I am a Hoffa a Hoffa is someone who is ethnically half-japanese
ethnically half-japanese
ethnically half-japanese in other words they’re biracial living
in other words they’re biracial living
in other words they’re biracial living in Japan I’ve gotten used to some pretty
in Japan I’ve gotten used to some pretty
in Japan I’ve gotten used to some pretty weird things for example people of all
weird things for example people of all
weird things for example people of all economic backgrounds lining up and
economic backgrounds lining up and
economic backgrounds lining up and pre-ordering Kentucky Fried Chicken
pre-ordering Kentucky Fried Chicken
pre-ordering Kentucky Fried Chicken weeks in advance for their perfect
weeks in advance for their perfect
weeks in advance for their perfect Christmas night dinner it’s not just
Christmas night dinner it’s not just
Christmas night dinner it’s not just that but a Valentine’s Day that seemed
that but a Valentine’s Day that seemed
that but a Valentine’s Day that seemed to kind of pop out of nowhere
to kind of pop out of nowhere
to kind of pop out of nowhere white day of course I’m not complaining
white day of course I’m not complaining
white day of course I’m not complaining because you know more chocolate is never
because you know more chocolate is never
because you know more chocolate is never a problem if I casually mentioned any of
a problem if I casually mentioned any of
a problem if I casually mentioned any of these things to my american family
these things to my american family
these things to my american family members they would just think that japan
members they would just think that japan
members they would just think that japan was the weirdest country ever but for us
was the weirdest country ever but for us
was the weirdest country ever but for us it’s all pretty normal
it’s all pretty normal
it’s all pretty normal being half American half Japanese I of
being half American half Japanese I of
being half American half Japanese I of course have really gotten to live the
course have really gotten to live the
course have really gotten to live the best of both worlds but I’ve had a
best of both worlds but I’ve had a
best of both worlds but I’ve had a number of cultural identity crises along
number of cultural identity crises along
number of cultural identity crises along the way there were for example times
the way there were for example times
the way there were for example times when I wanted to be full Japanese like
when I wanted to be full Japanese like
when I wanted to be full Japanese like those kids in my Japanese town so I
those kids in my Japanese town so I
those kids in my Japanese town so I would as dedicated as it sounds wake up
would as dedicated as it sounds wake up
would as dedicated as it sounds wake up at 7:00 a.m. every Sunday morning and
at 7:00 a.m. every Sunday morning and
at 7:00 a.m. every Sunday morning and watch Pokemon so I could fit in I also
watch Pokemon so I could fit in I also
watch Pokemon so I could fit in I also refused to speak English there are also
refused to speak English there are also
refused to speak English there are also times when I wanted to be like those
times when I wanted to be like those
times when I wanted to be like those American kids on Disney Channel so I
American kids on Disney Channel so I
American kids on Disney Channel so I really wanted to have my own lemonade
really wanted to have my own lemonade
really wanted to have my own lemonade stand unfortunately that’s illegal in
stand unfortunately that’s illegal in
stand unfortunately that’s illegal in Japan so you know didn’t really work out
Japan so you know didn’t really work out
Japan so you know didn’t really work out but I want to ask you all a few
but I want to ask you all a few
but I want to ask you all a few questions now who here identifies as
questions now who here identifies as
questions now who here identifies as biracial
biracial
biracial okay keep your hand up who here has
okay keep your hand up who here has
okay keep your hand up who here has lived in more than one country keep your
lived in more than one country keep your
lived in more than one country keep your hand up and who here speaks more than
hand up and who here speaks more than
hand up and who here speaks more than one language fluently okay I’d say we
one language fluently okay I’d say we
one language fluently okay I’d say we have quite a multicultural crowd here
have quite a multicultural crowd here
have quite a multicultural crowd here and that’s really surprising because if
and that’s really surprising because if
and that’s really surprising because if you look at this orange graph which
you look at this orange graph which
you look at this orange graph which looks at the whole Japanese population
looks at the whole Japanese population
looks at the whole Japanese population only that little blue slit that 2%
only that little blue slit that 2%
only that little blue slit that 2% self-identify as multicultural if we all
self-identify as multicultural if we all
self-identify as multicultural if we all here accurately represented the Japanese
here accurately represented the Japanese
here accurately represented the Japanese population only like five to six of us
population only like five to six of us
population only like five to six of us would actually have
would actually have
would actually have our hands up so it’s kind of clear that
our hands up so it’s kind of clear that
our hands up so it’s kind of clear that Japan has not yet opened its doors to
Japan has not yet opened its doors to
Japan has not yet opened its doors to the multicultural community let’s look
the multicultural community let’s look
the multicultural community let’s look at Ariana Miyamoto the victor of 2015
at Ariana Miyamoto the victor of 2015
at Ariana Miyamoto the victor of 2015 Miss Universe Japan she has ever since
Miss Universe Japan she has ever since
Miss Universe Japan she has ever since her victory been heavily criticized for
her victory been heavily criticized for
her victory been heavily criticized for being half african-american half
being half african-american half
being half african-american half Japanese and winning a competition that
Japanese and winning a competition that
Japanese and winning a competition that seems to be for only Japanese looking
seems to be for only Japanese looking
seems to be for only Japanese looking people even though she identifies as
people even though she identifies as
people even though she identifies as Japanese it’s not just people in beauty
Japanese it’s not just people in beauty
Japanese it’s not just people in beauty pageants but people in politics in
pageants but people in politics in
pageants but people in politics in representation Nang WA the leader of the
representation Nang WA the leader of the
representation Nang WA the leader of the Democratic Party in Japan was also
Democratic Party in Japan was also
Democratic Party in Japan was also criticized for being a dual citizenship
criticized for being a dual citizenship
criticized for being a dual citizenship she therefore had to get her Taiwanese
she therefore had to get her Taiwanese
she therefore had to get her Taiwanese citizen of her Taiwanese citizenship in
citizen of her Taiwanese citizenship in
citizen of her Taiwanese citizenship in order for her to continue on with her
order for her to continue on with her
order for her to continue on with her position so this whole idea of
position so this whole idea of
position so this whole idea of representation and multiculturalism
representation and multiculturalism
representation and multiculturalism let’s put it into perspective let’s all
let’s put it into perspective let’s all
let’s put it into perspective let’s all fly over to country X where we will now
fly over to country X where we will now
fly over to country X where we will now be going through an election now we
be going through an election now we
be going through an election now we first of all have candidate a candidate
first of all have candidate a candidate
first of all have candidate a candidate a is racially from country X Y land and
a is racially from country X Y land and
a is racially from country X Y land and Z world they have been raised in Z
Z world they have been raised in Z
Z world they have been raised in Z worlds their entire childhood on the
worlds their entire childhood on the
worlds their entire childhood on the other hand we have candidate B candidate
other hand we have candidate B candidate
other hand we have candidate B candidate B is raised and is racially from country
B is raised and is racially from country
B is raised and is racially from country X let’s say both were pretty much equal
X let’s say both were pretty much equal
X let’s say both were pretty much equal in terms of the validity of their
in terms of the validity of their
in terms of the validity of their arguments and the experience that
arguments and the experience that
arguments and the experience that they’ve had o who votes for candidate a
they’ve had o who votes for candidate a
they’ve had o who votes for candidate a who votes for candidate B it’s pretty
who votes for candidate B it’s pretty
who votes for candidate B it’s pretty clear that a lot of people vote for
clear that a lot of people vote for
clear that a lot of people vote for candidate B the reason being being from
candidate B the reason being being from
candidate B the reason being being from somewhere racially and being raised
somewhere racially and being raised
somewhere racially and being raised somewhere gives a deeper idea that
somewhere gives a deeper idea that
somewhere gives a deeper idea that someone is more devoted to the country
someone is more devoted to the country
someone is more devoted to the country or that they have a better understanding
or that they have a better understanding
or that they have a better understanding of the primary beliefs the country holds
of the primary beliefs the country holds
of the primary beliefs the country holds so candidate a for their race and
so candidate a for their race and
so candidate a for their race and childhood experience was rejected now
childhood experience was rejected now
childhood experience was rejected now this whole idea of representation and
this whole idea of representation and
this whole idea of representation and multiculturalism is still at its start
multiculturalism is still at its start
multiculturalism is still at its start that’s because multiculturalism is
that’s because multiculturalism is
that’s because multiculturalism is really growing whilst there is a steady
really growing whilst there is a steady
really growing whilst there is a steady need for representation in fact if we
need for representation in fact if we
need for representation in fact if we look at multi
look at multi
look at multi culturalism as a marathon we are still
culturalism as a marathon we are still
culturalism as a marathon we are still at that very first step so let me ask
at that very first step so let me ask
at that very first step so let me ask you all a question that’s gonna seem
you all a question that’s gonna seem
you all a question that’s gonna seem really obvious and all of you are
really obvious and all of you are
really obvious and all of you are probably gonna really judge me for
probably gonna really judge me for
probably gonna really judge me for asking this who here has had a friend
asking this who here has had a friend
asking this who here has had a friend that is of another race in many
that is of another race in many
that is of another race in many multicultural communities that’s very
multicultural communities that’s very
multicultural communities that’s very normal we now view people as people
normal we now view people as people
normal we now view people as people where someone’s from or where they were
where someone’s from or where they were
where someone’s from or where they were raised does not really come into deep
raised does not really come into deep
raised does not really come into deep consideration when befriending someone
consideration when befriending someone
consideration when befriending someone and that’s seen in many countries or
and that’s seen in many countries or
and that’s seen in many countries or cities that are known to be melting pots
cities that are known to be melting pots
cities that are known to be melting pots melting pots are really great because
melting pots are really great because
melting pots are really great because you have people that are able to express
you have people that are able to express
you have people that are able to express themselves and their cultural identity
themselves and their cultural identity
themselves and their cultural identity whilst being immersed in the amazing
whilst being immersed in the amazing
whilst being immersed in the amazing opportunities that they are given given
opportunities that they are given given
opportunities that they are given given in that melting pot country but still in
in that melting pot country but still in
in that melting pot country but still in those melting pots we see an issue we
those melting pots we see an issue we
those melting pots we see an issue we see representation politics being
see representation politics being
see representation politics being dominated by usually one race the reason
dominated by usually one race the reason
dominated by usually one race the reason why is because we have mold engraved in
why is because we have mold engraved in
why is because we have mold engraved in our heads when we think of someone from
our heads when we think of someone from
our heads when we think of someone from a country you usually think what they
a country you usually think what they
a country you usually think what they look like what they sound like and even
look like what they sound like and even
look like what they sound like and even maybe how they think if you believe that
maybe how they think if you believe that
maybe how they think if you believe that you don’t have any kind of mold and
you don’t have any kind of mold and
you don’t have any kind of mold and grieved into your head
grieved into your head
grieved into your head try to picture a Japanese person you
try to picture a Japanese person you
try to picture a Japanese person you probably wouldn’t picture someone like
probably wouldn’t picture someone like
probably wouldn’t picture someone like me maybe as a multicultural person you
me maybe as a multicultural person you
me maybe as a multicultural person you feel as though you don’t fit into a mold
feel as though you don’t fit into a mold
feel as though you don’t fit into a mold either maybe you feel like bits and
either maybe you feel like bits and
either maybe you feel like bits and pieces of you belong in other kinds of
pieces of you belong in other kinds of
pieces of you belong in other kinds of molds because of experiences or other
molds because of experiences or other
molds because of experiences or other kinds of you know life experiences that
kinds of you know life experiences that
kinds of you know life experiences that you’ve had so being a Hoffa which
you’ve had so being a Hoffa which
you’ve had so being a Hoffa which literally means half I always thought
literally means half I always thought
literally means half I always thought that I was half of a whole American
that I was half of a whole American
that I was half of a whole American person and half of a whole Japanese
person and half of a whole Japanese
person and half of a whole Japanese person I really wanted to pursue a job
person I really wanted to pursue a job
person I really wanted to pursue a job in politics or international relations
in politics or international relations
in politics or international relations but I for a while thought that that
but I for a while thought that that
but I for a while thought that that wouldn’t be possible because I’m too
wouldn’t be possible because I’m too
wouldn’t be possible because I’m too American to be Japanese and too Japanese
American to be Japanese and too Japanese
American to be Japanese and too Japanese to be American but what I realized and
to be American but what I realized and
to be American but what I realized and have been told by so many more people
have been told by so many more people
have been told by so many more people that are multicultural is that we need
that are multicultural is that we need
that are multicultural is that we need to stop looking at it like half we need
to stop looking at it like half we need
to stop looking at it like half we need to stop looking at multicultural people
to stop looking at multicultural people
to stop looking at multicultural people like their fractions or percentages
like their fractions or percentages
like their fractions or percentages rather they are doubles
rather they are doubles
rather they are doubles triples quadruples you name it by doing
triples quadruples you name it by doing
triples quadruples you name it by doing this we allow the multicultural the
this we allow the multicultural the
this we allow the multicultural the growing multicultural community to be
growing multicultural community to be
growing multicultural community to be able to express themselves without
able to express themselves without
able to express themselves without having to deal with cultural identity
having to deal with cultural identity
having to deal with cultural identity crises or being bashed for trying to
crises or being bashed for trying to
crises or being bashed for trying to represent people that they may not
represent people that they may not
represent people that they may not represent racially wholly with
represent racially wholly with
represent racially wholly with multiculturalism increasing I am very
multiculturalism increasing I am very
multiculturalism increasing I am very sure that this will definitely that this
sure that this will definitely that this
sure that this will definitely that this ideology will definitely bloom and
ideology will definitely bloom and
ideology will definitely bloom and blossom like a beautiful flower and I
blossom like a beautiful flower and I
blossom like a beautiful flower and I look very forward to the day that I can
look very forward to the day that I can
look very forward to the day that I can one day call myself whole of this
one day call myself whole of this
one day call myself whole of this Kentucky Fried Chicken in Christmas
Kentucky Fried Chicken in Christmas
Kentucky Fried Chicken in Christmas loving culture and whole of this
loving culture and whole of this
loving culture and whole of this lemonade stand loving culture
lemonade stand loving culture
lemonade stand loving culture unapologetically and boldly not a Hoffa
unapologetically and boldly not a Hoffa
unapologetically and boldly not a Hoffa thank you so much
thank you so much
thank you so much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment