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By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Earl Nishimura, 93, left, and Shinsuke Nakamine, 88,
were the first nisei invited by the Japanese consul general,
Gotaro Ogawa, to speak at an informal series of "fireside
chats," lectures by Hawaii nisei to share their wisdom
and experiences with younger generations. "I want the
heritage to be preserved," says Ogawa. He will move
the events to a bigger venue if the public shows interest.

Isle nisei
‘spread the
wisdom’

Lectures at the Japanese
Consulate preserve 'a good
Japanese legacy'

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

Discrimination against poor immigrants in the Hawaii of the 1920s and 1930s was everywhere -- in jobs, in housing, in clubs, recalls Earl Nishimura.

Nishimura, born here of Japanese immigrants in 1906, still grew up loyal to a country that doubted the loyalty of his people in the years surrounding and during World War II.

But he rose above the poverty, discrimination and distrust, eventually becoming an attorney and community leader. "We must always work toward better understanding of each other, and embracing each other as much as we can," Nishimura told close to 40 Japanese-American community leaders.

Nishimura followed his parents from plantation to plantation, with all the family possessions crowded on wagons; travel between Oahu villages took longer than it now takes to fly to San Francisco.

Such colorful history straight from the mouth of second-generation Japanese Americans born here in the early 1900s is becoming scarce as nisei age. That's why Gotaro Ogawa, Japan's consul general in Honolulu, is hosting a series of informal "fireside chats" to share such insight with younger generations.

"It's important to spread the wisdom," Ogawa told the group gathered last week at the Japanese Consulate. "I've become very impressed by the accomplishments and history of the nisei. A good Japanese legacy has been preserved. Their values are everywhere in the Hawaii community."

Ogawa will ask various nisei to share their life experiences, and will move the events to a bigger venue if the public shows interest. "I want the heritage to be preserved. I hope the young can carry on this tradition."

Shinsuke Nakamine, an insurance agent of 65 years who spent half his time on volunteer community work, also spoke Thursday. He was born in 1912 on a Waianae sugar plantation, then later sent back to Okinawa for a Japanese education, following tradition of many Japanese families. The high school military training that was required of all students there later led Americans to interrogate him a number of times here during the war.

Nakamine, who reckons he has helped 3,000 Japanese Americans here through funerals, weddings and translations, has been decorated by Japan's emperor. He is a past president of the United Okinawan Association of Hawaii, and serves on the board of governors at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.

Nishimura, who thanked Ogawa for being the first consul general to host such an event, has been decorated by the emperor as well. He was also the founding president of the Japanese-American Citizens League, and currently serves as president of the Japanese Assistance Society of Hawaii.

Nishimura answered several questions about discrimination against Japanese Americans in the first half of the 1900s. He said most companies did not hire Japanese or employed a token handful to serve the Japanese community. Nishimura was one of the few young Japanese Americans to be referred for a government job after he graduated from the University of Hawaii in agriculture.

Nishimura said Japanese also grew up with respect for native Hawaiians. When he was temporarily paralyzed at about age 8, a Shinto priest said he might have offended the gods by not showing respect to ancient Hawaiian graves he passed on his way to school. Nishimura's father was instructed to make an offering at a shrine. "We were very aware and respectful of Hawaiian practices."