I enjoyed listening to your story. we've got quite a bit of similarities. Although i was born and raised in hawaii currently living in Seattle Washington my dad is from Okinawa and my mom is from tokyo. I cant understand a damn thing when he speaks in the okinawan dialect though lol.
You are so pretty!! Great interview! In September I am going to Japan to explore the country. Okinawa on my list. Do you know like Towa Tei? I am defo checking your music ?
I maybe old, being 75 but I absolutely loved hearing her story. I've always been interested , as an American, in learning about other cultures. American is primarily made up of many different cultures, myself having Russian, Jewish blood in me. And I find it fascinating to hear especially how young people deal with the complexities of their mixed cultures. Very well done interview.
this is so cool! Im full Okinawan, but grew up as Japanese American! This made me very connected to you Grace! Thank you Max for having her as a guest! Now, she's my new fav artist ^o^
I’m half-Japanese,half-Vietnamese & grew up in LA (born in Tokyo). I’ve never been to Okinawa, but curious about visiting! I’d also like to go to Hokkaido, since it’s not humid up there. At 49, I think I’d feel more confident & comfortable navigating different places than I would’ve when I was younger, since I have more life experience now. When I was younger, there was no internet, so there was also no insight into what a place was like-I really love the connected era we live in! 🥰
Hi Max! I just love your interviews! This one was AWESOME since I'm half Okinawan and 25% German 25% British...champuru nin gen!! I just showed my 83 year old Okinawan mom this interview and she LOVED watching it sooooo much she forgot to eat her dinner!! I've shared it with my 2 brothers, niece and 3 nephews! One nephew is also a HUGE One Piece fan!! I have also shared Grace Aimi's song OkiDoki with EVERYONE!! Keep making great interviews🌺
Wow this was really heartwarming. Thank you and I’m so glad your Okinawan mom loved it that much! That’s amazing to hear! Okidoki I had playing on repeat for weeks too. PS your One Piece loving nephew sounds cool ;)
Who else loves Okinawa? Audio only versions of the Live in Tokyo Podcast Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1XdRNqW9BYi9avrXHiuczq Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/07d79aa7-725d-4ad8-aa3e-1c012e1be08e/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo/id1723641269
I'm so happy you interviewed Grace. I have been watching her videos and listening to her music for a while. Those in car singing videos were so good! I'm glad she is still making music. I love Okinawa, I was stationed there in the late 70s on Kadena Air Base. Many good memories and I hope to visit again in the future,
this was such a cool, chill conversation between two people that really got into the details of third-culture kids, being biracial, identity, growing up etc. well done Max and Grace!
My first time in Japan was in 1957, I was 21 and fascinated by everything. I went to Kokusai, the four seasons show and was entranced by the Japanese content interspersed with a wonderful presentation of a Radio City like chorus line that would put the Rockettes to shame. I was amazed at the acumen of Japanese tradesmen and rates and artisans. I have been to Jana many times over the years on business and pleasure. To me, Japanese culture is characterized by striving for perfection. You and your guest brought out many of the unique features of the Japan I came to love. I know change is inevitable, but I hope the Japanese culture is able to retain the qualities that make it one of the world’s great cultures.
Thank you so much for this interview! I have always wondered about Grace and her family, since watching their video singing Okinawa songs. I am Okinawan American, 100%, and I say I am Okinawa American vs Japanese American too. I love that she has the Okinawa tattoos! My great grandmothers both had them. I'm happy that there is the move towards younger Okinawa women wearing them again.
Love this interview. I'm mixed also....my mother was Shanghainese/British and my father was American (German/Scottish), also US military/CIA. I was born in Taiwan and lived 4 years in Okinawa (near Kadena) and 8 years in Tokyo (Akashima/Tachikawa), as well as Hong Kong and Thailand. Moved to the US for the first time when I was 16. Now I split my time between the US and Europe. You're right, we mixed ex-pats are all insiders and outsiders no matter where we live. It's an odd situation, but you get used to it and learn to appreciate being different. It enables you to live anywhere and quickly adapt to be comfortable in other cultures.
I’m half Japanese/white with fair traits. I have four children, they’re blond with blue eyes. Only one came through with brown eyes and hair. Pretty much the same with my nieces and nephews. It’s a role of the dice at the 3rd generation depending who you match up with.
In the US, it's so diverse, so it's interesting to hear an Okinawan describe their experience with ethnicity and race in such a homogenous culture. I also describe Okinawa like Hawaii to Japan.
My 2 cents are markability to an international audience would be to sing in Japanese because she doesn't look Japanese, yet speaks fluently. I highly suggest that she target the Asian American community, and I can put her in touch with my homie Kero-One in LA.
I studied Okinawan karate for over 10 years and its definitely my instructor was a 6th Dan. Its very different than Japanese Karate and much of it was designed to protect against Japan. So I get it. She is very intelligent, pretty, humor, and has a great voice.
This really impacted me. My Mom is Japanese and I had some limited contact and visits with my Japanese relatives. I spent months working as a pilot deployed to Kadena AB over five years. I spent my free time outside the base because, I could speak decent Japanese. I came away feeling more Okinawan than Japanese. I totally get the differences in culture. Okinawan is more skewed to Western culture. I found the difference to be pronounced. I miss Okinawa.
@@keyser021 You’re under so many false assumptions that it”s hard to address. We occupied as a result of winning the war. The Okinawans built businesses and carried on with life under their provincial government, not ours. As for subjugation, there has been none. Everything our military has accomplished as been with the approval of the Okinawan and Japanese government.
What brilliant, beautiful, gifted, talented, and smart human beings grace (like Grace Aimi) this You Tube channel! Thank you for your existence and for you being alive in this world!❤🎉😅😊
Funny, my brother and I are half Okinawan, raised in California. Of course, this was due to the military, and while my brother was born in Okinawa, I was born at Camp Lejeune, NC. Okinawa is so unknown to Americans, so in short conversations, we just say that we're Japanese. Definitely, differences in Japan's mainland and Okinwans, Okinawa so laid back. Grace Aimi, so beautiful, great mix of races, and cultures, like Taco Rice! : )
I’m mix Japanese and Korean born and raised in Fukuoka and now lives in US. Being mix and having dual/multiple cultural backgrounds makes person a rich person, can appreciate, and be able to have wider/multiple perspectives to see one things. And Aimi I get you about the weight- I recently saw my grandma for the first time in 3 years, the first thing she said is that I gained weight lol
Hi Max saw ur channel on RUclips ur interview with Grace she is very cute and very happy person her japanese is very good ur channel is great hope you do more interviews on mixed people I love the Japanese language I have been learning Japanese language for a while anyway great interview with Grace
I thoroughly enjoyed this interview primarily because I am a half Japanese half Okinawan person raised in Hawaii, and have lived for several years in the South Pacific. From my experience being raised in Hawaii, I am convinced that Okinawans are related to Pacific Islanders, sharing similar foods and even dance moves. Also, although Grace looks very Caucasian and is only a quarter Okinawan, she is truly more Okinawan than me. It shows you are truly what you are on the inside, not what you look like on the outside.
I'm fascinated with the Japanese culture. In this case Okinawan. Thanks for this interesting interview. I'm born and raised in the US but people will always ask me where I'm from because I don't have a look that people can quite place. This makes me feel sometimes like a foreigner. My mother is from South Africa. I am mostly Caucasian. I have black( about 10 percent) and Asian( about 13 percent) This I only knew because of the different DNA companies. ( I was raised by my mother but knew her. I have no doubt she didn't know either).Now I understand a little bit about my own look.
I have nothing but great memories of my time in Okinawa. As a pilot, I deployed numerous times over 5 years to Kadena AB. I spent much of my spare time outside the base because I can speak decent Japanese. While my Mom’s family is from Tokyo, I felt this strong bond to the Okinawan culture. They are more western culture driven and opposed to the Japanese national governance. I miss Okinawa.
first time seeing your channel, but I loved the One Piece talk outta nowhere. I love One Piece. I've been reading the manga since 2017. Unironically the best story ever written. Oda sensei is on another level and other authors end up looking like amateurs in comparison to him
Nice, Aimi! We named our daughter Aimi as well! We call her Ami though.「愛実」Same??? I've been checking out your music! Nice stuff. Like how you "chanpuru" the styles. I've been learning the samisen for a bit now and like hearing it in contemporary music.
In Malay and Indonesian the word "campur" or spelled in the 50s "champur" means mixed or to mix. So I guess, "champuru" in contemporary Okinawan usage has its origin from the Malay-archipelago or Nusantara region.
Ayyyye I'm also Okinawan/Texan (grew up half of my life in Okinawa, half in the States). I relate to sooooo many things you said here! Same thing with me though, I had a lot of trouble getting put in Japanese school so my parents just ended up putting me in Kumon and I went to a private school, Zion.
Grace, you look Japanese/Okinawan… I can see it…in your eyes, cheekbones, face shape, and coloring. You don’t have to follow the narrative that you cannot be “really Japanese” if you’re mixed looking. Being mixed is inclusive and has subtlety. People don’t always work on that level.💖
This was a good interview with Grace. Being half Okinawan myself from Hawaii pretty much everyone here is a mixed plate. Can you find a half Okinawan guy to interviewview his perspective.
hey. i just watched all interviews and we are planning to go back to japan on 2024. we have a 13 years old son and he is born and raised in Sweden and we parents would like to put him in junior high school(中学校) public japanese school but my husband is afraid of bullying because he looks almost full japanese but speaks only basics. Do you have any advice? we are planning to live in Tokyo. Do you think it will be a good experience for him? And i love how Grace embraces her both roots and is proud of them i hope my kids do too :)
Maybe start him out in an international school in Tokyo first? There are ones with a mix of Japanese & foreigners. That might ease him into the country/culture. Speaking as someone who's Asian but grew up in the West, whenever I went back to the motherland as a child/teen, I definitely got judged severely by the locals for not being fluent in the language or the culture/customs. I didn't have "foreigner looks" to fall back on as an escape/excuse.
Grace does not "look Japanese," but I can definitely see some traces in her features. However, it really shouldn't matter if she looks Japanese or not because we need to stop conflating race and culture. Grace is Japanese period. And as people like Grace continue to use their voice to share their truth, we can start shifting our perspectives on what it means to be Japanese. Hopefully, we can someday come to a place where we can be Japanese without being held to imperialist, Yayoi standards. Grace may not "look Japanese," but there are many Japanese people who look like Grace. -sincerely, a fellow Japanese
Even if she weren’t a quarter Japanese, it wouldn’t matter-if you like a culture, you like it. There are non-Asians who are pretty much honorary Japanese, by way of immersing themselves in the language & culture-if you closed your eyes, you’d think they were native, and that’s actually a better tell. Conversely, there are native Japanese who leave the country because the cultural values never vibed with them, and these things are part of our essence-characteristics we’re born with, that manifest and if we’re lucky, we get to relocate to where our souls feel at home, which could be multiple places on this planet. 🌎
She would not have the common Japanese look because aside from her being mixed, Okinawans also look more similar to Southeast Asians, Pacific Islanders and Taiwanese aborigines. They are a different ethnic group from the dominant Yamato Japanese of the mainland. This is probably why her 23andMe DNA test didn't say that she's Japanese but instead said that she's Okinawan, like she said.
I love this and I love how she identifies, I prefer to say someone who is mixed ancestry versus saying words like Hafu, it has such a stigma attached to it. I was thinking about the tattoos of the Okinawan women. I love she embraced that. Tattoos were outlawed because its also how tattoos are seen in Japan as having to do with Yakuza, and then being banned from bathouses there. Its terribly sad such a stigma is attached to tattoos like that. I love Okinawans they are so different from mainland Japan.
I am enjoying your video interviews. I got my major introduction to Okinawan and Japanese culture when I trained under the Okinawan Goju-Ryu Master, Morio Higaonna ... now living back in Okinawa and declared a "National Treasure" in Japan. I trained under 4 other styles of martial arts, 3 of the 4 were also Okinawan, but those Dojos did not present much in the way of culture. Goju-Ryu is so Okinawan that even the Japanese Language is insufficient to convey the concepts embedded in the philosophy ... only the Okinawan Language can do that.
It's crazy the school hesitated to accept you as a foreign student because when I came to Japan in the 4th grade without knowing any Japanese, the principal told my brother and I to start attending school right away. My classmates treated me so well that I ended up learning Japanese in no time.
I love how Japan is changing. Spain needs to change a lot more too. The entire world needs to develop for the best version of ourselves. Younger generations are bringing lots of big potential changes right now. Well done and keep pushing forward for these changes to appear.
I’m of Asian heritage, and when I went to Barcelona in ‘99, there was no internet yet-just the Lonely Planet guide, which was absolute crap. 👎 We went on a bus tour of the city, and I guess the entire thing was sponsored by KFC & another fast food joint, because they kept mentioning them throughout the ride. 😂 Las Rambas was underwhelming, maybe because I’m from LA and couldn’t help but compare it to grander versions. Anyway, what I wasn’t prepared for was the bigotry. I wish the Lonely Planet guides mentioned which places were racist towards which groups-traveling to where you’re not wanted is NO FUN AT ALL. 🫤
I've spent about 2 years altogether on Okinawa when I was in the Marine Corps, I can honestly say that Okinawa would be better off if we weren't there. And in actuality, it's a horrible location for military assets now because the entire island is within range of conventional ballistic missiles, if things goes nuclear, forget about it.
You are American one hundred percent. That's it. Culture is culture be proud of it. When I was born my mother and I was disowned by her family,, we lived with my great grand mother who had the tattoos you mentioned She had them from her knuckles to her elbows, they were triangles interlocking patterns, to me they were beautiful. She told me, and who would know right? She said the Japanese would come around and take the young girls and they never came back, but if you have tattoos they wouldn't take you, some girls wouldn't mind but ultimately it's up to the parents The truth was the young girls were taken to Japan to work in brothels The people who went to these places thought that workers there wanted to be there, and found it difficult to be someone who didn't, also tattoos were associated with a lower class, criminals were tattooed under their arms, modern Japanese tattoos or styles leave this area empty. Firefighters ther tated their bodies, because they did this naked, but appeared clothed. But back to my ,,, so it was the real reason only women from Okinawan ladies had them, true story, told to a little kid. She died in 1966, it was my first time I ever rode in a car it was a black Cadillac she was 83 when they took her away. I have nothing to say about Okinawa, but I can say that it has gotten to be a better a place and time heals . My culture is Okinawan and father was a white dude from Texas who was with the 1st , SF, who made me a love child. In Hawaii nixed people back in the day were called poi dog, they don't call them that' any more? The ghosts of Okinawa are real, the first A and W built on Okinawa was by our house and so was our haka at base of the cliff, g.i.s would throw the mugs off of it, broken glass would litter the bottom where our family grave and I'd go there and pick up the broken glass, The ledge above was the same but sometimes one of the mugs wouldn't be broken, I seen one and I went after it I had fallen in Field of broken mugs and I decided to leave, when I started to walk away I notice a lot of blood spilling from the bottom of my uncut pant leg, which I rolled up to look at this unbelievable cut I had gotten, a few minutes later my mom comes running up and tells me grand ma said I was hurt. But she had been gone now over a year
In English, accepted usage comes and goes. I´m a quarter Indian, three quarters English. I had to explain to an English friend that the term "half-cast" is unacceptable nowadays. "Mixed race" or "mixed heritage" are OK. He couldn´t understand that accepted vocabulary changes. The expression "coloured" is taboo, whereas "people of colour" is not. Interestingly, the term "black and brown people" seems to have established itself in modern usage.
Do Japanese people not realize that Okinawans are ethnically Ryukyuan not Japanese? I am shocked by the number of ignorant comments here. Do Japanese schools not teach this stuff?
@ridgemonthigh8h4a I had always heard about the discrimination but I never realized how bad it was until now. My heart goes out to the minority groups of Japan.
Japanese are not exactly so called one race as they claimed themselves are and surely Okinawa had a different ethnic identity from the mainland Japan but to be honest Okinawa is a small island so it’s better to be annexed with Japan otherwise it will become like Taiwan always threatened by communist China、when the world view Taiwan is a part of China but the fact is despite those refugees flew to the island during the IIWW the true Taiwanese is also a race of Polynesian ethnic.
I read that there was Chinese influence in Okinawa before it became part of China. "Cham" sounds like a Chinese Cantonese or Chinese Hokkien word meaning "mixed-in" or "add in to mix".
Chinese influence on mainland Japan was mostly in the Tang dynasty. Chinese influence on Okinawa was up until more recently, really up until 1879 when Okinawa Prefecture was created.
For me as a German, it is historically rather difficult to mention ethnic origins at all. We have been taught for decades that everyone is the same, there are no differences, whether black or white. Now I am always surprised at how this is dealt with in Asia. If you don't look like us, then you're not from here. In the end, it follows a "simple" logic. Which in Germany is immediately labeled as xenophobic and National Socialist. I find it quite interesting what different faces are characterized by their mere origin. So these videos are always particularly interesting for me. So long... I'm not following any particular agenda, just wanted to share my thoughts.
![Lethal Company Music Video 🎵 "Follow The Orders" [VERSION A]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QeooZB4Z7RA/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for having me Max🤍🤍🤍
Thank you for being a part of this!
I enjoyed listening to your story. we've got quite a bit of similarities. Although i was born and raised in hawaii currently living in Seattle Washington my dad is from Okinawa and my mom is from tokyo. I cant understand a damn thing when he speaks in the okinawan dialect though lol.
You are so pretty!! Great interview! In September I am going to Japan to explore the country. Okinawa on my list. Do you know like Towa Tei? I am defo checking your music ?
No mention of the Chinese Okinawan Ryuku relationship
@Reprodestruxion Most posters here are American, they won’t mention it even if they know it because they don’t like Chinese lol damnatio memorae.
I maybe old, being 75 but I absolutely loved hearing her story. I've always been interested , as an American, in learning about other cultures. American is primarily made up of many different cultures, myself having Russian, Jewish blood in me. And I find it fascinating to hear especially how young people deal with the complexities of their mixed cultures. Very well done interview.
this is so cool! Im full Okinawan, but grew up as Japanese American! This made me very connected to you Grace! Thank you Max for having her as a guest! Now, she's my new fav artist ^o^
Glad you liked it! :)
Make sure to check out OKIDOKI and Again (by Matt Cab and Grace). They are my favs 🙏🙏
I’m half-Japanese,half-Vietnamese & grew up in LA (born in Tokyo). I’ve never been to Okinawa, but curious about visiting! I’d also like to go to Hokkaido, since it’s not humid up there. At 49, I think I’d feel more confident & comfortable navigating different places than I would’ve when I was younger, since I have more life experience now. When I was younger, there was no internet, so there was also no insight into what a place was like-I really love the connected era we live in! 🥰
Are you a Japanese citizen?
@@jejudo3000 Naturalized American citizen.
she's pretty, & has the best of both worlds from her father & Mother, which I think she favors
Hi Max! I just love your interviews! This one was AWESOME since I'm half Okinawan and 25% German 25% British...champuru nin gen!! I just showed my 83 year old Okinawan mom this interview and she LOVED watching it sooooo much she forgot to eat her dinner!! I've shared it with my 2 brothers, niece and 3 nephews! One nephew is also a HUGE One Piece fan!! I have also shared Grace Aimi's song OkiDoki with EVERYONE!! Keep making great interviews🌺
Wow this was really heartwarming. Thank you and I’m so glad your Okinawan mom loved it that much! That’s amazing to hear! Okidoki I had playing on repeat for weeks too.
PS your One Piece loving nephew sounds cool ;)
Who else loves Okinawa?
Audio only versions of the Live in Tokyo Podcast
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1XdRNqW9BYi9avrXHiuczq
Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/07d79aa7-725d-4ad8-aa3e-1c012e1be08e/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo/id1723641269
I do, and I’m not Japanese or American, I just found Okinawa on my own without any connection to her.
Anyone that can speak Okinawan Rohan , like Chiaki?
I'm so happy you interviewed Grace. I have been watching her videos and listening to her music for a while. Those in car singing videos were so good! I'm glad she is still making music. I love Okinawa, I was stationed there in the late 70s on Kadena Air Base. Many good memories and I hope to visit again in the future,
Okinawa is an absolutely beautiful place. I visited a pen-pal and it felt like paradise, I'm looking forward to saving up and going back again
Makes me want to go
this was such a cool, chill conversation between two people that really got into the details of third-culture kids, being biracial, identity, growing up etc. well done Max and Grace!
My first time in Japan was in 1957, I was 21 and fascinated by everything. I went to Kokusai, the four seasons show and was entranced by the Japanese content interspersed with a wonderful presentation of a Radio City like chorus line that would put the Rockettes to shame. I was amazed at the acumen of Japanese tradesmen and rates and artisans. I have been to Jana many times over the years on business and pleasure. To me, Japanese culture is characterized by striving for perfection. You and your guest brought out many of the unique features of the Japan I came to love. I know change is inevitable, but I hope the Japanese culture is able to retain the qualities that make it one of the world’s great cultures.
Thank you so much for this interview! I have always wondered about Grace and her family, since watching their video singing Okinawa songs. I am Okinawan American, 100%, and I say I am Okinawa American vs Japanese American too. I love that she has the Okinawa tattoos! My great grandmothers both had them. I'm happy that there is the move towards younger Okinawa women wearing them again.
I think we all seemed to have gotten recommended that video! 🙏🙏🙏
Love this interview. I'm mixed also....my mother was Shanghainese/British and my father was American (German/Scottish), also US military/CIA. I was born in Taiwan and lived 4 years in Okinawa (near Kadena) and 8 years in Tokyo (Akashima/Tachikawa), as well as Hong Kong and Thailand. Moved to the US for the first time when I was 16. Now I split my time between the US and Europe. You're right, we mixed ex-pats are all insiders and outsiders no matter where we live. It's an odd situation, but you get used to it and learn to appreciate being different. It enables you to live anywhere and quickly adapt to be comfortable in other cultures.
You’re a fool to have left.
Amazing ... makes me wanna go to Okinawa even more! I'm half-Japanese and half-Hongkongese. Born and raised in Sweden though. Gambate!
Interesting, so japaneae and Chinese parents? Sugoi Okinawa!
You're half Japanese, Half Chinese...stop being so ashamed.
@@ironhell813 Yes, father from HKG and mother from Kawasaki, Japan! Okinawa makes me think of Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid movies =)
日本と中国人というのではなく香港人のアイデンティティーもっているのはいいね～
I’m half Japanese/white with fair traits. I have four children, they’re blond with blue eyes. Only one came through with brown eyes and hair. Pretty much the same with my nieces and nephews. It’s a role of the dice at the 3rd generation depending who you match up with.
In the US, it's so diverse, so it's interesting to hear an Okinawan describe their experience with ethnicity and race in such a homogenous culture. I also describe Okinawa like Hawaii to Japan.
My 2 cents are markability to an international audience would be to sing in Japanese because she doesn't look Japanese, yet speaks fluently. I highly suggest that she target the Asian American community, and I can put her in touch with my homie Kero-One in LA.
Where does Max get all these amazing and beautiful guests?! What a way to end 2023!
I studied Okinawan karate for over 10 years and its definitely my instructor was a 6th Dan. Its very different than Japanese Karate and much of it was designed to protect against Japan. So I get it. She is very intelligent, pretty, humor, and has a great voice.
This young lady is so cool and her music rocks!
I'm almost 65 and very much appreciate gen z. So many are involved and care
I really miss Okinawa! I’m half Japanese and American. Born in Japan but I live in the States. My dad was from Texas as well.
This really impacted me. My Mom is Japanese and I had some limited contact and visits with my Japanese relatives. I spent months working as a pilot deployed to Kadena AB over five years. I spent my free time outside the base because, I could speak decent Japanese. I came away feeling more Okinawan than Japanese. I totally get the differences in culture. Okinawan is more skewed to Western culture. I found the difference to be pronounced. I miss Okinawa.
wow the dad is good looking. does she have a brother
Just don't mind the pesky Ryukyu huh? The ones you've occupied and subjugated the good part of century with your guns? Those guys? 石なぐの歌
@@keyser021 You’re under so many false assumptions that it”s hard to address. We occupied as a result of winning the war. The Okinawans built businesses and carried on with life under their provincial government, not ours. As for subjugation, there has been none. Everything our military has accomplished as been with the approval of the Okinawan and Japanese government.
Could be said about Mainland Japan. The Ryu Kyu Islands were annexed by Japan. The Ryu Kyu culture and language is being suppressed by Japan.
This is one of the most enjoyable interviews I've ever watched! You guys killed it. Such good topics and vibes.
Hey! Finally! 待ってました！ My eternal sunshine!
Actually karate was originally 唐手 which is Tang hand, meaning Chinese hand. The empty hand is a neologism.
What brilliant, beautiful, gifted, talented, and smart human beings grace (like Grace Aimi) this You Tube channel! Thank you for your existence and for you being alive in this world!❤🎉😅😊
Yes! This was a beautiful interview. She is a lovely young lady.
Funny, my brother and I are half Okinawan, raised in California. Of course, this was due to the military, and while my brother was born in Okinawa, I was born at Camp Lejeune, NC. Okinawa is so unknown to Americans, so in short conversations, we just say that we're Japanese. Definitely, differences in Japan's mainland and Okinwans, Okinawa so laid back. Grace Aimi, so beautiful, great mix of races, and cultures, like Taco Rice! : )
Super cool Podcast. The conversation, the experience, very positive upbringing, proud of her heritage, keep up the good work 👍🤗
I’m mix Japanese and Korean born and raised in Fukuoka and now lives in US. Being mix and having dual/multiple cultural backgrounds makes person a rich person, can appreciate, and be able to have wider/multiple perspectives to see one things. And Aimi I get you about the weight- I recently saw my grandma for the first time in 3 years, the first thing she said is that I gained weight lol
Love learning more about culture and artists in this format!! Thank you for sharing !
Love this interview and Grace!! 🥰😘❤️
She is so beautiful ❤
Hi Max saw ur channel on RUclips ur interview with Grace she is very cute and very happy person her japanese is very good ur channel is great hope you do more interviews on mixed people I love the Japanese language I have been learning Japanese language for a while anyway great interview with Grace
Awesome interview! The editing at 32:07 made me LOL though 😂
I was hoping no one would notice...😂
Haha same here. I watched it twice.
I scrolled just to find this, I was like "is no one gonna talk about this?" It was a funny cute moment 😝
Awesome interview and Grace does look like Emily Rudd from One Piece 😲
I thoroughly enjoyed this interview primarily because I am a half Japanese half Okinawan person raised in Hawaii, and have lived for several years in the South Pacific. From my experience being raised in Hawaii, I am convinced that Okinawans are related to Pacific Islanders, sharing similar foods and even dance moves. Also, although Grace looks very Caucasian and is only a quarter Okinawan, she is truly more Okinawan than me. It shows you are truly what you are on the inside, not what you look like on the outside.
Born in The Republic of Texas, I will always be a life-long Texan (..even though I've lived in Florida for 34 years). Another great upload. Thanks! :)
I'm fascinated with the Japanese culture. In this case Okinawan. Thanks for this interesting interview. I'm born and raised in the US but people will always ask me where I'm from because I don't have a look that people can quite place. This makes me feel sometimes like a foreigner. My mother is from South Africa. I am mostly Caucasian. I have black( about 10 percent) and Asian( about 13 percent) This I only knew because of the different DNA companies. ( I was raised by my mother but knew her. I have no doubt she didn't know either).Now I understand a little bit about my own look.
ウチナーンチュのアイミさん、応援してますよ！
I have nothing but great memories of my time in Okinawa. As a pilot, I deployed numerous times over 5 years to Kadena AB. I spent much of my spare time outside the base because I can speak decent Japanese. While my Mom’s family is from Tokyo, I felt this strong bond to the Okinawan culture. They are more western culture driven and opposed to the Japanese national governance. I miss Okinawa.
first time seeing your channel, but I loved the One Piece talk outta nowhere. I love One Piece. I've been reading the manga since 2017. Unironically the best story ever written. Oda sensei is on another level and other authors end up looking like amateurs in comparison to him
I’ll always find a way to throw in one piece into any topic. Glad you enjoy it too. Oda is a world building genius.
she's rocking the hajichi!❤
Nice, Aimi! We named our daughter Aimi as well! We call her Ami though.「愛実」Same??? I've been checking out your music! Nice stuff. Like how you "chanpuru" the styles. I've been learning the samisen for a bit now and like hearing it in contemporary music.
ロスアンジェルスロジャースのデェーブ、ロバーツ監督の母は那覇市出身で、父がアメリカ人のハーフで、ロバーツ監督は那覇市出身ですね
I think that people who don't live in America/haven't traveled between states aren't aware how different each state is from each other.
In the old days in Hawaii they used to say "chop suey" for mixed ethnicity.
I knew this girl from that okinawa song too,I’d love it
So glad Okinawa's represented with a RUclipsr in tokyo!!! I am a huge fan of Trafalgar Law!!!!
Let’s gooo also love Law
Chanpuru is same meaning in Korean champong we use this term describe ppl of mixed ethnicity but does have a condescending tone to it
I had a great time with you guys😊
すっごく楽しかった♪
Thanks✨
In Malay and Indonesian the word "campur" or spelled in the 50s "champur" means mixed or to mix. So I guess, "champuru" in contemporary Okinawan usage has its origin from the Malay-archipelago or Nusantara region.
Austronesian people have been found to range up to Taiwan (in the north). Wouldn't be surprising if it extended to Okinawa too.
I agree....when I heard this I went straight to "campur". I speak Indonesian and Japanese and I think this is where it came from. Why....I'm not sure.
Awesome interview. I found the editing mistake at 32:08 very funny
100% Heaven on Earth. I’ve been twice to Ishigaki
I like the fact that champuru means mixed, because in Malay(Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia too maybe) it also means mix
Thank You dear friend
Ayyyye I'm also Okinawan/Texan (grew up half of my life in Okinawa, half in the States). I relate to sooooo many things you said here! Same thing with me though, I had a lot of trouble getting put in Japanese school so my parents just ended up putting me in Kumon and I went to a private school, Zion.
Grace, you look Japanese/Okinawan… I can see it…in your eyes, cheekbones, face shape, and coloring.
You don’t have to follow the narrative that you cannot be “really Japanese” if you’re mixed looking. Being mixed is inclusive and has subtlety. People don’t always work on that level.💖
必要なのはハート、精神
Okinawan and Japanese are different. Here in Hawaii we were taught that when we were young. Hahaha!
Okinawans have the Austronesian look of Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders. 🙂
Karate Kid II wasn't shot in Okinawa either. Shot on Oahu.
She’s beautiful!
Grace, she is so cool & nice character!!👍
i’d love to ❣️
BTW, best wishes for good luck in her success future 🫶🎉🇯🇵
This was a good interview with Grace. Being half Okinawan myself from Hawaii pretty much everyone here is a mixed plate. Can you find a half Okinawan guy to interviewview his perspective.
3:40 "Campur" is "mix" in Indonesian / Malay
Great Video.
She is absolutely stunning
I like how she says "my dad is a Texan" (in effect)
hey. i just watched all interviews and we are planning to go back to japan on 2024. we have a 13 years old son and he is born and raised in Sweden and we parents would like to put him in junior high school(中学校) public japanese school but my husband is afraid of bullying because he looks almost full japanese but speaks only basics. Do you have any advice? we are planning to live in Tokyo. Do you think it will be a good experience for him?
And i love how Grace embraces her both roots and is proud of them i hope my kids do too :)
Just go after everything is restored from the earthquake and tsunami.
Maybe start him out in an international school in Tokyo first? There are ones with a mix of Japanese & foreigners. That might ease him into the country/culture. Speaking as someone who's Asian but grew up in the West, whenever I went back to the motherland as a child/teen, I definitely got judged severely by the locals for not being fluent in the language or the culture/customs. I didn't have "foreigner looks" to fall back on as an escape/excuse.
Grace does not "look Japanese," but I can definitely see some traces in her features. However, it really shouldn't matter if she looks Japanese or not because we need to stop conflating race and culture. Grace is Japanese period. And as people like Grace continue to use their voice to share their truth, we can start shifting our perspectives on what it means to be Japanese. Hopefully, we can someday come to a place where we can be Japanese without being held to imperialist, Yayoi standards. Grace may not "look Japanese," but there are many Japanese people who look like Grace.
-sincerely, a fellow Japanese
People always say that in these types of videos but I would never have guessed she had any asian heritage unless it was pointed out.
Yeah but. Even in Japan she would be considered foreign.
Even if she weren’t a quarter Japanese, it wouldn’t matter-if you like a culture, you like it. There are non-Asians who are pretty much honorary Japanese, by way of immersing themselves in the language & culture-if you closed your eyes, you’d think they were native, and that’s actually a better tell.
Conversely, there are native Japanese who leave the country because the cultural values never vibed with them, and these things are part of our essence-characteristics we’re born with, that manifest and if we’re lucky, we get to relocate to where our souls feel at home, which could be multiple places on this planet. 🌎
@@Pomisher whoosh
She would not have the common Japanese look because aside from her being mixed, Okinawans also look more similar to Southeast Asians, Pacific Islanders and Taiwanese aborigines. They are a different ethnic group from the dominant Yamato Japanese of the mainland. This is probably why her 23andMe DNA test didn't say that she's Japanese but instead said that she's Okinawan, like she said.
I love this and I love how she identifies, I prefer to say someone who is mixed ancestry versus saying words like Hafu, it has such a stigma attached to it. I was thinking about the tattoos of the Okinawan women. I love she embraced that. Tattoos were outlawed because its also how tattoos are seen in Japan as having to do with Yakuza, and then being banned from bathouses there. Its terribly sad such a stigma is attached to tattoos like that. I love Okinawans they are so different from mainland Japan.
Iam glad that tattoos are frowned on, it’s an indicator of lack of satisfaction with the self. I like living with ppl that like each other.
でももっと古くの歴史では倭人は皆、刺青してたと歴史書に記されてるけどね～
I am enjoying your video interviews. I got my major introduction to Okinawan and Japanese culture when I trained under the Okinawan Goju-Ryu Master, Morio Higaonna ... now living back in Okinawa and declared a "National Treasure" in Japan. I trained under 4 other styles of martial arts, 3 of the 4 were also Okinawan, but those Dojos did not present much in the way of culture. Goju-Ryu is so Okinawan that even the Japanese Language is insufficient to convey the concepts embedded in the philosophy ... only the Okinawan Language can do that.
Ah 1980 Okinawa becomes Japan. I was there it was fun.
Her style here reminds me of the girls from Delia's catalogues that my big sister would have in the late 90s, early 2000s
🎻🎻🎻🎻🎶🎶🎶☠️☠️🏴☠️YOHO! Great job as always.
It's crazy the school hesitated to accept you as a foreign student because when I came to Japan in the 4th grade without knowing any Japanese, the principal told my brother and I to start attending school right away. My classmates treated me so well that I ended up learning Japanese in no time.
she is really level headed.
Fantastic interview - the audio is driving me nuts.
Could be derived from the Malay/Indonesian word campur which means mixed. Champuru makes sense as a garaigo.
I love how Japan is changing. Spain needs to change a lot more too. The entire world needs to develop for the best version of ourselves. Younger generations are bringing lots of big potential changes right now. Well done and keep pushing forward for these changes to appear.
I’m of Asian heritage, and when I went to Barcelona in ‘99, there was no internet yet-just the Lonely Planet guide, which was absolute crap. 👎
We went on a bus tour of the city, and I guess the entire thing was sponsored by KFC & another fast food joint, because they kept mentioning them throughout the ride. 😂 Las Rambas was underwhelming, maybe because I’m from LA and couldn’t help but compare it to grander versions.
Anyway, what I wasn’t prepared for was the bigotry. I wish the Lonely Planet guides mentioned which places were racist towards which groups-traveling to where you’re not wanted is NO FUN AT ALL. 🫤
I've spent about 2 years altogether on Okinawa when I was in the Marine Corps, I can honestly say that Okinawa would be better off if we weren't there. And in actuality, it's a horrible location for military assets now because the entire island is within range of conventional ballistic missiles, if things goes nuclear, forget about it.
Cute interview
Max. please have her back to explain where the term "chicken skin" comes from. Here in America I thought we only said "goosebumps."
You are American one hundred percent.
That's it.
Culture is culture be proud of it.
When I was born my mother and I was disowned by her family,, we lived with my great grand mother who had the tattoos you mentioned
She had them from her knuckles to her elbows, they were triangles interlocking patterns, to me they were beautiful.
She told me, and who would know right?
She said the Japanese would come around and take the young girls and they never came back, but if you have tattoos they wouldn't take you, some girls wouldn't mind but ultimately it's up to the parents
The truth was the young girls were taken to Japan to work in brothels
The people who went to these places thought that workers there wanted to be there, and found it difficult to be someone who didn't, also tattoos were associated with a lower class, criminals were tattooed under their arms, modern Japanese tattoos or styles leave this area empty.
Firefighters ther tated their bodies, because they did this naked, but appeared clothed.
But back to my ,,, so it was the real reason only women from Okinawan ladies had them, true story, told to a little kid.
She died in 1966, it was my first time I ever rode in a car it was a black Cadillac she was 83 when they took her away.
I have nothing to say about Okinawa, but I can say that it has gotten to be a better a place and time heals .
My culture is Okinawan and father was a white dude from Texas who was with the 1st , SF, who made me a love child.
In Hawaii nixed people back in the day were called poi dog, they don't call them that' any more?
The ghosts of Okinawa are real, the first A and W built on Okinawa was by our house and so was our haka at base of the cliff, g.i.s would throw the mugs off of it, broken glass would litter the bottom where our family grave and I'd go there and pick up the broken glass,
The ledge above was the same but sometimes one of the mugs wouldn't be broken, I seen one and I went after it I had fallen in Field of broken mugs and I decided to leave, when I started to walk away I notice a lot of blood spilling from the bottom of my uncut pant leg, which I rolled up to look at this unbelievable cut I had gotten, a few minutes later my mom comes running up and tells me grand ma said I was hurt.
But she had been gone now over a year
How is it that I see her video recommended to me on instagram and now here it is on RUclips?!
Google and the Zucc must be watching you😳
@@MaxDCapo right? I’m shookith 草
100% beautiful
In English, accepted usage comes and goes. I´m a quarter Indian, three quarters English. I had to explain to an English friend that the term "half-cast" is unacceptable nowadays. "Mixed race" or "mixed heritage" are OK. He couldn´t understand that accepted vocabulary changes. The expression "coloured" is taboo, whereas "people of colour" is not. Interestingly, the term "black and brown people" seems to have established itself in modern usage.
Do Japanese people not realize that Okinawans are ethnically Ryukyuan not Japanese? I am shocked by the number of ignorant comments here. Do Japanese schools not teach this stuff?
@ridgemonthigh8h4a I had always heard about the discrimination but I never realized how bad it was until now. My heart goes out to the minority groups of Japan.
@@atatur123 中国はもっと酷いけどな～チベットにもウイグルにも！
Japanese are not exactly so called one race as they claimed themselves are and surely Okinawa had a different ethnic identity from the mainland Japan but to be honest Okinawa is a small island so it’s better to be annexed with Japan otherwise it will become like Taiwan always threatened by communist China、when the world view Taiwan is a part of China but the fact is despite those refugees flew to the island during the IIWW the true Taiwanese is also a race of Polynesian ethnic.
🇦🇬
She’s beautiful. Half mom, half dad, whole you.
🙇🏾♂️
I wonder which language is easier to speak in terms of wording and expression, English or Japanese.
I read that there was Chinese influence in Okinawa before it became part of China. "Cham" sounds like a Chinese Cantonese or Chinese Hokkien word meaning "mixed-in" or "add in to mix".
the whole of japan and korea has chinese influence.
Chinese influence on mainland Japan was mostly in the Tang dynasty. Chinese influence on Okinawa was up until more recently, really up until 1879 when Okinawa Prefecture was created.
Well of course stir fry would be the Lew Chew influence
The Ryuku Lee chew islands were the cultural intermediaries between China and Japan until the Satsuma
The Ryu Kyu islands are closer to Taiwan.
I'm definitely not messing with your dad.
I wish you could have asked her if she would live in the US one day
Beauty
Grace is so pretty, she reminds me of Debbie Harry (Blondie) over 50 years ago.
I first heard about Okinawa from Karate Kid looool
For me as a German, it is historically rather difficult to mention ethnic origins at all. We have been taught for decades that everyone is the same, there are no differences, whether black or white. Now I am always surprised at how this is dealt with in Asia. If you don't look like us, then you're not from here. In the end, it follows a "simple" logic. Which in Germany is immediately labeled as xenophobic and National Socialist.
I find it quite interesting what different faces are characterized by their mere origin. So these videos are always particularly interesting for me. So long... I'm not following any particular agenda, just wanted to share my thoughts.
She is painfully cute
I love how it’s specific like “Okinawan”
Sure let’s do a half “Hokkaidoite” too 😂
Maybe Ainu from Hokkaido😂 Okinawan is different ethnically from Japanese though!
Isn’t Ainu as well isn’t it more Russian?
The way she labelled herself is accurate. Okinawan is literally a different ethnicity (Ryukyuan) from Japanese.
13:18, only an original native Japanese can tell if she nailed the dialect purely
💚
She has the old traditional Okinawian tattoo on her right hand.