Densho Poll - May 2009 Survey

The number of Americans who identify themselves as Japanese declined to 796,700 in the 2000 census, from 847,562 in 1990, partly because of low immigration and birth rates. Also in the 2000 census, 350,000 cited Japanese and other backgrounds, the highest rate of multi-ethnic identification of any Asian group. What does this mean for the future of Japanese American culture? Is it being diluted? Will it disappear through assimilation? Tell us your opinion.

1. What components of Japanese American culture are important to preserve?

	Not important 1	2	3	4	Very important 5
Appreciation of traditional Japanese arts like taiko, martial arts, ikebana, calligraphy	What components of Japanese American culture are important to preserve? Appreciation of traditional Japanese arts like taiko, martial arts, ikebana, calligraphy Not important* 1	Appreciation of traditional Japanese arts like taiko, martial arts, ikebana, calligraphy 2	Appreciation of traditional Japanese arts like taiko, martial arts, ikebana, calligraphy 3	Appreciation of traditional Japanese arts like taiko, martial arts, ikebana, calligraphy 4	Appreciation of traditional Japanese arts like taiko, martial arts, ikebana, calligraphy Very important 5
Knowledge of Japanese American history and the World War II incarceration	Knowledge of Japanese American history and the World War II incarceration Not important 1	Knowledge of Japanese American history and the World War II incarceration 2	Knowledge of Japanese American history and the World War II incarceration 3	Knowledge of Japanese American history and the World War II incarceration 4	Knowledge of Japanese American history and the World War II incarceration Very important 5
Preservation of historic buildings, Japantowns, former camps	Preservation of historic buildings, Japantowns, former camps Not important 1	Preservation of historic buildings, Japantowns, former camps 2	Preservation of historic buildings, Japantowns, former camps 3	Preservation of historic buildings, Japantowns, former camps 4	Preservation of historic buildings, Japantowns, former camps Very important 5
Participation in community festivals like obon, mochitsuki, children’s day	Participation in community festivals like obon, mochitsuki, children’s day Not important 1	Participation in community festivals like obon, mochitsuki, children’s day 2	Participation in community festivals like obon, mochitsuki, children’s day 3	Participation in community festivals like obon, mochitsuki, children’s day 4	Participation in community festivals like obon, mochitsuki, children’s day Very important 5
Passing on values like gaman, haji, enryo, hard work, education	Passing on values like gaman, haji, enryo, hard work, education Not important 1	Passing on values like gaman, haji, enryo, hard work, education 2	Passing on values like gaman, haji, enryo, hard work, education 3	Passing on values like gaman, haji, enryo, hard work, education 4	Passing on values like gaman, haji, enryo, hard work, education Very important 5
Cooking Japanese American food	Cooking Japanese American food Not important 1	Cooking Japanese American food 2	Cooking Japanese American food 3	Cooking Japanese American food 4	Cooking Japanese American food Very important 5
Studying the Japanese language	Studying the Japanese language Not important 1	Studying the Japanese language 2	Studying the Japanese language 3	Studying the Japanese language 4	Studying the Japanese language Very important 5
Visiting Japanese ancestral home	Visiting Japanese ancestral home Not important 1	Visiting Japanese ancestral home 2	Visiting Japanese ancestral home 3	Visiting Japanese ancestral home 4	Visiting Japanese ancestral home Very important 5

Other (please specify)

2. What changes will define future Japanese American culture?

	Not important 1	2	3	4	Very important 5
Intermarriage with other ethnic groups	What changes will define future Japanese American culture? Intermarriage with other ethnic groups Not important* 1	Intermarriage with other ethnic groups 2	Intermarriage with other ethnic groups 3	Intermarriage with other ethnic groups 4	Intermarriage with other ethnic groups Very important 5
Multiracial children	Multiracial children Not important 1	Multiracial children 2	Multiracial children 3	Multiracial children 4	Multiracial children Very important 5
New immigration from Japan	New immigration from Japan Not important 1	New immigration from Japan 2	New immigration from Japan 3	New immigration from Japan 4	New immigration from Japan Very important 5
Pop culture from Japan--karaoke, anime, Tokyo fashion	Pop culture from Japan--karaoke, anime, Tokyo fashion Not important 1	Pop culture from Japan--karaoke, anime, Tokyo fashion 2	Pop culture from Japan--karaoke, anime, Tokyo fashion 3	Pop culture from Japan--karaoke, anime, Tokyo fashion 4	Pop culture from Japan--karaoke, anime, Tokyo fashion Very important 5
Passing of the Nisei generation	Passing of the Nisei generation Not important 1	Passing of the Nisei generation 2	Passing of the Nisei generation 3	Passing of the Nisei generation 4	Passing of the Nisei generation Very important 5
More Nikkei political, business, arts, and academic leaders	More Nikkei political, business, arts, and academic leaders Not important 1	More Nikkei political, business, arts, and academic leaders 2	More Nikkei political, business, arts, and academic leaders 3	More Nikkei political, business, arts, and academic leaders 4	More Nikkei political, business, arts, and academic leaders Very important 5

Other (please specify)

3. How Japanese does a Japanese American need to be? Do you consider hapa or quarter Japanese people to be full members of the Japanese American community?

How Japanese does a Japanese American need to be? Do you consider hapa or quarter Japanese people to be full members of the Japanese American community? Yes definitely

Not really

Undecided

Additional thoughts:

4. If you are a racial “blend,” how do you self-identify?

If you are a racial “blend,” how do you self-identify? One parent is Japanese American. I call myself:
One parent is half Japanese American. I call myself:
One parent is Japanese born. I call myself:

	Yes	No	Undecided
Less concerned with the World War II experience	*What does the future Japanese American community look like? Less concerned with the World War II experience Yes	Less concerned with the World War II experience No	Less concerned with the World War II experience Undecided
Assimilated into broader society	Assimilated into broader society Yes	Assimilated into broader society No	Assimilated into broader society Undecided
Acculturated but not assimilated	Acculturated but not assimilated Yes	Acculturated but not assimilated No	Acculturated but not assimilated Undecided
Part of Pan-Asian America	Part of Pan-Asian America Yes	Part of Pan-Asian America No	Part of Pan-Asian America Undecided

Densho Poll - May 2009

Densho Survey -- Future Nikkei Community