Hapa-ness Trailer

Trailer for an upcoming documentary by Karen Suzuki about growing up Half-Japanese (or Hapa) in Canada.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• hapa
• japanese
• canadian
• suzuki
• internment
• sushi

[fishinful]

I tell beople that I'm half Japanese from my mom and Half white from a friend of my father.

[dawnmusic87]

My boyfriend is Japanese and I'm Canadian (white). He's planning to move out here to Vancouver and eventually we're going to have our own little Hapa baby! I was always curious to see how people would react to our baby. It seems there is a strong, proud Hapa community. I'm glad!

[MrInception12]

the lady at 0.41 looks white and youd have to be mentally retarded if oyu think she looks asian.

[vgycgy]

I'm sixteen and hapa (Japanese / Spanish) and I was always ashamed by it, growing up in Canada , I learned Japanese and lived there an now I love being hapa , im comfortable with my own skin and I wouldn't change any of it :)

[iNESADRIenne]

@kuualoha96734

that's what hapa used to mean.

and plus hapa comes from english for half, so by ur standards are hawaiians no proud enough to use the hawaiian word for half? no. it's just the very word itself demonstrates how culture can change the meaning of words.

what about the terms hapa kamoa (samoan) or hapa pake (chinese)? that's in hawaiian, so doesn't that mean hapa means more than what ur complaining about?

[midorihelenie]

i'm taiwanese but i've been told by everybody that i look hapa (i feel very honoured to look hapa hehe)

so i tell them i'm half japanese from my mother and italian from my father :)

[kuualoha96734]

@scorpiomooselove im not saying dont use a hawaiian word, its just weird that u arent using a asian word. Theres so many anti hawaiian videos because of this and the word hapa was never used to describe asians NEVER! It was used to describe half white, half hawaiian people. It wasnt a insult yet because of your movement complaining of racial insensitivity, people r being racially insensitive 2wards hawaiians. hope u get what u set out 2 get, even if it is at the expense of Hawaiians.

[cornelius386]

As an Asian man I'm happy to see hapas with white mothers and Asian fathers. I hope the trend will increase. Best wishes.

[scorpiomooselove]

i love both sides and when people ask me what nationality are you? i go on this whole list and they're like....so half japanese? and i'm like full and they're like...half white? full white...WHAT???!!!! I'm not half of anything....I'm a human being

[scorpiomooselove]

@kuualoha96734 its like using the french word metis meaning mixed...you can use it in any cultures since its become whats socially accepted

[scorpiomooselove]

I feel bad for hapas that cant speak their language...like grandparents and stuff! and they cant embrace their culture!! like i love love love book-off and speaking japanese and stuff . you have to love every part of you