East Coast Kahuna

Immigrant values

While in Hawaii on a recent trip, I visited the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH). There is a permanent exhibit there Okage Sama De (I am what I am because of you) which goes through the history of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. It is quite extensive with a lot of old artifacts on display. There is also a video Ganbare! describing the situation of the Japanese Americans in Hawaii during WWII.

The entrance of the exhibit displays twelve pillars representative of the Kachikan, the values of the Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. These twelve values are koko (filial piety), on (debt of gratitude), gaman (quiet endurance), ganbari (perseverance), shikata ga nai (acceptance with resignation), kansha (gratitude), chugi (loyalty), sekinin (responsibility), haji/hokoru (shame/pride), meiyo (honor), giri (sense of duty) and gisei (sacrifice). These values from Japan did not melt in seamlessly into the the racial melting pot of Hawaii as well as the strong American influence. What evolved was something different - and it is still changing as the Japanese Americans intermingle through subsequent generations.

posted by tjh14850 @ 11:30 PM