Name/Title
Oral History of Nobuko ClearyEntry/Object ID
2022.004.001Scope and Content
Cleary received a B.A. in English, from Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. and an M.A. in Linguistic Phonology from San Jose State University, San Jose, Calif. Cleary came to Los Altos for her first husband’s job. Using her deep knowledge about her native Japanese culture and her privilege, Saito Cleary has worked all her life to foster an understanding of Japanese culture in America. Toward that end, she started the Japanese Culture Day at the Hidden Villa, the organic farm started by Frank and Josephine Duveneck; was chair of the Los Altos Hills History Committee; and raised money for the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View, CA.
Nobuko Saito Cleary founded Cross Cultural Communications. Cleary’s intense societal etiquette training in Japan resulted in a major cultural shock upon moving to Canada and the United States. This experience inspired her involvement in many Japanese cultural appreciation activities, such as producing documentaries about Japan, teaching Japanese language and culture, and leading events for children and adults alike. Cleary notably founded Cross Cultural Communications, a company dedicated to bridging the gap between American and Japanese cultures.
The making of the film, Paper Lanterns, Saito Cleary worked with director Barry Frechette, who let her shape the narrative. The film is the story of Shigeaki Mori, a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor. Mori makes it his life’s mission to connect with the families of 12 American servicemen who were killed in the bombing, but whose families were told they were missing in action by the U.S. government.Collection
Oral History CollectionOral History Details
Interviewee
Nobuko ClearyInterviewer
Suruchi MohanInterview Date
Dec 15, 2020