Tag Archives: Italian

Japanese, Italian

hapa283My name is Alec Fujimoto. I was born and raised in Orange County, California, and I recently graduated from Azusa Pacific University. I am half Japanese and half Italian.

Growing up I was submerged in a white suburbs culture. It wasn’t until I reached high school and college that I began to really identify with the Asian culture. In high school I joined a Japanese basketball league, took Japanese classes in school, attended JEMS camp (Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society), and took a trip throughout much of Asia including Japan.

Although many of my friends were white, I easily and quickly created friendships with Koreans, Japanese, and other Hapas. I never really struggled with issues about my mixed race, it was mostly in my eyes looked at as a positive, as people thought I was unique looking.

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Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, German, English, Spanish

hapa266I am of Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, German, English and Spanish descent!

My Japanese grandma met a US merchant marine while stationed in Yokohama and the rest was history! My European mixed grandpa’s nickname was “chico” because he was a 6 foot 5 giant!

My Chinese mother initially met my dad while she was waitressing at her dad’s restaurant in Portland, and they started dating 5 years later when they both ran into each other at a sushi bar.

My Chinese grandpa was a Japanese POW, so it was difficult for him to accept my Hapa-Japanese dad but he eventually grew to accept him as part of the family.

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Japanese, Italian, Spanish

Hello my name is Gina and I am Japanese, Italian, and Spanish.

I was always proud to be Hapa but my mother who is also Hapa was never proud to admit she was anything but Italian.

I grew up always being told to just say that I’m Italian or Spanish; never Japanese. As I got older and started making friends who were full Asian or Hapa it became easier for me to admit that I was Japanese and I became so proud of who I am.

It was very hard to be Hapa because most of my friends were either 100% Spanish or 100% white… I felt like I didnt really fit in. Continue reading →

Korean, Irish, Italian

I have always embraced my Hapa heritage, and fortunately I have never faced any real challenges because of my ethnicity.

My Dad’s side of the family is from Hawaii, and as you can imagine being hapa over there is not uncommon.

My Mother’s side of the family is from the Philadelphia region, so culturally I am all over the place.

Usually people who are one hundred percent Asian have a hard time believing that I am part Korean, while others can usually tell. Continue reading →

Chinese, British, Italian, German

I am Hapa although I don’t look very Asian.

I believe that it doesn’t really matter what race you are. Being Hapa, you don’t usually look like your mom or dad or anyone in your family…you don’t always fit into your cultures.

You’re kind of half way there, you’re accepted as more than an outsider, but not as if you were “pure” whatever. Continue reading →

Japanese, Italian

Born in Kyoto Japan, moved then to Italy when I was ten. I worked in the UK for 10 years, so feel also a little adopted British.

Sometimes I travel for work but not hectic jet style, I like to stay in a place to understand it well. I love cities and landscapes.

Identity is always our curse, but now as adult I think you are where you live, what you breathe, what you eat, who you meet, are your family. Continue reading →

Brazilian, Italian, Chinese

Well, being Hapa in Brazil is the most common thing you can imagine, since the country inhabits the most amount of mixed races in the whole world.

I think that to be Hapa is a genetic gift, because you can take the best of various cultures and ethinics assemblances, and by mixing all together you got a very good masterpiece :D Continue reading →

Japanese, Italian, Irish, Scottish

Hey fellow Hapas! My name is Naomi, I’m from Northern California, but am going to film school in Southern California.

I just started my own t-shirt business, 6º of Hapa, it’s been fun and I’ve received really positive feedback (even non-Hapas have been buying them)!

My mom is Japanese-American and my dad is Caucasian (Italian, Irish, and Scottish, though the Scottish is not totally confirmed). Continue reading →

North Korean, Italian, German, French

Hi I’m Jesse.

At least there are more people like me and of course I like who I am (even though I kind if found it hard).

Just a bit about myself? I grew up in Pyongyang North Korea, as my Dad was a Diplomat for Italians, Italy and of course establishing trade. I lived their until I was 7 and we moved to Aquitaine France and I have been their ever since. Continue reading →