Yin & Young the podcast is back with a new episode with writer Peter Kageyama! Peter is a writer whose latest book, 1950s noir thriller “Hunter’s Point” featuring Asian American lead characters, recently became an Amazon bestseller. In this episode we discuss Peter’s background as a Sansei (third generation Japanese American), his work in non-fiction (For the Love of Cities) and fiction, and much more.
Peter’s website: peterkageyama.com
Peter’s non-fiction work: www.fortheloveofcities.com
Highlights:
Peter shares a bit of historical background about Hunter’s Point, San Francisco.
Peter grew up in Akron, Ohio, stood out as one of the few (if not only) mixed race kids in the neighborhood.
Is known for his work on urban development and city planning (For the Love of Cities) and is now writing fiction.
Father was a Nisei (2nd generation Japanese American) who was interned along with his family during World War 2 in the U.S.
“Hunter’s Point” was written as a kind of conversation with his father. Father was reserved and did not talk about his time in the camps or in the U.S. military.
Shig Murao, City Lights bookstore manager in the 1950s, plays an important role in the book and in the real world Beat scene.
How ones parent’s language is lost with each generation.
More accepting of his mixed race heritage and how this book helped him reconnect with his Japanese heritage.
Being Japanese vs being Japanese American.
How rare/taboo it was to see Asian men marry white women during the 1950s.
Currently writing a sequel to “Hunter’s Point.”
Book Recommendations:
Peter recommends: Facing the Mountain (Daniel James Brown) about Japanese internment.
James recommends No-No Boy (John Okada) about a Japanese American that refused to be drafted into the U.S. military.
Language corner:
反抗期 - hankouki: rebellious phase
恩 - on: obligation (benevolent)
義理 - giri: obligation (social, honorable)
sussy baka: silly stupid (a term kids use when gaming to describe ridiculous behavior). Combines “suspect” with “baka” (馬鹿) which is Japanese for fool.
失敗 - shippai: mistake; darn!
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