~“Nikkei” in Palau~ Interview Series: Vol. 33 Ms. Christina Inamine
2025/10/6
Ms. Christina Inamine, born in 1947 and now 77 years old, is a second-generation Palauan Japanese or Nikkei. She is the youngest of nine siblings born to Ms. Ngebad Ngirakebas of Ngchesar State and Mr. Inamine from Okinawa Prefecture in Japan.
Her father, Mr. Inamine, was a farmer and a carpenter in Ngchesar before the war. While working in Palau, he got married to Ms. Ngebad Ngirakebeas and started a family. However, after World War II, Mr. Inamine was repatriated to Japan leaving his wife and nine children. Ms. Christina was unable to meet her father because her mother was still pregnant with her at the time of the repatriation.
An opportunity for a family reunion occurred when one of Ms. Christina’s relatives named Mr. Mesubed went to Japan. He found a way to put out an announcement on television looking for Mr. Inamine. Luckily, Mr. Inamine was able to see the advertisement and meet with Mr. Mesubed. A few years later, Mr. Inamine came to Palau and reunited with his children, and also met the youngest of them, Ms. Christina, for the very first time.
When Mr. Inamine came to Palau, Ms. Christina was already married and had children. Ms. Christina said that, “I didn’t remember my father and I was too shy to speak or even to receive the gifts that he brought for me.” Her brother, Mr. Seichiro knowing that she was apprehensive spoke to Ms. Christina. He told her that Mr. Inamine was her real father and that she should try to speak to him. Even though she was hesitant, he said it was okay to accept Mr. Inamine’s gifts and money. Her brother also taught her to say arigato (thank you) to her father. When he visited Palau, Mr. Inamine brought gifts and expressed his appreciation to the mother of his children, Ms. Ngebad for raising his children. He asked if he could bring one of his sons, Mr. Seichiro to Japan but their mother had refused. On his second and final visit, he asked Ms. Christina if he could take one of her sons to Japan as well. However, Ms. Christina did not want her son to go. Mr. Inamine’s brother also came to Palau, working on a tuna fishing boat, and met Ms. Christina during one of his trips. Her uncle would bring her fresh fish every time they returned from a fishing trip, until he eventually had to return to Japan.
Ms. Christina attended Ngchesar Elementary School and continued her education at the secondary school that was located near today’s Bank of Guam location. At the time, it was not uncommon for family responsibilities to take priority over schooling. Ms. Christina was unable to complete her secondary education because she had to leave school to help care for her sister, Ms. Katsue’s son, while her sister traveled to the United States to continue working as a nanny for an American employer.
When she was finally able to work, Ms. Christina was worried that no one would hire her because she didn’t complete her secondary education. She was fortunate enough to have found a job at Santa Fe Co., Micronesia Hotel and Tokyu Hotels (now known as Palau Pacific Resort) where she worked from 1985 until her retirement in 2004.
Ms. Christina married the late Mr. Oruetamol Albis from Ngerkebesang, and together they were blessed with five children: four boys and one girl. Although she was never able to visit Japan, she shared that she feels a bit uneasy about traveling abroad, which is understandable. Ms. Christina enjoys Japanese cuisine, and her favorite food is onigiri (Japanese rice balls).
Ms. Christina is very appreciative of the many assistances that Japan government have provided to Palau for many years including the Japan Palau Friendship bridge (formerly known as KB bridge), roads and other infrastructures in Palau. She hopes the good relations between the two countries to continue for many years to come.
Her father, Mr. Inamine, was a farmer and a carpenter in Ngchesar before the war. While working in Palau, he got married to Ms. Ngebad Ngirakebeas and started a family. However, after World War II, Mr. Inamine was repatriated to Japan leaving his wife and nine children. Ms. Christina was unable to meet her father because her mother was still pregnant with her at the time of the repatriation.
An opportunity for a family reunion occurred when one of Ms. Christina’s relatives named Mr. Mesubed went to Japan. He found a way to put out an announcement on television looking for Mr. Inamine. Luckily, Mr. Inamine was able to see the advertisement and meet with Mr. Mesubed. A few years later, Mr. Inamine came to Palau and reunited with his children, and also met the youngest of them, Ms. Christina, for the very first time.
When Mr. Inamine came to Palau, Ms. Christina was already married and had children. Ms. Christina said that, “I didn’t remember my father and I was too shy to speak or even to receive the gifts that he brought for me.” Her brother, Mr. Seichiro knowing that she was apprehensive spoke to Ms. Christina. He told her that Mr. Inamine was her real father and that she should try to speak to him. Even though she was hesitant, he said it was okay to accept Mr. Inamine’s gifts and money. Her brother also taught her to say arigato (thank you) to her father. When he visited Palau, Mr. Inamine brought gifts and expressed his appreciation to the mother of his children, Ms. Ngebad for raising his children. He asked if he could bring one of his sons, Mr. Seichiro to Japan but their mother had refused. On his second and final visit, he asked Ms. Christina if he could take one of her sons to Japan as well. However, Ms. Christina did not want her son to go. Mr. Inamine’s brother also came to Palau, working on a tuna fishing boat, and met Ms. Christina during one of his trips. Her uncle would bring her fresh fish every time they returned from a fishing trip, until he eventually had to return to Japan.
Ms. Christina attended Ngchesar Elementary School and continued her education at the secondary school that was located near today’s Bank of Guam location. At the time, it was not uncommon for family responsibilities to take priority over schooling. Ms. Christina was unable to complete her secondary education because she had to leave school to help care for her sister, Ms. Katsue’s son, while her sister traveled to the United States to continue working as a nanny for an American employer.
When she was finally able to work, Ms. Christina was worried that no one would hire her because she didn’t complete her secondary education. She was fortunate enough to have found a job at Santa Fe Co., Micronesia Hotel and Tokyu Hotels (now known as Palau Pacific Resort) where she worked from 1985 until her retirement in 2004.
Ms. Christina married the late Mr. Oruetamol Albis from Ngerkebesang, and together they were blessed with five children: four boys and one girl. Although she was never able to visit Japan, she shared that she feels a bit uneasy about traveling abroad, which is understandable. Ms. Christina enjoys Japanese cuisine, and her favorite food is onigiri (Japanese rice balls).
Ms. Christina is very appreciative of the many assistances that Japan government have provided to Palau for many years including the Japan Palau Friendship bridge (formerly known as KB bridge), roads and other infrastructures in Palau. She hopes the good relations between the two countries to continue for many years to come.