<Begin Segment 25>

TI: So I'm curious, as a Japanese American, American of Japanese ancestry, what role do you think AJAs should play with, like, U.S.-Japan sort of relations and business? Or is there a role for Japanese Americans?

JN: Oh, I think so. I think so. Because at least in my case, because my parents were from Japan, I kind of have a feel, at least, anyway, to some extent. But I have to keep in mind that my experience and my parents are basically from farm area, lot of the businesspeople coming in are from Tokyo. They're born, raised in Tokyo, they're city people. So although I have a feel for what the Japanese values are, my values go back to 1900s, right? Farm 1900s. These guys are different, it's a little different values and everything. So I got to watch myself. And yet, I think I learned a lot about their values being a little different. They're still Japanese, so they have a certain kind of... there's a common element in all their kind of values. I guess...

TI: I'm curious, so you have the Japanese values, whether it's Tokyo or farm, and then you have the American values. I mean, are they compatible or do they sometimes conflict?

JN: The area, to me, that has the, that I seem to recall, the greatest contrast, is the area of the American individualism is something that's very strong in American life, and it was supposed to be you were an individual and you do your own thing kind of thing. And the Japanese were more group-oriented, so you do things for the group. My own feeling is I tend more towards the Japanese feeling of a group, because you're more, you're not as selfish. To me, the matter of individualism is a selfish kind of a value that says, "I'm in it for myself and the hell with anybody else." I like more the group, whether it be family, family first, obviously. Of course, the individualism still is not as simple as that, they have families, too, right? So their individualism is still connected to a family kind of thing. But I'm closer to the group kind of thinking. You've gotta, when you're a member of society, you gotta think group-wise, and that's very strong. And sometimes, though, to me, the Japanese go overboard and it's too much group and not enough individualism. You know, you gotta go and do your own thing, too, kind of thing. So that's the, that's the area I'm between, basically.

TI: And that's where being a Japanese American is useful, because you can see both sides.

JN: Yeah, yeah.

TI: Good. Well, I finished all my questions. Is there anything else that you wanted to, that perhaps I didn't ask or that you wanted to share?

JN: No. Frankly, I'm running out of gas. [Laughs] I think my mind is -- I'm not clear anymore and I'm beginning to wander around a bit.

TI: Yeah, it's been over two hours.

JN: Yeah, I didn't realize I'd be wearing down.

TI: Well, so James, thank you so much. This was really an excellent interview. I really enjoyed this.

JN: Thank you very much, I enjoyed giving it.

<End Segment 25> - Copyright ©2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.