I think the experience between the Japanese American parent and a Japanese parent (who immigrated to the states) is so different. My mom felt so much shame when her first marriage (to my older sister's father) didn't work out. My mother worked very hard to assimilate and made sure she raised 2 perfect American daughters. She wanted to ensure we were just as good (if not better) than children who were 100% American. I have so many complicated feelings about being hapa, assimilation, etc. Great talk, Dr. Honda!
I never knew there was Japanese American food! As a fellow hapa, the idea of becoming immersed in your culture through family is a great idea, unless you are the first born in the US. Sometimes your Japanese family doesn't consider you Japanese and really have no interest in getting to know you.
Wow, I just stumbled upon this episode today and want to thank you for making it. I like how you said being hapa (pronounced like "papa") is a unique experience, and we are totally ignored. I am hapa-haole, or a blend of Korean and Caucasian. I live in Hawaii and have always felt most at home here. I, too, have come to embrace it as a superpower. My ability to fit in with differing communities is directly related to my appearance and upbringing. I'm like a chameleon. The other side of that is that I am not fully embraced by either community which is fine with me because there are aspects of both communities that I could live without. Thanks again!
Maybe its an environmental thing.....but in my experience....where I'm from and live.... Mixed race is more welcomed if any thing....if your white, like my self "which I'm not fully white" (but veiwed as by the public or society) beacuse my skin is white.... you get the short end of the stick....and judged.
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
I think the experience between the Japanese American parent and a Japanese parent (who immigrated to the states) is so different. My mom felt so much shame when her first marriage (to my older sister's father) didn't work out. My mother worked very hard to assimilate and made sure she raised 2 perfect American daughters. She wanted to ensure we were just as good (if not better) than children who were 100% American. I have so many complicated feelings about being hapa, assimilation, etc. Great talk, Dr. Honda!
In Japan, the term I've heard is "hafu" basically the word half in english, given katakana syllables - ha-fu.
I never knew there was Japanese American food! As a fellow hapa, the idea of becoming immersed in your culture through family is a great idea, unless you are the first born in the US. Sometimes your Japanese family doesn't consider you Japanese and really have no interest in getting to know you.
Wow, I just stumbled upon this episode today and want to thank you for making it. I like how you said being hapa (pronounced like "papa") is a unique experience, and we are totally ignored. I am hapa-haole, or a blend of Korean and Caucasian. I live in Hawaii and have always felt most at home here. I, too, have come to embrace it as a superpower. My ability to fit in with differing communities is directly related to my appearance and upbringing. I'm like a chameleon. The other side of that is that I am not fully embraced by either community which is fine with me because there are aspects of both communities that I could live without. Thanks again!
Maybe its an environmental thing.....but in my experience....where I'm from and live.... Mixed race is more welcomed if any thing....if your white, like my self "which I'm not fully white" (but veiwed as by the public or society) beacuse my skin is white.... you get the short end of the stick....and judged.