Joyce Yamamoto
What does it mean to be Asian American?
I grew up in small town Minnesota, so I looked different than Anglo Minnesota people who lived in our town BUT I was fortunate to have a wonderful, close friend from kindergarten through high school graduation who LOVED Japanese culture, food, and interior design! She would always tell kids who said unkind, racist things to me, “Shut up!!” I will never forget how much she and her friendship meant to me, and gave me confidence to be proud of being Japanese American, in addition to having parents who were proud of being Japanese American! I have always been proud to be Asian American/Japanese American. I also had teachers in my public school who were anti-racist!!
Ethnic background: Asian American/Japanese American
Age: 82
Current city & state: Minneapolis, Minnesota
What do you worry about? I worry about people of color of all cultures who are treated poorly and unfairly by people of a dominant culture in which they must live.
What can’t you live without? I cannot live without diverse cultural understanding and respect for all people of diverse and universal cultures.
What brings you joy? Family, friendship, cultural understanding, peace, love, and joy brings me joy and cultural pride in a beautiful, diverse world.
What is your wish for the United States? My wish for the United States is that we will stand united in support of our beliefs in “Land of the free, and Home of the brave.”
What role do you play, or want to play in making that wish come true? I will always speak up/stand up for human respect of racial and cultural diversity as I learn what these words mean to all racially and culturally diverse people.
Anything else you wish to say about being Asian American? Even when I was young and wanted to be like all my friends, there was my Asian/Japanese heritage that knew who I am and quietly kept me proud of being Asian American/Japanese American.
What motivates you to do what you do everyday?
I am motivated to represent Asian Americans: as kind, upstanding people!
“I will always speak up/stand up for human respect of racial and cultural diversity as I learn what these words mean to all racially and culturally diverse people.”
— Joyce Yamamoto, 2023
Joyce Yamamoto with gold diamond ring, 2023
My special object is my gold ring with a diamond from my Japanese born Bachan/grandmother, which she gave to my father, who gave it to me. I changed its design and have worn it for the majority of my long life. I am passing it on to my youngest son’s daughter, who is proud to be both Japanese American and Irish American.
“I’m passing it on to my youngest son’s daughter….”
— Joyce Yamamoto