Interviewee: Reimi Kusaka
Interviewer: Grace Jones
Reimi Kusaka is Korean-Japanese-American, and she is currently a sophomore at Colby
College where she studies psychology and is a member of the women’s varsity tennis team. She
was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was raised in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. In this
interview, Reimi shares the family history of her Korean mother and Japanese father. She
highlights what it was like growing up specifically as a Korean-Japanese-American in New
Jersey and how her family’s rich cultural history impacts her daily life. This interview covers
topics such as the Japanese colonial rule over Korea, the current relationship between Japanese
people and Koreans, how food can strengthen one’s relationship to their culture, and the process
of accepting one’s ethnic identity.
I was introduced to Reimi Kusaka through mutual friends on campus. This interview was
conducted in person on March 15, 2023.
My name is Grace Jones, and I am currently a sophomore at Colby College majoring in
economics and global studies. I am interested in Korean history because I was adopted from
South Korea as an infant and want to learn about where I came from.