Julie Otsuka Interview Segment 10

Discussion about Japanese names (ddr-densho-1000-176-1) - 00:02:35
Father's family background: immigration to the U.S. in the 1950s (ddr-densho-1000-176-2) - 00:05:59
Mother's family background: born in California, parents Japanese immigrants (ddr-densho-1000-176-3) - 00:03:40
Finding out more about maternal grandparents' lives (ddr-densho-1000-176-4) - 00:06:36
Remembering mother's stories of concentration camp experience (ddr-densho-1000-176-5) - 00:05:47
Parents' postwar experiences: meeting and getting married (ddr-densho-1000-176-6) - 00:03:40
Childhood in Palo Alto, California: hobbies and interests (ddr-densho-1000-176-7) - 00:03:51
Learning about incarceration late in life (ddr-densho-1000-176-8) - 00:01:46
Studying art at Yale University (ddr-densho-1000-176-9) - 00:03:16
Parents' non-reaction to decision to study art: "they've always been very hands-off" (ddr-densho-1000-176-10) - 00:02:41
Pursuing education in Berlin (ddr-densho-1000-176-11) - 00:02:08
Giving up painting and doing temp work in New York (ddr-densho-1000-176-12) - 00:03:19
Recovering from giving up painting; beginning to write: "I felt like I had nothing to lose" (ddr-densho-1000-176-13) - 00:03:18
Enrolling in writing workshops, writing comic stories (ddr-densho-1000-176-14) - 00:03:25
Enrolling in graduate school, researching first chapter of novel through World War II photographs (ddr-densho-1000-176-15) - 00:04:51
A visual approach to writing (ddr-densho-1000-176-16) - 00:04:27
The process of writing novel, inspiration from everyday life experiences (ddr-densho-1000-176-17) - 00:04:52
Trying to find the balance between history and storytelling (ddr-densho-1000-176-18) - 00:01:40
Japanese American community reactions to novel; use in schools (ddr-densho-1000-176-19) - 00:04:13
Learning more about Japanese American identity and mother's values through writing novel (ddr-densho-1000-176-20) - 00:05:07
Personal reactions to success of first novel (ddr-densho-1000-176-21) - 00:06:41
Parents' response to novel (ddr-densho-1000-176-22) - 00:03:01
Discussion of one of the book's characters, future projects (ddr-densho-1000-176-23) - 00:03:01
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ddr-densho-1000-176-10 (Legacy UID: denshovh-ojulie-01-0010)

Parents' non-reaction to decision to study art: "they've always been very hands-off"

00:02:41 — Segment 10 of 23

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May 2, 2005

Densho Visual History Collection

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

ddr-densho-1000-176

Julie Otsuka

Julie Otsuka Interview

01:29:54 — 23 segments

May 2, 2005

Seattle, Washington

Sansei female. Born May 15, 1962, in Palo Alto, California. Mother was a Nisei who was incarcerated during World War II, and father was a Japanese immigrant who came to the United States in 1950. Grew up in Palo Alto, California, before studing art at Yale University. Later moved to New York, giving up art and beginning to write. Published first novel, When the Emperor Was Divine in 2003, to critical acclaim.

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Megan Asaka, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

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