Thank you so much for this thoughtful interview, and to Hanako for sharing so generously and articulating so many things I've been learning to put to words for myself as a mixed-race Nikkei American. "...Collecting all the parts of myself and putting them back together," resonates so dearly, and, “I have felt that fear that when I lose my mother, I’ll no longer be Japanese because she’s my only connection to the country and that side of myself," is something I've been thinking a lot about as my mother's Alzheimer's progresses. I felt so seen as I read through this piece, and Hanako's answer to the best thing about being mixed: "Belonging to two places,” rang true. ♡ Arigato gozaimasu!
I'm so glad this resonated with you! Thank you for reading – even I find it hard to articulate my own mixedness most of the time, so you're definitely not alone.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful interview, and to Hanako for sharing so generously and articulating so many things I've been learning to put to words for myself as a mixed-race Nikkei American. "...Collecting all the parts of myself and putting them back together," resonates so dearly, and, “I have felt that fear that when I lose my mother, I’ll no longer be Japanese because she’s my only connection to the country and that side of myself," is something I've been thinking a lot about as my mother's Alzheimer's progresses. I felt so seen as I read through this piece, and Hanako's answer to the best thing about being mixed: "Belonging to two places,” rang true. ♡ Arigato gozaimasu!
I'm so glad this resonated with you! Thank you for reading – even I find it hard to articulate my own mixedness most of the time, so you're definitely not alone.