By the way, 「日系アメリカ人に興味を持つ日本人」を取材するために日本に来たふたりの日系アメリカ人からインタビューを受けた経験があります。J.K. Yamamoto(北米毎日の英語紙面編集長)とAyako Takamori(ニューヨーク大学大学院で文化人類学を専攻する日系アメリカ人)ですが、なかなか面白い体験でした。
Yamato damashii wa nihonjin yorimo nikkeijin to tsunagatte toraerareru, toiu kansou wa totemo omoshiroi desu ne! Tashikani Burajiru no nikkeijin no rekishi wo manandemo sou kanjirareru koto ga arimasu. Nihon hongoku to hanareteirukara koso umareru dokutoku no kanjo keisei no kontekusuto ga aruto omoimasu.
Shikashi, motto yoku kangaetemiruto, kono yamato damashii toiu kotoba wa nihon no haisen made tsuyoi riaritii wo motte itano desukara (sou suisatsu shimasu), jibun no sodatta nihonsyakai ga ikani soushita jidai kara kyokutan ni henbou shita mono de attaka, aruiwa ikani sorewo boukyaku shitekitaka, toiu koto no houni odorokasaremasu. Watashi wa jibun no shintai ni kizamareta nihonteki kindaisei no nakani, yamato damashiito ieruyou na mono wo, aruiwa sore wo kataru tame no zentei to naru you na tegakari sura jikkan wo motte miidasenai koto ni osoroshisa wo kanjimashita.
Burajiru no koto nitsuite furemasuto, Burajiru no nikkeisyakai dewa masani nihonkara hanareteiru tameni, konoyouna henbou ya boukyaku no dainamizumu ga hatarakinikuku natta no dewanaika toomoimasu. Genzai, kono kotobaga mattaku kokkei na imi wo motsukoto wanai tomadewa iemasenga, kore ni nitayou na imino gainen ya ikenhyoumei ga, ukeirerareru sojiwa kyokoni sonzaisuru to omoimasu.
Senjitsu, Burajiru no nikkeijin tachi to Iwojima kara no Tegami wo mimashitaga, sokoni egakareru syakai no arikata ga jibunga umare sodatta syakai no nichijo no souzou ryoku kara kanzen ni mienaku natte ita kotoni taihenni odorokimashita. Shikashi, nikkei syakai wo kontekusuto nishite miruto, sorehodo tooi jidai no monogatari no youni mienai koto ga fushigi deshita. Jibun no ru-tsu dearu issei ya nisei no fubo ya sofubo tachi no jidai no keiken toshite yori mijikani rikai dekiru youna kigashimashita.