Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/229/

First work in America (Japanese)

(Japanese) I first went to San Pedro and worked in a cannery. Then I got on a boat for Washington to do tuna fishing which I did until I was 29 years old. I made 8000 yen (dollars?) and went home to Japan. When I went home…. My family had a grocery store. I said I was going home, and my mother fell and broke her leg and so was in bed. Ever since I was a child, my family had a store that sold everything.


aquatic sports families fishing migration

Date: October 14 & 17, 2004

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eriko Yamamoto

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

Interviewee Bio

Kazuo Funai, 104-year-old pioneer Issei from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, owned and operated a market on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. In 1941, prior to the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Funai had made arrangements to move to Tokyo to set up a business enterprise. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was unable to travel to Japan and was financially ruined. In addition, he and his family were incarcerated in an American concentration camp. He survived these obstacles to later start several successful businesses.

Mr. Funai passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2005 at the age of 105. (August 16, 2005)

Takashio,Akira
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Takashio,Akira

Tough life at boarding house (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

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Yuki,Tom
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Yuki,Tom

His family's migration to Salinas, California

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

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Bashi,Kishi
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Bashi,Kishi

His Shin-Issei parents

(b. 1975) Musician, composer, and songwriter

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Yamashiro,Michelle
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Yamashiro,Michelle

General reasons why people left Japan for Peru

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Yamada,Mitsuye
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Yamada,Mitsuye

Her mother came to the U.S. with a group of picture brides

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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Yamada,Mitsuye
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Yamada,Mitsuye

Her father bought her mother American clothes after she arrived from Japan

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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Naganuma,Kazumu
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Naganuma,Kazumu

His sister Kiyo was like a second mother to him

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Ninomiya,Masato
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Ninomiya,Masato

How he met his wife

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

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Sakata,Reiko T.
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Sakata,Reiko T.

Parent’s Marriage

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

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