Hawaii Nikkei Legacy Exhibit

Prefecture Roots

The Hawaii Nikkei maintain strong ties to the original prefectures from where their ancestors immigrated. These were primarily:

Fukushima Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
Yamaguchi Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture

Many prefecture clubs (kenjin kai) and cultural groups like bon dance clubs help to preserve prefectural and cultural ties. Many of the Nikkei went on to lead accomplished lives in a wide variety of fields. The following photographs identify some of them as well as the prefectures from where their families immigrated.

Screen Shot 2018-03-16 at 6.07.59 PM

Fukuoka Fukushima Hiroshima Kumamoto Mie Okinawa Yamaguchi

Fukuoka

Former Governor George Ariyoshi, MIS veteran and first Japanese American Governor in U.S., with family (ca. 1970s). Yamaguchi and Fukuoka Prefectures.

Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, a fifth generation Nikkei, planting taro seedlings on family farm, Hanalei Valley, Kauai (2016). Fukuoka Prefecture.

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (2008), 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran (1944) and Congressional Medal of Honor awardee (deceased). Fukuoka Prefecture.

Ellison Onizuka, first Japanese American astronaut (deceased) (ca. 1980s). Fukuoka Prefecture.

Chad Takatsugi, award-winning Hawaiian music entertainer (2017). Part-Hawaiian on mother’s side. Father from Fukuoka Prefecture.

Fukushima

U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono. Fukushima Prefecture (2016).

Ford Konno, two-time Olympic swimming champion, Helsinki (1952). Fukushima Prefecture.

Jake Shimabukuro, well-known ukulele artist. Fukushima and Okinawa Prefectures (2017).

General Eric Shinseki, first Japanese American 4-star General, U.S. Army (ca. 2000). Fukushima and Hiroshima Prefectures.

Roy Yamaguchi, world-famous chef and restaurateur (2017). Okinawa and Fukushima Prefectures.

Hiroshima

U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (2017). Hiroshima Prefecture.

David Ishii, professional golfer, after winning the Hawaii Pearl Open tournament (February 1991). Hiroshima Prefecture.

Evelyn Tokue Kawamoto-Konno (deceased), winner of two bronze medals at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics (ca. 1952). Hiroshima Prefecture. With her is Coach Soichi Sakamoto (deceased), famous for developing many champion swimmers from Hawaii. Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Larry Lindsey Kimura, Hawaiian language specialist, producer of an audio collection of native Hawaiian speakers at the University of Hawaibi at Hilo College of Hawaiian Language (2017). Hiroshima Prefecture.

U.S. Senator Spark “Sparky” Masayuki Matsunaga (deceased) (ca. 1980s). Hiroshima Prefecture.

Kumu Hula Carolee Nishi, hula teacher and Hawaiian cultural specialist (2017). Hiroshima Prefecture.

Herb Ohta, Jr., professional musician following in his father’s (Ohta-san) footsteps. Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures.

Roy Sakuma, well-known ukulele player and instructor (2017). Hiroshima Prefecture.

General Eric Shinseki, first Japanese American 4-star General, U.S. Army (ca. 2000). Fukushima and Hiroshima Prefectures.

U.S. Congressman K. Mark Takai (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel, Hawaii Army National Guard, and an All-American swimmer. Yamaguchi and Hiroshima Prefectures.

Wallace Kaname “Wally” Yonamine (deceased), first American to play professional baseball in Japan after WWII and first American in the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame (1994). Okinawa and Hiroshima Prefectures.

Kumamoto

Mie

Okinawa

Hawaii Governor David Y. Ige and his wife (2014). Okinawa and Yamaguchi Prefectures.

Jon Itomura, lawyer and Okinawan cultural advocate. Grandfather Shinyei Shimabukuro helped take 550 pigs to Okinawa after the devastation of the war. They braved rough seas and live sea mines for 28 days to deliver them safely (1948). Okinawa Prefecture.

Dr. Mark Mugiishi, noted surgeon, championship basketball coach and producer of “Allegiance,” a play about the Nikkei internment during World War II (2017). Okinawa Prefecture.

Dan Sei Nakasone, film maker of nationally broadcast television series (2017). Okinawa Prefecture.

Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone, Okinawa dance master. Right photo: Invitational performance at the Japan National Dance Theater in Tokyo, Japan (1982). Okinawa Prefecture.

Jake Shimabukuro, well-known ukulele artist. Fukushima and Okinawa Prefectures (2017).

Roy Yamaguchi, world-famous chef and restaurateur (2017). Okinawa and Fukushima Prefectures.

Wallace Kaname “Wally” Yonamine (deceased), first American to play professional baseball in Japan after WWII and first American in the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame (1994). Okinawa and Hiroshima Prefectures.

Yamaguchi

Former Governor George Ariyoshi, MIS veteran and first Japanese American Governor in U.S., with family (ca. 1970s). Yamaguchi and Fukuoka Prefectures.

Hawaii Governor David Y. Ige and his wife (2014). Okinawa and Yamaguchi Prefectures.

Evelyn Tokue Kawamoto-Konno (deceased), winner of two bronze medals at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics (ca. 1952). Hiroshima Prefecture. With her is Coach Soichi Sakamoto (deceased), famous for developing many champion swimmers from Hawaii. Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Herb Ohta, Jr., professional musician following in his father’s (Ohta-san) footsteps. Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures.

Dr. Fujio Matsuda, Nisei veteran and first Japanese American president of a major University (University of Hawaii, 1974-1984) (2017). Yamaguchi Prefecture.

U.S. Congresswoman Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink (deceased), first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Congress (1964n). Yamaguchi and Kumamoto Prefectures.

U.S. Congressman K. Mark Takai (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel, Hawaii Army National Guard, and an All-American swimmer. Yamaguchi and Hiroshima Prefectures.

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