~“Nikkei” in Palau~ Interview Series: Vol. 41 Mr. Eugene Uehara (Dingelius) & Mrs. Virginia Ikeya

Mr. Eugene Uehara, now 76 years old, is a third generation Palauan of Japanese descent. His father Mr. Yasunaga Uehara is the son of Mr. Hohei Uehara from Okinawa, Japan and a Palauan woman by the name of Iwong Mengloi Uehara from Ngarchelong state. Mr. Uehara’s mother is Ms. Baustina Kmedrang from the state of Koror. Mr. Uehara has four siblings, three of whom have already passed on. He is married to Mrs. Virginia Ikeya and together they are blessed with four children and many grandchildren.
 
Mr. Eugene Uehara attended Mindszenty High School and later studied at Micronesian Occupational College now known as Palau Community College. While at PCC, he was recruited to join a program in utilities engineering, where he trained in managing public utilities such as power and water. He traveled to many places, including Singapore, Samoa, and the Micronesian islands, to conduct training related to managing public utilities. He also trained workers for Palau Public Utilities Corporation.
 
He was later hired at PCC as the auto mechanic instructor. A devoted teacher, Mr. Uehara also trained new school bus drivers and bus monitors on proper procedures at intersections on Koror’s major roads. He emphasized vigilance and safety to ensure that students remained safe both on the bus and when getting on and off the bus. Even after his tenure at PCC, he returned in 2013 to deliver a “Heart of Service” lecture to students in the auto mechanics program.
 
Mr. Uehara was also an active member of his community, serving as a legislator of Ngerbeched Hamlet in Koror State. In addition to being a passionate public servant, he was a dedicated baseball manager and coach in his earlier years.
 
He developed an interest in baseball at a young age and played for a short time as an outfielder. After receiving advice from Mr. Tony Towai, he decided to pursue managing and coaching. Under Mr. Towai’s guidance, he learned all the basics, from setting a lineup to knowing when to make pitcher substitutions. Mr. Uehara later on formed a softball team and managed that team which went on to win a softball championship.
 
In 1984, the players expressed their interest to Mr. Uehara in forming a baseball team. The team was established and quickly found success, finishing second in the championship series in 1984 and 1985. In 1986, the Ngerbeched-Ngerbeches team won its first series championship. With a strong roster, the team went on to win four more championships in 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001. The 1999 season was left incomplete as players prepared for the 11th South Pacific Games. This era became a defining period for the neighborhood and a memorable part of Ngerbeched Hamlet’s baseball history. A song was even created about the team. Mrs. Ikeya shared that during this time, players would sometimes spend the night at their home, so she prepared plenty of food for them. In many ways, they became like second parents to the players. Mr. Uehara continued managing the team until 2001.

Mrs. Virginia Ikeya, now 73 years old, the spouse of Mr. Eugene Uehara is also a third generation Palauan-Japanese. Her father is Mr. Ikeya Blau and her mother is Ms. Tosko U. Ikeya, a second generation Palauan-Japanese.
 
Her mother Ms. Tosko Ulechong is the biological daughter of Ms. Diliaur Rekesuk and a Japanese man. Ms. Ulechong was adopted by her mother’s sister, Ms. Iblai Olkeriil and her husband Mr. Ulechong Amalei. Mrs. Ikeya’s mother only had one sibling, Ms. Ayako Ongklungel. Mrs. Ikeya’s family lineage spans several states of Babeldaob namely, Melekeok, Ngiwal, and Ngaraard.
 
Mrs. Ikeya’s mother gave birth to her at a young age. Her Japanese father later returned to Japan, so Mrs. Ikeya has no recollection of her biological father. Her mother’s sister, Ms. Ayako, traveled to Japan with other relatives in search of their father. Unfortunately, he had already passed away, and his relatives were reluctant to reconnect with the two siblings.
 
Mrs. Ikeya is one of eleven siblings. Some of her siblings moved abroad but most of them stayed in Palau, and two of them have already passed on. She told us that when she was born her father Mr. Ikeya named her “Vriginia” instead of Virginia. Father McManus, a priest at her school tried to inform her that her name had been misspelled but she wouldn’t listen, it took Father McManus meeting with her father to explain the spelling for them to agree to have it changed. Mrs. Ikeya’s adoptive father was close with the Japanese people who lived in Palau during the time of their administration and even taught at the Japanese school in Ngaraard State. Even though his name is Mr. Ikeya, he has no Japanese ancestry, though many people know him as “Ikyasang.” She said that it’s meant to be “Ikeya-san,” but Palauan pronunciation combines the words into one.
 
She grew up in Ngaraard State, going to the local elementary school and went on to attend Palau High School. After she graduated from high school, Mrs. Ikeya started the OJT Program or on the job training at Micronesia Occupational College now known as Palau Community College. She worked there as a supply officer, her daily tasks included checking the school inventory, purchasing supplies, and even timekeeping. After the program concluded, she was hired to work in the finance department of Palau Community College all the way up until retirement in April of 2012.
 
Now, Mrs. Ikeya spends most of her time helping her husband, Mr. Uehara, who has health needs, and caring for their grandchildren. She is also actively involved in her church community.
 
For our last question, we asked Mrs. Ikeya about her thoughts on the relationship between Japan and Palau. Mrs. Ikeya said that the bond between the two nations is already quite close. Japanese were in Palau for some time, and the Palauans have adapted many aspects of their culture, even some of their words. She hopes the connection between Japan and Palau will remain strong for many years to come.