<Begin Segment 9>

HH: How would you describe your regard of yourself as a Japanese American? You've been through some hard times because you've been a Japanese American. And so from that, you may have developed some very strong feelings regarding your ethnicity.

KI: I do have some very strong feelings about it. Primarily, I'm very proud to be a Japanese American person. And I think the emphasis on the American part rather than the Japanese part. And I'm glad that the things that I've experienced and gone through in my life, it happened to me rather than to happen to somebody else. Hopefully it won't happen to some of these other people, that they have to go through life with the same kind of problems. And I think that it's made a better person out of me, because it's made me, I think, more understanding of other people, and has put me in a position where I think I've been able to help others who have similar experiences, and have a difficult time adjusting to it.

HH: Although you may not have been a "quiet American," as often Asians are described, do you think that generally speaking, that that's an accurate label for Asian Americans and Japanese in particular.

KI: I think so. I think so. I think that in many ways, it's been good, and I think it's been to our distinct advantage that we had been the "quiet Americans," but I think in many respects, it's also been a detriment to us. And I think that now is an opportune time for Japanese Americans to probably stand up a little bit and talk a little bit about their past and the history so that others have a better understanding of what we're all about. I think the big thing is that people should understand that we do have feelings like everybody else, which I think people don't think we have because we are so quiet and stoic as a group.

HH: You've also heard the expression the "model minority" as regarding not only Japanese Americans but Asian Americans in general. How do you feel about that label?

KI: I think that's the label, again, that's probably because I think the older generation, Asians, Japanese, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, I think that they had been "quiet Americans," they have not gotten themselves in trouble with the law. They generally state themselves, and they really haven't assimilated into the population. So I think that people look upon us as being "model Americans" because we don't really get involved with a lot of other things, and I don't know that that's really good. I think that we do have to become more involved, we should be more involved, we have opportunities to do things that other groups really don't have a chance of doing. And I believe very strongly that we should pay back.

HH: And the last question, Roger, is, your children are, as far as race is concerned, they're mixed.

KI: Yes.

HH: Okay. And how do they feel about their Japanese background?

KI: I think they feel very strongly about their Japanese heritage. My oldest daughter, of course, is probably more Japanese than I have ever been or will be. And my younger daughter is probably more mainstream, assimilated person than the older daughter. But I think they both have a very keen feeling for their Japanese American heritage.

HH: Thank you very much.

KI: You're quite welcome.

HH: You were very generous and helpful for this interview.

<End Segment 9> - Copyright © 1994 JACL Philadelphia. All Rights Reserved.