Romy's Third-generation Japanese American Journey
I’m Romy Yoshimoto a Boehringer Ingelheim employee based in California’s Central Valley. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, it’s an honor to share my personal journey as a third-generation Japanese American.
My mother was born and raised in Osaka, Japan, then moved to the U.S. after getting married. My father grew up in Central California after my grandparents emigrated from Hiroshima, Japan, in search of opportunity and settled in the area because the climate and agriculture were like their hometown. Despite being born here, my dad and his family were sent to live in an internment camp in Gila, Arizona during World War II. For three long years, they lived in dusty barracks surrounded by barbed wire and armed soldiers. During this time, my uncle also fought for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team while his family was incarcerated.
I was born and raised in a small agricultural town called Fowler, California. My whole family worked together to farm raisins and other tree fruits on the land that my father inherited from his parents. We grew to have a deep appreciation for the land, which is why I’m so connected to Central Valley. Like our parents and grandparents, my siblings and I were raised with strong values that focused on hard work and educational opportunity. I grew up taking dance and piano lessons but also attended Buddhist church and Japanese school to learn about my native culture and language.
As there were few Asians in this area growing up, I faced blatant racism too many times to keep track. As I’ve gotten older, I have become more confident in who I am in my skin. I also raise my bi-racial daughter with Japanese culture, mindfully balancing the traditional way that I was raised while also navigating today’s world. I try to incorporate ways to highlight her Japanese ancestry and will continue to teach her the story of our heritage and the inevitable mantel of representation.
I am proud of my ancestry and culture. As an Upstander, I ask you to take the time to get to know someone who doesn’t look like you or think like you, to see the best in everyone. You might find it's our differences that make us stronger together.
