<Begin Segment 17>
BY: Okay. I was going to ask you, so you had a very successful career, you have many patents, many publications, you were mentored by a Nobel Laureate. What are you most proud of in your work?
SN: Well, I do research work as I'm most proud of.
[Interruption]
SN: I wrote a book called Fifty Years in United States, which received the Japanese Library Association recommended book. And this describes... all in Japanese. But this book describes all my experience in the U.S. See, it says I went to Doshisha, Lehigh, Chicago, General Mills, Pfizer, and so forth.
TI: So a question about this. When the Japanese read this, what was the most interesting or surprising thing that they said?
SN: I think they... but somehow they recognized the life in U.S., and therefore Japanese Library Association gave me a special recommendation, recommended book. I think I have... did I bring? No, I didn't bring the... I have my own translation if you want it.
BY: We have it, yeah, we read it.
TI: But I'm curious what the Japanese thought. So when a Japanese reads this and you talk with them, what do they say? Do they say, "Oh, this was interesting"? Why is it interesting to them?
SN: General impression is, "Very interesting." So I will show the translation.
BY: That's okay.
TI: But is there, like, one kind of story that the Japanese says, "Oh, I really like this story," that was interesting from the book?
SN: Well...
TI: Or do they tell you that they learned something about America that they didn't know because of the book?
SN: Well, I just described what I have done, but... hard to answer.
BY: So one of the interesting stories -- because I read the English translation -- is when you talk about the differences between working in the U.S. versus working in Japan. You talk about individual mindset versus group mindset, you talk about seniority in Japan versus merit in the United States. Can you talk a little bit about that, the differences in the workplace between Japan and the U.S.? How is it different?
SN: Well, Japanese work usually a group effort. On the other hand, U.S., individual, independent work. So that's the big difference. And Japanese evaluated as a group, on the other hand, U.S. individual. So that's the big difference.
BY: And which way do you think is best? What do you think? You've worked both in Japan and in the United States? So which way of working do you think is best?
SN: I think working in U.S., we have more freedom and more independence. Whereas working in Japan, you're kind of in a cage, certain atmosphere. So that's a big difference.
BY: So you've lived in the U.S. for over seventy years, a long time. So looking back on your life, how do you see, how has your life view or attitude changed as a result of living in the U.S.?
SN: I think life in U.S., much happier, and more freedom. In Japanese life, you are in a cage, some kind of cage. You have to follow the traditions and family atmosphere. So I just say I have much more freedom and better life here in the U.S.
BY: So how do you see the differences between a Japanese person like yourself, who has lived in the United States for a long time, versus a Japanese American like my father or Tom's father? Do you see any differences?
SN: Maybe. I have four kids all born in the U.S., and one is, Joy is very active JACL, besides a lawyer. And all of them are good education and good job. But I think those who live in America have more freedom and can express one's ideas. In Japan, more in a cage.
BY: But what about for you personally as a Japanese man versus someone like Tom's dad or my dad who are Japanese American, who went through wartime experience? What are the differences between someone like you and someone like them, do you think?
SN: Well, fortunately, I came after the war, and didn't get too much segregations and bad experience. So I heard and read lots of sad story of the Japanese Americans during the war, but I'm very fortunate. I don't feel any difference living in U.S. or in Japan.
<End Segment 17> - Copyright © 2022 Densho. All Rights Reserved.