<Begin Segment 8>

AI: As you got a little bit older, do you recall having any discussions with your mother or your father about Japaneseness or Americaness or becoming American or staying more Japanese?

CN: Yeah. I remember complaining a lot, that I wish that I didn't have to go to Japanese school. And, you know, what good would it do. But they made me very much aware that I am Japanese, first and foremost -- American, too, but really Japanese. And by that I know that they were talking about the culture. And also how important family was. I will always remember that I would come home and say... well, some of the kids would be teasing me. I am very dark compared to most Japanese, and so I was teased about that. And I was told by both families, both parents, that, "You might be dark" -- my father was dark -- "but in Japan, if you were in Japan, you would not be ashamed of yourself. You can hold your head up high so remember that when anyone teases or gives you a bad time about the way you look and who you are." So that has stayed with me throughout all these years. And after that... well, I have to admit that I did a lot of complaining about being different and also having that called to my attention by my Nisei friends as well. Because to be dark was -- and I still think it's not all that much appreciated among the Japanese. And I remember sticking adhesive tape all over my hands. You know, when you tear off the tape, your skin is light. Well, I thought that that would keep light for longer than just a few seconds. And the other thing is that praying to be white for just one day. And I think about that and I think, "Oh, such a sad Chizuko." But I got... well, shikata ga nai, you know. You kind of grow up with it and that's, that's okay.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.