What it means to be a Japanese American woman?
By Miki Garcia
The second annual Cherry Blossom Alumnae (CBA) conference entitled “What it means to be a Japanese American woman?” took place in San Francisco on Oct. 10.
At the beginning of the conference, participants were shown a video of Japanese Americans being asked one simple question – what it means to be a Japanese American?
Some said they were proud of their Japanese heritage and enjoying both cultures, but many of them typically answered with a giggle, “I don’t know.”
CBA President Gail Tanaka’s immediate reaction was, “It is scary…We need to do something about it.” Consequently, the conference was organized “to start the dialogue about our identity as both a Japanese American and a woman. Women have to wear many hats - as a wife, a mother, a girlfriend, a sister, an auntie, a best friend or a co-worker,” said Tanaka. Although in California, there are annual women’s conferences such as Professional Business Women of California (PBWC) and the Women’s Conference with Maria Shriver. But there had been no such conference that focus on Japanese American women in the past. “This conference is unique because it focuses on being Japanese American and a woman,” said Tanaka.
The topic is timely and appropriate since the Japanese American community is rapidly changing.
“Many Japanese Americans are marrying someone who is not Japanese American, which is perfectly fine. However, when Japanese Americans get married and have children, they need to teach their children about Japanese American culture, otherwise they will not learn it, and our culture will not be passed on from one generation to the next.” As a fourth generation Japanese American, Tanaka encourages people to learn more about their Japanese American culture. “I firmly believe it is important to be an active participant in our culture, not merely an observer.”
Finding their own voice
As Japanese American women, conference speakers acknowledged that they are someone who “are looked at but not seen” in the society.
Poet and activist Janice Mirikitani lamented many people still hold stereotypical views of Japanese American women. “I constantly have to define myself to go beyond the image,” she said. Mirikitani, a Sansei and one of the most well known Japanese American women, is often asked, “How come you don’t do Haiku? How come you speak English so well?”
Mirikitani was brought up by a second generation mother who was “stubborn, strong, dignified and determined her children to be successful.” During World War II, Mirikitani was interned with her family in Rohwer, Arkansas. The poor and underprivileged life of Mirikitani’s early years was the nourishing ground for a sense of “pride, respect for ourselves and others, and the expectation that our lives could be better.”
Mirikitani said she had to break the silence and deny her negative feelings. What she learned is to speak in her own voice. “Each day, I am learning.”
During the panel discussion, the speakers – all successful businesswomen – echoed the sentiments that Japanese American women face more barriers and challenges than Caucasian women in the workplace – “We are seen but not heard.”
Amy Schoemehl, a fourth generation Japanese American who works as manager of Trafficking and Global Outsourcing at Google, said there is “always an inner struggle of being a Japanese American.” Especially she deals with her clients 90 % online and over the phone and when the client finally meets Schoemehl for the first time, he or she typically gets surprised by her looks.
Sarah Sasaki, chief of staff in corporate relations at PG&E Corporation, said being a Japanese American woman means that she looks much younger than her actual age.
Japanese American women have to deal with sexism as well as ageism-related issues. Ellen Kiyomizu, owner of Scorch, a media advertising consulting company, and board member of Kimochi, a nonprofit organization that provides culturally sensitive care for the Japanese American elderly, agreed.
Kiyomizu said her best advice someone gave her at work was “don’t be humble.” Being a third generation Japanese American woman, speaking her mind is not something that comes naturally to her. “Don’t be afraid to speak out. Finding a voice is important.”
Sandy Mori, Development Director at Kimochi, reiterated that while maintaining the ethnic identity, it is important to get out of the comfort zone and make yourself heard. In order to do so, Japanese Americans have to be more unified as a community. As a third generation Japanese American, Mori was born in the camp and spent her college years during the height of the ethnic and group identity movements.
“We honor the first generation and the second generation Japanese Americans…We went through a lot of struggles but we have got to move on.”
She emphasized it is paramount to have a sense of community and keep remembering where we came from.
Who are Japanese American women?
Japanese women began coming into the U.S. around the turn of the last century -- most of them were picture brides -- and then in sizable numbers around 1915. Schoemehl wrote in Asianweek, “Many of us have Issei (first generation Japanese American) great grandmothers who came to America…Most of us have Nisei grandmothers or family members who were interned in concentration camps during World War II.” It was Nisei women who performed as bridges between the traditional Japanese culture and the American new culture, as well as made the culture uniquely Japanese American.
But what is Japanese American culture exactly? Tanaka explained a culture represents shared beliefs, attitudes and values that is passed on from one generation to the next. “Japanese American culture is a combination of these values and traditions from Japan, integrated with being an American living in the U.S. We have a lot of history - especially since 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans living on the West Coast during World War II were forced into U.S. concentration camps, including both my parents,” said Tanaka.
“We strongly believe in nurturing our family, working hard and giving back to our community. Honor is important to us -- what we say and how we live our lives -- as well as respect for our elders and our community.”
Part of the culture includes celebrating the traditions with family and friends, such as New Year’s and obon – a festive celebration of dance to honor those ancestors who have passed on.
The third and fourth Japanese American women recognize many positive Japanese cultural values that resonate in their thinking and actions. With a sense of high self-esteem, they have assimilated into the mainstream of American society well and there are many great role models including Norman Mineta (former secretary of transportation and secretary of commerce, as well as U.S. congressman and San Jose mayor - the San Jose Airport is named after him), U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, the late Robert Matsui, his wife Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Kristi Yamaguchi, to name a few. But for many Japanese Americans, Tanaka added, “their parents and grandparents are great role models because they represent how we should live our lives.”
The conference speakers reiterated that the importance of “defining who we are” – just like the second generation Japanese American women did, as well as “educating the next generation.”
The first CBA conference held last year was about giving back to the Japanese American community, which ties in with CBA’s mission -- to give back to the Japanese American community through volunteerism, education and cultural appreciation.
Tina Hamada-Wong, secretary of CBA, said there will be an annual conference this time next year and expects to attract a larger audience and have a bigger voice.
