I recently met Magaly Tsukayama Goya at a WUB Hawaii meeting. She is currently in Hawaii for the East-West Center’s Asia-Pacific Leadership Program. WUB Hawaii is strongly committed to supporting and encouraging young Uchinanchus, whether from Hawaii or from other countries. WUB’s mission is to promote global networking among Uchinanchus.
Robert Arakaki
Tell us about yourself. Who you are, what you do, and where you are from.
My name is Magaly Tsukayama Goya. I am Nikkei Uchinanchu from Lima, Peru. I studied economics at San Marcos University. Currently, I have run my own entrepreneurship that offers toys to motivate creativity to children. Also, I am the vice president of the Education board of AOPCOOP (Cooperative Financial Institution founded by Nikkei Uchinanchu) and write in Peru Shimpo (The first Nikkei Newspaper in Peru). Since COVID 19, I have become a teacher. I taught children and seniors how to make handicrafts and also about Okinawa culture and history.
What is an economist and what do you do as an economist?
To my way of thinking an economist is a person who synthesises mathematics, statistics with social sciences because the main reason of the economy is to find the well-being of the people.
In my early years as an economist, I worked in some of the most important banks in Lima, basically in the finance field. Now, I am focusing on the social part of the economy. I write articles in Peru Shimpo related to sustainability. Moreover, in AOPCOOP the projects we propose are associated with financial inclusion, financial education and the promotion of Okinawan values.
What brings you to Hawaii? What has the APLP experience been like for you?
First, I want to express my gratitude to World Uchinanchu Business for the support to be part of the Asian Pacific Leadership Program (APLP). Since I was a child, I have had the dream not only to know the type of leadership in the countries around the world but also to learn about it; due to the fact that for me a leader always has to serve the community.
As far as I’m concerned, the APLP is a life changing experience. I have shared experiences with people from different cultures and also learned about that. Also, I learned about Hawaiian culture that is a good example of tolerance and preservation and respect for their traditions, language and people.
What generation of Uchinanchu are you? What is the story of your family’s migration from Okinawa to Peru? What village is your family from?
I am sansei. My grandparents immigrated to Perú in the 1920s. From my father’s side they were from Chatan cho and my mother’s side from Kitanakagusuku son. (Attached is my grandfather’s passport.)
What are some facts that you would like people to know about Peru?
Peru is a multicultural country because of the immigrations from Asia, Europe and Africa. Because of this, the gastronomy in Peru is considered one of the most important in Latin America.
What is the Uchinanchu community like in Peru? What similarities and differences between the Peru Uchinanchus and the Hawaii Uchinanchus have you noticed?
The Uchinanchu community in Perú and Hawaiian Uchinanchu Community have many similarities. For instance, there are some restaurants that sell Okinawan dishes, play sanshin.
I am very happy to meet Uchinanchus in Hawaii because they show me that there are no boundaries to feel “Ichariba choodee.” You make me feel like home.
Anything you want to add?
Thank you WUB for the opportunity to be a fellow of APLP at East West Center. Thank you to the East West Center for the experience to become a better leader. Because of this experience, I learn new tools and improve my leadership skills to serve our community. I promise to work hard to study more about Okinawa culture, traditions and history to preserve, diffuse it and contribute to WUB network development around the world as well. Thank you very much, I am very happy and proud to be part of the Uchinanchu community.
Ippee nifee debiru!
Magaly Tsukayama Goya
