<Begin Segment 8>

HH: I think I have this series of miscellaneous questions at this point. These are regarding how you perceive yourself. Do you see yourself as one of the so-called "quiet Americans"?

ME: Well, to the extent that we did not protest what happened to us, at the outbreak of the war. I think within that category, I think our culture is that way. I think we were taught to be compliant to authority, I think. Whether we were taught that or not, I feel that our parents were, and I think we grew up in that environment.

HH: How hard or easy is it for you to experience moments when you are placed in a position where you are conspicuous?

ME: I don't understand the question.

HH: Choosing sometimes where you're placed in a position when you are very visible, when you're conspicuous? Is it hard or easy? Is it uncomfortable, or how to describe the situation when you are very, very visible?

ME: Well, I was never placed in a leadership role except I had some... I was a leader among a group of kids in the YMCA, and later in business I was a corporate officer. But I was never in a place where I would be conspicuous.

HH: Did you ever feel embarrassed by your parents who may not have been as, in quotation marks, "American" as you wished they were, as you wished they might be?

ME: Oh, I don't think so. I might have been embarrassed in the store because my mother could not speak English to the extent that she could be understood easily. But I don't think I really felt embarrassed.

HH: Did you ever go through a period of time hating yourself for being a Japanese American?

ME: I don't think so.

HH: Because of moments when you forget that you're not white, that you are really one of the Asians in America?

ME: Well, I think so. I think in the school years, there are moments when we felt that we're the same as anybody else. We're constantly aware that we were Japanese.

HH: If you would take a quick inventory of the people you'd count as your close friends and classify them as to their ethnic and racial makeup, how do you think they might fall? As far as numbers?

ME: Well, I think predominately Nikkei, Japanese ancestry.

HH: And was it fair to say, then, that these are the people with whom you feel most comfortable?

ME: Oh, I would say that.

HH: To what extent do you identify your life, the things you went through, with that of Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans?

ME: Oh, I think we're much better off than those groups that you mentioned because I think we're lucky enough to have a better education, I think, in a better social position than they are.

HH: The critical difference being education?

ME: Well, I would say so.

HH: How would you respond if you were counted as being a member of the so-called "model minority"? How do you feel about being included as being one of the so-called "model minority"?

ME: Oh, I think that Nikkei in general are considered that way. I have no real feelings about being counted as one of them.

HH: Okay. Is it a term that you find insulting or one that's flattering? How would you...

ME: Oh, I think it's, when they say that, it's meant in a complimentary way, and I have no qualms about people saying that.

HH: As far as your personal values are concerned, how much do you think your Japanese or Asianness influenced the values that you maintained?

ME: Well, I think whether I consciously feel that way or not, I think our cultural background sort of unconsciously gives you that feeling.

HH: Was the family uniquely important to you in contrast to what you've seen to be the case with others who are not Japanese Americans or Asians? I guess the whole point here is to what extent is the family uniquely important to you if it is so?

ME: Oh, I don't think that my family is, of course, of great importance to me, but I don't think any more than any other ethnic group. I see the other ethnic groups there with very close family ties, and I don't think Japanese is any more closely knit than any others.

HH: Among Japanese, the concept of shame is particularly significant. Was that true with you?

ME: Oh, I think so. We were brought up in that atmosphere. Mitomo nai type of thing.

HH: To what extent were you reared to defer to elders?

ME: Oh, I think we were always taught the idea of revering the elders and pay respect to the elders, or even to a school authority.

HH: What are the ways in which you can see your religious practice, religious values, how did they relate to your home and the way in which you were reared?

ME: I think my Christian background has a lot to do with the way we deal with personal relations with others, and what we tried to teach our children.

HH: That brings me to the end of my questions, but then are there other things that you think might be important in describing what might be unique about your life?

ME: Oh, I don't think so. I don't think there's anything particularly unique about my life. [Laughs]

HH: Okay, thank you very much.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 1994 JACL Philadelphia. All Rights Reserved.