By Jeana Shea & Amanda Gomes
Wagner College Class of 2015
The story of Shu Sheio’s immigration to America is not like many we have discussed in class. Living in Japan until he was 18, Shu felt that he was ready to start a life in an entirely new setting. He had nothing pushing him from his home in Japan; he had always lived a comfortable life with his family. It was the opportunities that were available in America that led the way for Shu. Upon coming to America Shu enrolled in three different language schools. Finding a stale repetition in the communities he was surrounded by he then decided to enroll in a full time college. Having been apart of his high school drama club in Japan Shu thought it felt only right to pursue Theatre as a major. Fifteen years later Shu now runs the Fredrick Lowe Theatre at New York University.
Maintaining Identity
Despite immigrating to a foreign country Shu still found it immensely important to maintain his ethnic identity. A well maintained ethnic identity is crucial for an immigrant’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being. In a study conducted by Yikari Takimoto Amos of the International Journal of Multicultural Education twenty-three Japanese-American students between the ages of middle school to high school were studied based on their ethnic identity in American Schools versus Japanese language schools. The study concludes that the Japanese students were quiet and reserved in their American schools fitting the stereotype of the asian american minority. Whereas, on the weekends at their Japanese language school they were more carefree, loud, social, and relaxed.
Working in America
Shu has made a very successful career while living in New York, running a theatre at a well known university. Japanese immigrants, first coming to America, often have trouble finding work, because of the large cultural and language gap. Many have to rely on friends and family members already living in America to help them find work (Modell, 1971). Despite this difficult beginning, Japanese men and women generally find success once they have established a life in the United States. Most foreign-born Japanese immigrants had jobs in the wholesale trade and finance sectors, which were some of the higher paying jobs that immigrants had (Fang, 1996). It has also been concluded that Japanese immigrants have the highest median income of any other Asian minority group, averaging at $72, 579. (Fang, 1996). Though there are many difficult cultural transitions from Eastern to Western countries, many Japanese immigrants have found success working in America, and have surpassed most other immigrant groups.
It is estimated that in 2011, there were 18,314 foreign-born Japanese people living in New York City. While this number may not be as large as other Asian countries, such as China and India, the stories of Japanese immigrants are still very important to the culture of the United States.
Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W19hqrmsnY
Sources:
Fang, D. “Japan’s growing economic activities and the attainment patterns of foreign-born Japanese workers in the United States, 1979 to 1989.” The International Migration Review 30, no. 2 (1996 Summer 1996): 511-534. MEDLINE, EBSCOhost (accessed March 10, 2013).
Modell, John. “TRADITION AND OPPORTUNITY: THE JAPANESE IMMIGRANT IN AMERICA.” Pacific Historical Review 40, no. 2 (May 1971): 163-182. America: History & Life, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2013).
Shu Sheio (theatre technical director) in discussion with the authors, February 2013.
Takimoto Amos, Yukari. “Stereotypes in Disguise: The Dual School Lives of Japanese Immigrant Students.” International Journal of Multicultural Education. no. 1 (2008): 1-16. Education Research Complete, EBSCOhost