UAAC-AAUC 2021

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Archeology of Memory and Identity of the Japanese Diaspora: A Look into the Artistic Practice of Erica Kaminishi by Su Yen Chong, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

In the early 20th century, Japan was experiencing an intensified socio-economic downturn. In 1923, the Great Kanto earthquake devastated the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan centre leaving millions of people homeless. This prompted a national emigration policy to Latin America, which was still suffering from a void in low-cost labour following the termination of the African slave trade. Today, over 2.19 million individuals identify as Nikkei or being part of the Japanese diaspora reside in Latin America, with the population primarily concentrated in Brazil. Among their many experiences, World War II is embedded in the memories of many Nikkei communities whose lives were devastated because of the war. During this period, the questions of nationalism, loyalty, and ethnicity were brought to the forefront as the Nikkei communities underwent persecution by various governmental bodies. The contemporary identification of being part of the global Nikkei community has brought about a surge of rediscovery of commonality in history, culture, and communal memories.

The topic of this paper addresses issues of identity and belonging faced by the Nikkei communities in Latin America through the artistic practice of Erica Kaminishi with a focus on participatory art installation. Kaminishi, a third-generation Japanese Brazilian, was born and raised in Brazil, and in the past two decades, she moved between three continents (South America, Asia, and Europe).