sometimes think that when I pass away, I want to die holding Japanese citizenship.

So, when I get asked “will you live permanently in Japan?” or “Do you want to live in Japan?”, well, my life is based in Brazil and I would have to prove that I’m living in Japan. And so, I haven’t yet decided whether I’ll do that in the future, but for now, I have a strong desire to revive my Japanese citizenship.


Brazil citizenship dual citizenship Japan multinationality

Date: September 19, 2019

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Masato Ninomiya was born in Nagano Prefecture in 1948 and moved to Brazil at the age of 5 with his family. He currently maintains a legal office in São Paulo, and in addition to working as a Law Professor at the University of Sao Paulo, also serves as Special Assistant to the President at Meiji University and as Visiting Professor of Law at Musashino University. Since its founding in 1992, he has served as President of CIATE (Center for Information and Support to Workers Abroad), Advisor to the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) for Central and South America, and also a Committee Member of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Additionally, he is considered a Nikkei community leader in Brazil, supporting various activities such as improving the working conditions of Brazilian Dekasegi, and the education of Japanese-Brazilian children. . (May 2021)

Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

Having patience in Japan, being both

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

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Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

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.

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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama
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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama

Working at the magazine

(b.1948) Nikkei from Southern California living in Japan.

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Wally Kaname Yonamine
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Wally Kaname Yonamine

The privations of living in post-war Japan, 1952

(b.1925) Nisei of Okinawan descent. Had a 38-year career in Japan as a baseball player, coach, scout, and manager.

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Michie Akama
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Michie Akama

Reasons for immigrating to Brazil (Japanese)

Issei, Pioneer of women's education in Brazil

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Michie Akama
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Michie Akama

Opening a Japanese-style all-girls' school in Brazil (Japanese)

Issei, Pioneer of women's education in Brazil

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Luis Yamada
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Luis Yamada

Proud to be a Japanese desecendant (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

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Celia Oi
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Celia Oi

Brazilian of Japanese descents (Portuguese)

Former Director, Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil

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Celia Oi
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Celia Oi

Japan's impact on the image of Nikkei in Brazil (Portuguese)

Former Director, Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil

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Celia Oi
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Celia Oi

Change in sense of Nikkei Brazilian identity over time (Portuguese)

Former Director, Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil

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Celia Oi
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Celia Oi

Nikkei community concentrated in São Paulo (Portuguese)

Former Director, Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil

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Celia Oi
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Celia Oi

Changing life styles of successive generations (Portuguese)

Former Director, Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil

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Henry Suto
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Henry Suto

School life in Japan (Japanese)

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

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Henry Suto
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Henry Suto

Identity (Japanese)

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

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Miyoko Amano
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Miyoko Amano

Yoshitaro Amano’s Business in Japan (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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