Fred Armisen Discovers He Is Actually Korean | Finding Your Roots | Ancestry®

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  • čas přidán 22. 04. 2024
  • SNL alumni Fred Armisen is left startled after learning the story of his mysterious grandfather.
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Komentáře • 867

  • @Brian-rt5bb
    @Brian-rt5bb Před měsícem +3068

    "[Fred Armisen] discovers he is actually Korean" sounds like the premise of a Portlandia sketch

    • @AdornThyHeadset
      @AdornThyHeadset Před měsícem +132

      I was absolutely prepared for an SNL sketch until I saw the channel name

    • @travisray2934
      @travisray2934 Před měsícem +58

      Lol i also double-checked the channel name cause i was certain this was going to be a parody

    • @stuffykong
      @stuffykong Před měsícem +84

      And then they would start a woman-owned artisanal kimchi business

    • @pwhitmer8
      @pwhitmer8 Před měsícem +26

      I was 100% ready for this to be a parody.

    • @existentialdemo
      @existentialdemo Před měsícem +19

      bro i clicked on this bc i thought it wasss

  • @danchen6783
    @danchen6783 Před měsícem +1040

    As an Asian, 21 seconds into this video when they showed a picture of his grandfather I could have told you he was Korean and saved everyone the time. Lol.

    • @Seschal
      @Seschal Před měsícem +32

      Same. I thought he looked mixed, and when I Googled it, I thought Japanese didn't fit.

    • @RogerCh888
      @RogerCh888 Před měsícem +22

      Start a fiver as an alternate/cheaper option to acestry 😂

    • @hullaballoon522
      @hullaballoon522 Před měsícem +25

      My husband is Korean and yes, his grandfather looks SO typically Korean.

    • @madibrown9609
      @madibrown9609 Před měsícem +14

      This comment made me laugh so hard I almost peed

    • @danchou2516
      @danchou2516 Před měsícem

      @@RogerCh888 😄

  • @TheOctaviusLee
    @TheOctaviusLee Před měsícem +1299

    The Korean Delegation would like to pick, Fred Armisen

  • @elvinabarclay6187
    @elvinabarclay6187 Před měsícem +1051

    The history between Korea and Japan is intense and worth learning.

  • @Grandesecole
    @Grandesecole Před měsícem +1095

    Japanese forced Koreans to use "Japanese Names" during colonial rule. I am happy for Fred that he found his true roots.
    I am a Korean, and loved Freds work for a very long time. Welcome Home !

    • @elizico
      @elizico Před měsícem +37

      this is making me emotional for some reason, that "welcome home" is so sweet 😭

    • @mylign
      @mylign Před měsícem +14

      Forcing name changes (創氏改名・창씨개명・そうしかいめい) was enacted in 1940, so Fred's grandfather's case does not apply. It had to do with getting a stage name.

    • @CeasefireNow2024
      @CeasefireNow2024 Před měsícem +43

      ​@@mylignjust because it was enacted into law in the 1940s does not mean it wasn't being practised or enforced without the legal backing during the 1930s. So it could still apply.

    • @user-we1sq3fv7x
      @user-we1sq3fv7x Před měsícem +20

      My Korean mother (born in 1943) had both a Japanese and Korean name due to the occupation. My grandmother’s second cousin competed in the 1936 Olympics under a Japanese name and under the Japan flag. I knew Fred was funny enough to be Korean, 😘.

    • @IzzyKawaiichi
      @IzzyKawaiichi Před měsícem +13

      @@mylign It more likely had to do with getting a job, period. Japanese attitudes towards Koreans in Japan (and just in general) were worse than American attitudes towards our own immigrants.

  • @be.ttubee
    @be.ttubee Před měsícem +124

    Fred Armisen must come to South Korea and can meet his Korean relatives because Koreans usually maintain their family registry very well and he can also put his name into his grand father's family registry. Not a joke!

    • @catherineono3387
      @catherineono3387 Před měsícem +13

      In the original full length program they provide that information. I’m not 100%sure but I think his history goes back about 1000 years according to those registries.

    • @yugandali
      @yugandali Před měsícem

      That would be wonderful! In Chinese that's called 認祖歸宗 recognizing your ancestors and returning to your family. I am sure you have something similar in Korea.

    • @be.ttubee
      @be.ttubee Před 29 dny

      @@catherineono3387 One of kings of Silla dynasty was "Park" and his must be a descendant of that Siila Dynasty Royal family.

    • @kimhart8268
      @kimhart8268 Před 29 dny

      @@catherineono3387yes that is true. This is the best finding your roots episode, its wild

    • @owensomers8572
      @owensomers8572 Před 7 dny

      @@be.ttubee Probably not, Park is the second most common family name in Korea after Kim. Korean clan names are usually tied to a city or region, it is my understanding that there are dozens of Kim clans, but I am most aware of Andong Kim.
      Lee is also very common, the last royal dynasty was Jeonju Lee. Fun fact, in the establishment of the Kim dynasty in North Korea, Kim Il Sung's administration is suspected of having made some ancestral family adjustments to link his clan (Jeonju Kim) to the Jeonju Lee clan to lend his reign legitimacy.

  • @thereisa
    @thereisa Před měsícem +1101

    I swear I used to say he looked mixed-Korean, and people told me he was part Japanese so I was like, "aah okay" - Some faces just look like family.

    • @LilliLamour
      @LilliLamour Před měsícem +65

      That's what we Black people say when we notice our own.

    • @stephaniejames4940
      @stephaniejames4940 Před měsícem +11

      It's exactly what we say wven if they don't see in in themselves, we do. ​@@LilliLamour

    • @HigesoriHanzo
      @HigesoriHanzo Před měsícem +26

      Yes because someone a quarter Korean looks very different from someone who’s a quarter Japanese

    • @avidadolares
      @avidadolares Před měsícem +21

      Me too! I swear I always said he looks like he looks Korean mixed with German and more specifically he had a Korean dancer who took a Japanese identity look about him. I swear I said this!

    • @tl1533
      @tl1533 Před měsícem

      Ok! Me, too! Lol.

  • @IPlayOneOnT.V.
    @IPlayOneOnT.V. Před měsícem +233

    You could see Fred's resemblance in his grandfather.

    • @babe8917
      @babe8917 Před měsícem +5

      He always looked like he was mixed with Asian

  • @Lightlinefisherman
    @Lightlinefisherman Před měsícem +201

    wow he literally is a product of history. tensions between korean and japan were perpetuated by japan colonizing korea in early 1900s. every korean family knows and talks about this because it eventually connects to the korean war and why we are seperated today.

    • @pherja
      @pherja Před měsícem +2

      So you’re saying everything in history makes us who we are, and we shouldn’t keep drawing lines and playing games of us versus them? You’re a great thinker. ❤

    • @ededdandeddytv5164
      @ededdandeddytv5164 Před měsícem +2

      Wow it’s almost like we’re all a product of history huh, that’s crazy

    • @Lightlinefisherman
      @Lightlinefisherman Před měsícem +2

      @@pherja I agree to a certain point. But each individual must be vetted properly and have a proper citizenship so that they are responsible to follow the laws of their land.

    • @Lightlinefisherman
      @Lightlinefisherman Před měsícem

      @@ededdandeddytv5164 lol u was ready for this huh

    • @dollcefina
      @dollcefina Před měsícem +1

      I feel SO HORRIBLE about what our people have done to your people. I am SO SORRY . . . ! ! ! 😭 Sometimes I hate being Japanese. Because Japan was like the Nazi Germany of East Asia. It enrages me!!! 😡

  • @grokker99
    @grokker99 Před měsícem +153

    Fred's personality honestly fits more with Korean culture than Japanese. He would love Seoul--best city on Earth.

    • @dylantech
      @dylantech Před měsícem +12

      ㅎㅎㅎ How could it be the best city on earth when it’s not even the best city in Korea? That title belongs to Busan!

    • @MaximSupernov
      @MaximSupernov Před měsícem +2

      @@dylantech That I agree.

    • @naughtguiletroupe
      @naughtguiletroupe Před 26 dny

      South Korea is overrated. It's a country you wanna visit but not live in. It's like an amusement park. It's fun if you visit it occasionally but if you stay there permanently, it becomes boring and you realize it's not really that fun.

    • @migovasquez0303
      @migovasquez0303 Před 12 dny

      @@dylantech I thought Jeju, I love nature.

  • @kewltony
    @kewltony Před měsícem +265

    Ethnic Korean Choo Sung-hoon was born in Japan, like his parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. Despite this, he was only given Japanese citizenship when it was required for the Olympics as he was the country's judo champion for his weight class and after changing his name to Yoshihiro Akiyama. You might know him as the MMA fighter Sexyama.

    • @LeaBolante
      @LeaBolante Před měsícem +14

      One of the first dads from Return of Superman!

    • @samuelng1443
      @samuelng1443 Před měsícem +5

      Also on season 1 of Physical 100

    • @manchagojohnsonmanchago6367
      @manchagojohnsonmanchago6367 Před měsícem

      Sexyama....

    • @loganflatt
      @loganflatt Před měsícem +2

      Amazing physique and still a great MMA fighter at 48 years old with ONE Championship.

  • @leighrogers1383
    @leighrogers1383 Před měsícem +208

    I recommend the book ‘Pachinko’…for anyone who hasn’t read it. It gives you an insight into the times.

    • @Vic82toire
      @Vic82toire Před měsícem +15

      Yes! I was just going to say!

    • @kmari9819
      @kmari9819 Před měsícem +11

      Such a good book. The author is wonderful!

    • @orchidpanda2253
      @orchidpanda2253 Před měsícem +11

      They also turned it into a TV series

    • @MusicKevinWilliams
      @MusicKevinWilliams Před měsícem +12

      Also a great series on Apple TV+

    • @leighrogers1383
      @leighrogers1383 Před měsícem +5

      @@orchidpanda2253 I haven’t seen the series…but would like to. How does it compare to the book?

  • @powers39
    @powers39 Před měsícem +300

    The founder of Kyokushin Karate, Mas Oyama also changed his name around the same time. Mas Oyama's original name was Choi Yeong-eui. He was also Korean.

    • @liriodendronlasianthus
      @liriodendronlasianthus Před měsícem +27

      His grandson is comedian Zac Oyama

    • @swiftlymurmurs1825
      @swiftlymurmurs1825 Před měsícem +4

      ​@@liriodendronlasianthusThat explains a lot about his "I got no sleep last night" sketch

    • @mvkuri
      @mvkuri Před měsícem +1

      ​​@@liriodendronlasianthus
      It's not true.
      There is some misinformation in your words.
      Zac Oyama is not the grandson of Matsudas Oyama.
      Zac is the son of Yasuhiko Oyama, who was a student of Matsudas Oyama.
      Yasuhiko Oyama is also Korean, and his Korean name is Jo Il-eon.

    • @mvkuri
      @mvkuri Před měsícem

      Matsudas Oyama (Korean name Choi Young-ui) was a dual citizen.
      He was also married twice.
      He had three daughters with a Japanese wife and three sons with a Korean wife.
      The eldest of Matsudas Oyama's three sons is an orthopedic surgeon, and the second son is a jiu-jitsu player and instructor.

    • @Born2Sturdy
      @Born2Sturdy Před měsícem +1

      Even their Imperial family has Korean origins 😂

  • @jigglypuddin1345
    @jigglypuddin1345 Před měsícem +64

    His grandfather was a zainichi Korean. You can tell from a mile away 😂. It feels so great to resonate with this and to be proud of my korean roots despite my somewhat Japanese upbringing. While it was very hard finding my cultural identity as a half Korean American with zainichi Korean family, once I had learned more about Korea and embraced that side of myself, I became so much more at ease 😊

  • @djr3386
    @djr3386 Před měsícem +208

    His musical abilities and Korean music mania all makes sense now 😂

  • @carolea1629
    @carolea1629 Před měsícem +418

    😂😂😂 *BROOKLYN 99 MADE ME BELIEVE HE WAS ARMENIAN*

    • @mhm6
      @mhm6 Před měsícem

      I thought this guy was Jewish

    • @sarahmccabe174
      @sarahmccabe174 Před měsícem +28

      MLIPNOS!

    • @BillPelican
      @BillPelican Před měsícem +42

      Parks and Rec made me believe he was Venezuelan 😂

    • @emilyepicmess8072
      @emilyepicmess8072 Před měsícem +22

      @@BillPelicanhis mom is Venezuelan

    • @DizzyBusy
      @DizzyBusy Před měsícem

      ​@@sarahmccabe174MLEP(CLAY)NOS! The clay is silent

  • @croulantroulant3082
    @croulantroulant3082 Před měsícem +140

    as an adopted kid, I feel vindicated seeing how people react when a small part of their family history is changed. For the first 24 years of my life, I had zero information about my ethnic background, it was extremely difficult to build a sense of self. When I finally got my adoption papers, it was the start of a long journey towards rebuilding myself. btw in some countries adoptees are still deprived of information regarding their background today! It is cruel and inhumane.

  • @sfyoko
    @sfyoko Před měsícem +116

    To this day, many Koreans born and raised in Japan use the Japanese names. In Japan, being born doesn’t give you a citizenship, so they use their Korean names and passports when traveling abroad.

    • @NoaMao
      @NoaMao Před měsícem +14

      Zainichis' ancestors had Japanese citizenship taken away at the end of WWII. Many refused to naturalise because they thought they'd be succumbing to the systematised discrimination of ethnic Koreans in Japan.

    • @kanaric
      @kanaric Před měsícem +4

      It takes like 20 years, a friend of mine just got his citizenship. A lot of the koreans who have been there for a LONG time usually have it but it's notoriously difficult to get.

    • @sfyoko
      @sfyoko Před měsícem +2

      I remember in 80s, a friend of mine confessed that she was Korean. I didn’t know well enough about Koreans in Japan and discrimination associated with it, so I didn’t see her any differently. It seemed though, it apparently was a big deal to her, so I didn’t take it lightly. I don’t recall we learned much about other Asian histories in general.

    • @casebycase_904
      @casebycase_904 Před měsícem +2

      ​@@NoaMaoalao zainichi koreans have two different branches. Pro south vs pro north

    • @23Lgirl
      @23Lgirl Před měsícem +1

      Birth citizenship is mostly an American thing.

  • @SadhviJenn
    @SadhviJenn Před měsícem +94

    Where did you come from?
    “Well Japan, but I’m Korean.”
    I could see that distinction not being saved/noticed in 1930’s Germany.

    • @allendracabal0819
      @allendracabal0819 Před měsícem +3

      That is completely irrelevant, because Fred's grandfather met Fred's father when Fred's father was an adult, in the 1960s or perhaps 1970s, judging by the photo, and the grandfather could have easily described his background at that time.

    • @dressmaking
      @dressmaking Před měsícem

      Really? I got the impression that the Axis powers prioritized ethnic "purity".

    • @DizzyBusy
      @DizzyBusy Před měsícem

      Japan was allied with Germany. To be fair to the Nazis (lol), while they persecuted Jews, Romani, and gay people, they had no problems with Muslims and Asians, they even looked to India as the root of their "Aryan" racial philosophy.

  • @sharonkaysnowton
    @sharonkaysnowton Před měsícem +168

    I actually love Fred Armisen. He is such a talented comedian and a genuinely nice man. I loved hearing his family story. It was great!!!

    • @H-Vox
      @H-Vox Před měsícem +12

      Back in his SNL days, I didn't "get" Fred Armisen. Now after watching every season of Portlandia several times, he's my favorite comedic actor ever. Just crazy talented. Also never swears, which I didn't notice for years

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Před měsícem +17

      We couldn't agree more, Sharon! He is an incredible talent. We hope you enjoyed this segment of Finding Your Root featuring Fred Armisen. Thanks for stopping by!

    • @M_SC
      @M_SC Před měsícem

      He’s famous for lovebombing and then ghosting women in a toxic way before he got married too. Just Google it. It’s too bad that so many talented men treat women like garbage.

    • @aubreyxengland
      @aubreyxengland Před měsícem +3

      you swear? Straight to jail!

    • @lisasim
      @lisasim Před měsícem +4

      He is very talented and I love every show he's a part of, but it doesn't mean, necessarily, that he is a nice man. You never know the real personality through watching someone on stage.

  • @Nexus1499
    @Nexus1499 Před měsícem +29

    Many famous celebrities and athletes in Japan are of Korean descent.. they had to suppress sharing any of that due to shame from the public there..

  • @bizzibaby
    @bizzibaby Před měsícem +35

    His grandfather was Korean upper class and sent his children to study in Japan... so he was a collaborater? Wow, that's some crazy world history he now has to unpack.

    • @danielfrancis3736
      @danielfrancis3736 Před měsícem +5

      No. Japan was annexed by Korea in 1870's. By the time The Pak family sent his grandfather to Japan, Koreans had been Japanese subjects for 50 years, It's the equivalent of a Filipino family sending their kids to the US to study in the 1930's.

    • @woopy93
      @woopy93 Před měsícem +12

      most likely, since it was rare for a non-collaborator to be wealthy enough to send their children abroad.

    • @woopy93
      @woopy93 Před měsícem +10

      @@danielfrancis3736 Korea was forcefully and wrongfully annexed by Japan in 1910. And even after the annexation treaty, there were independent fighters and collaborator.

    • @JO19887
      @JO19887 Před měsícem +5

      He might not have been a direct collaborator with Japan persay and simply had class mobility from the pre-colonial Joseon era. But choosing to study in Japan definitely means he didn't particularly hold strong anti-colonial sentiments either.

    • @bizzibaby
      @bizzibaby Před měsícem +1

      ​@@danielfrancis3736 not that Wikipedia is always right or anything, but according to Wikipedia collaborators are most definitely a 20th century thing. The Japanese colonial period was about 1910-1945. They were even prosecuting them after South Korea went democratic in the 80s. It says they had to pass legislation in the early 21st century to protect them from further persecution.

  • @mnplumberman
    @mnplumberman Před měsícem +66

    Being upper class and sending his kids to Japan for school at that time makes me wonder if his family were considered "collaborators."

    • @mikloridden8276
      @mikloridden8276 Před měsícem

      Most likely. The same ones that sold off the villages woman to the Japanese slave brothels as well.

    • @yothiga
      @yothiga Před měsícem +7

      I have the same guess since at the time the tension must be already high. Sending your son to supposedly hostile country is not something ordinary folk would do, lol

    • @rumblefish9
      @rumblefish9 Před měsícem

      @@yothiga Well he says that the family is still a high ranking family so they likely weren't seen as such. Koreans tend to be very harsh about that even now. I think the family knew how to handle the politics of it all.
      Take my granddad for example, he was a hired mechanic by the Japanese when my country was occupied but he was also a spy sending messages to the American troops. There were many who did the same. Thankfully, he didn't get caught.

    • @Werewolf_dr
      @Werewolf_dr Před měsícem +10

      Possible.
      From the rest of the episode, his grandfather was in Germany in the 1930s and doing shows for the German soldiers in the field (basically equivalent to the USO) because he was spying on them for the Japanese.

    • @bbmania4274
      @bbmania4274 Před měsícem +2

      Most likely.... rich and "collaborative" or we would say "pro-japan" which meant worse than betrayer in this part of the world.

  • @Jem640
    @Jem640 Před měsícem +119

    I’m an adoptee, and would love to do this kind of thing someday. It was an open adoption so I know my biological parents, but the kicker is that my birthfather is *also* adopted! 😅

    • @brendajerez2235
      @brendajerez2235 Před měsícem +4

      WOW❤

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Před měsícem +36

      Hello Jem! We appreciate your interest in Ancestry and will be happy to provide some insights.
      We would love for you to be able to learn more about your biological family, including your father's ancestry. Taking a DNA test could be a good starting point. Ideally you want to test the closest living relative to the unknown connection, if your biological father would be able to participate. However, you would also carry half of his DNA, hence you could work from your own results. When you take an AncestryDNA test you will be matched with anyone else also taking part in the service that shares DNA with you, from close to very distant relatives. By reviewing and contacting your matches you may be able to connect with relatives on your biological father's side. We always want to be clear that there are no guarantees for what you may find as it depends on who else is taking part in the service, but we have the largest DNA database of this kind in the world and have helped many members locate previously unknown biological family. As a start we recommend reading through the support article 'Finding Biological Family' here: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Finding-Biological-Family.
      This CZcams video from Ancestry genealogist Crista Cowan may also provide some useful strategies:
      czcams.com/video/MOHhxZN_GHA/video.html
      If you have any questions or if we can be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out again. We hope that this is helpful and wish you much success with your search!

    • @H-Vox
      @H-Vox Před měsícem +2

      You should do it!

    • @keithtorgersen9664
      @keithtorgersen9664 Před měsícem +3

      On my father's side of the family, there's been extensive research of our family that goes back a long time, but the thing really intrigues me is that at a certain point, you just have "so and so: born ____ and died____". Nothing else unless they got married and had children, were baptized, etc. I long to know what these people were like and what kind of lives they lived.

    • @pinotbologna
      @pinotbologna Před měsícem +1

      Take the DNA test girl! My grandfather was an illegal adoption and we never thought we'd find his siblings, let alone 8

  • @rodazi
    @rodazi Před měsícem +35

    I'm from the Marianas, which is now part of the US. My maternal grandmother's father immigrated here from Japan while the islands were still part of the Empire, and he had a Japanese name, but he was ethnically Korean. We don't know what his original Korean name was. He was "conscripted" as a child during the Empire's occupation of Korea and taken to Japan, where he was given to a family to be an "apprentice". (In other words, he was a child slave. It seems a lot of people nowadays aren't aware that Japan used to enslave people from neighboring countries.)

    • @sheluvssmokedupeyes1
      @sheluvssmokedupeyes1 Před měsícem

      It’s because Japan has soft power and very good PR they don’t really like to talk about their floors they don’t even mention Pearl or what happened that led up to Hiroshima and Nagasaki

  • @kkob
    @kkob Před měsícem +166

    I think Prof. Gates is weirdly missing a huge chunk of the history. At that time, Japan had colonized Korea and Koreans were often forced to take Japanese names and give up their language and culture. I find it very unlikely this was a simple attempt at "passing." Had he been in Korea, that claim might be more likely, but to be in Japan, he would have had almost no choice, as far as I understand the history.

    • @kkob
      @kkob Před měsícem +18

      In fact, I had elderly EFL students in S. Korea in the 1990's who still spoke Japanese more fluently than they spoke Korean because they grew up in pre-WWII Korea.

    • @kkob
      @kkob Před měsícem +47

      Additionally, the fact his family was "upper class" would *strongly* suggest they had to assimilate into Japanese culture to maintain their wealth and status. I would go so far as to say loyalist Koreans then and now would have seen his family as collaborators.
      This really should have been explored further as it is an absolutely defining period in Korean history. Gates dismissing this as mere cultural "othering" is extremely problematic.

    • @guytansbariva2295
      @guytansbariva2295 Před měsícem +1

      Gates didn't want to stir the pot. These "woke" self-righteous troublemakers will protest anything and everything. It's pathetic

    • @asynchronicity
      @asynchronicity Před měsícem

      @@guytansbariva2295Woke, woke, woke…🤦‍♂️Jfc

    • @guytansbariva2295
      @guytansbariva2295 Před měsícem

      @@asynchronicity Woke is ruining culture and society around the world. What's your problem? Lol 😆

  • @wideawake5630
    @wideawake5630 Před měsícem +62

    Thats where he got the performer gene.

  • @GetToDaChopa
    @GetToDaChopa Před měsícem +36

    "im korean!!? why hasnt anyone told me! ,this changes everything! does dad know!??"

    • @orchidpanda2253
      @orchidpanda2253 Před měsícem +9

      This is actually a good question, b/c Armisen's father may not have even known until this show.

  • @waterandshovelgardening
    @waterandshovelgardening Před měsícem +39

    I love this show. It's so wonderful that this show connects people with their past, their family stories and sometimes even lost relatives. 😃

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Před měsícem +2

      We're so glad you enjoyed this segment with Fred Armisen! Thank you for the kind words.

  • @selmahare
    @selmahare Před měsícem +57

    This was super cool. It's amazing how History comes alive by getting to know these family stories.

  • @QforzFovfi
    @QforzFovfi Před měsícem +34

    Finally I know where Mlepnos is from.

    • @lb5368
      @lb5368 Před měsícem +3

      Yes! But, is the "Clay" still silent?

    • @veryclaro
      @veryclaro Před měsícem +2

      *Mlepclaynos

    • @meryla.l.8245
      @meryla.l.8245 Před měsícem

      Mlepnos isn’t Armenian!

  • @Ernwaldo
    @Ernwaldo Před měsícem +27

    One of my favorite segments from the show. When Fred finds out why his grandfather was _really_ in Germany made it all the more interesting. 😁

    • @M_SC
      @M_SC Před měsícem +2

      Was he a spy?

    • @Ernwaldo
      @Ernwaldo Před měsícem +10

      @@M_SC Yes! He was, for Japan. Even though Japan & Germany were both Axis Powers, Japan wanted to know what Germany may, or may not, be doing that wasn’t necessarily disclosed.

    • @orchidpanda2253
      @orchidpanda2253 Před měsícem

      @@Ernwaldo 🤣

  • @branleyhd
    @branleyhd Před měsícem +9

    Born in Mississippi!! We proud you bro

  • @sukie584
    @sukie584 Před měsícem +2

    This was one of the best episodes. So very interesting. A great history lesson.

  • @MegaJCJC
    @MegaJCJC Před měsícem +1

    That was amazing.
    Thanks for producing this video!

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Před měsícem

      Thank you for your continued viewership!

  • @brendanmeyer1613
    @brendanmeyer1613 Před měsícem +2

    so a japanese citizen and a german meet together in germany in 1941… thats interesting i wonder what was going on in that time in germany and japan

  • @minimutt1000
    @minimutt1000 Před měsícem +1

    I love this show. The reveals are so moving and interesting.

  • @michellewhitehead7053
    @michellewhitehead7053 Před měsícem +21

    I recently found out that I am 30% Korean and it blew my mind since I grew up thinking I am ½ Japanese and ½ Chinese. My mom took Ancestry too and she is 100% Japanese. Unfortunately my dad passed away so we will never know where my Korean comes from…but my guess is from my paternal grandfather who was adopted.

    • @orchidpanda2253
      @orchidpanda2253 Před měsícem +2

      Read Pachinko - it'll explain a lot about how Koreans hid their identities in Japan.

    • @henrylee8510
      @henrylee8510 Před měsícem +1

      How can you be 30% of anything? 30%?

    • @3meleon
      @3meleon Před měsícem +3

      @@henrylee8510 it'll be a lot easier to understand once you learn to count to 100.

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Před měsícem +2

      Hi, Michelle. Thanks for getting in touch. We can understand that you'd have some confusion about your results. We do have the ability to determine which side of the family your ethnicities come from. We have a couple of articles that we hope you'll find helpful. After reading the articles, please let us know if you have other questions.
      support.ancestry.com/s/article/Ethnicity-Inheritance?language=en_US
      support.ancestry.com/s/article/Unexpected-Ethnicity-Results?language=en_US

  • @sharkracer
    @sharkracer Před měsícem +9

    This was during the Japanese occupation of Korea, so there were a lot of Koreans going to Japan for one reason or another. My own maternal grandfather also studied university in Japan.
    And on a more serious note, Fred Armisen, as a Korean, I welcome you to the fold.

  • @StephenPhen
    @StephenPhen Před měsícem +3

    Beautiful to see this for Fred Armisen!

  • @tracyalan7201
    @tracyalan7201 Před měsícem +48

    Not mentioning that Japan took control of Korea, and by the 1930's, Japan was expanding control of Korea and Manchuria, China? Korean weren't exactly treated well under Japanese rule in Korea or in Japan, which in earlier periods of Japanese history, craftsman from Korea & China were in Japan, settled, which there both Chinese and Korean features existed in Japanese in some parts of Japan. Features of Koreans, Chinese and Japanese have certain features, which they can look at the face/body and know if they look Korean, Japanese or Chinese. Changing the names of Koreans to Japanese, wasn't only due to looting, but might have been for discrimination of being Korean.

    • @manchesterunitedno7
      @manchesterunitedno7 Před měsícem +2

      Their animosities between Japan - Korea - China went way back hundreds of years ago, during the Mongol Invasion. When it revealed the majority of soldiers among the Mongols was from Korea and China.

    • @jyc313
      @jyc313 Před měsícem +12

      @@manchesterunitedno7 True - a lot of soldiers in the Mongol army were captured Korean and Chinese. But even before that time period pirates from Japan would frequently raid the Korean Peninsula. The animosity was triggered by those from the Japanese islands long before the Yuan Dynasty period.
      Korea as a unified nation (excluding its existence as a Mongol vassal state) never initiated invasion of the Japanese islands. Why? No need to. It had much fertile and better lands and as a land with small population it never fought an offensive war to gain territory without cause.
      20th century history certainly increased Asia’s animosity towards Japan but truth is, Korea (and China for that matter) never fully trusted the Japanese islands throughout the periods of written history at least going back to the time of unified Korea.

    • @theajane6444
      @theajane6444 Před měsícem +3

      Those scrappy Koreans were forever getting the heel of an oppressor's boot... and survived time and time again. And look at South Korea now. Is it a perfect country/society? Of corse not. But I am so proud of how far they have come in the past 71 years.

    • @avocaza1393
      @avocaza1393 Před měsícem

      ​@theajane6444 Korea was actually pretty strong and economically stable duing majority of its history. Most people just remember the big events where they got invaded.

    • @jyc313
      @jyc313 Před měsícem

      Yes until the 20th century. Korea was ravaged economically by colonialism, then WWII, then the Korean War, and then a brief moment during IMF. @@avocaza1393

  • @GaiaCarney
    @GaiaCarney Před měsícem +37

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is an awesome guy! This series, his books and his wisdom are such a gift 💝

  • @StephenBeale
    @StephenBeale Před měsícem +5

    love that awkward laugh and exchange of looks at 1:12 as if to say "you have no idea my friend" 😂😂

  • @hansel2001
    @hansel2001 Před měsícem +53

    With the 28th overall pick, the Koreans select…..Fred Armisen.

    • @Bbanjahk
      @Bbanjahk Před měsícem +3

      His grandfather was a traitor

    • @woopy93
      @woopy93 Před měsícem +2

      @@Bbanjahk eh, we don't know that for sure.

    • @Bbanjahk
      @Bbanjahk Před měsícem

      @@woopy93 he gave up his Korean identity. He's a traitor

    • @woopy93
      @woopy93 Před měsícem

      @@Bbanjahkeh, that’s kind of unfair to judge so harshly without knowing all the facts

  • @That_dude_who_knows_some_stuff

    3 minutes in and I’m already tearing up. This show always gets me

  • @Ares14
    @Ares14 Před 11 dny +3

    My grandmother was the same. She was Korean but lived in Japan. She was given a Japanese name as a child but of course her real name was Korean.

  • @himssendol6512
    @himssendol6512 Před měsícem +3

    During Japanese rule it was made mandatory to change Korean names to Japanese names. My grandma (b.1926) used a Japanese name until the Korean independence. All Korean names were restored after ww2.

  • @brianmiller4207
    @brianmiller4207 Před měsícem +3

    Great show. Thank you Phoebe Buffay....

  • @hightunnel2723
    @hightunnel2723 Před měsícem

    I love Fred armisen as an entertainer. His work is top notch and it’s great learning about this

  • @anastasiagarber1839
    @anastasiagarber1839 Před měsícem +38

    I thought Armisen was spoofing the show…

  • @ellevanroamer487
    @ellevanroamer487 Před měsícem +2

    I love you Fred. Korean Food is my ultimate answer to “If you can eat only one type of food, which one will it be?” I love you as Helene

  • @SAMMl
    @SAMMl Před měsícem +1

    This is amazing!

  • @SunnyIlha
    @SunnyIlha Před měsícem +1

    Stunning.

  • @etwothec
    @etwothec Před měsícem +1

    This is heartwarming ❤

  • @soni8995
    @soni8995 Před měsícem +6

    I'm Korean- American. Welcome to the fam, Fred.

  • @Carlos-xz3vi
    @Carlos-xz3vi Před měsícem +1

    This is amazing. It’s way more interesting when people have this diverse background.

  • @agnes3669
    @agnes3669 Před měsícem +3

    YOOOOO LETS GOOOOO. welcome to the team bro

  • @alittlebindi25
    @alittlebindi25 Před měsícem +2

    I used to look at his face and think "there's something East Asian about him", I assumed Malaysian or Cambodian. But Korean. Wow.

  • @Jolene8
    @Jolene8 Před 10 dny

    The transition from his grandfather to him leaves zero doubt that they are related. The resemblance is so close. I'm glad he's found his true heritage. As someone mentioned, he will have a family reunion waiting for him if he pursues it. Very nice.

  • @insaneapples1559
    @insaneapples1559 Před měsícem +1

    I didn't get a Finding Your Roots treatment, but through Ancestry I did learn that my very-very-very-Scottish grandmother was in fact not Scottish but genetically, pure Irish. Nearest I can tell, my great Grandparents left Ireland in the 1920's for Scotland likely due to the Irish Civil War and so she was raised in Scotland. So for almost my entire life I said I was part Scottish when in fact I am Irish. This was also confirmed by an Ancestry DNA test. Incredible!

  • @pbc_03
    @pbc_03 Před měsícem +3

    Not much hope for the older generations but I love that the younger generation does not allow a terrible past dictate they way they view and interact amongst Koreans and Japanese. its long over due for the 2 nations to move past the bad history and start a better one. Welcome to the KBBQ Fred. You're family now brother.

  • @Dheeidjdndbd
    @Dheeidjdndbd Před měsícem +1

    Best skit yet Fred!

  • @bodhi5933
    @bodhi5933 Před měsícem

    Goosebumps. There’s nothing more eye opening than finding out your bloodline. Like they say, you don’t truly know yourself until you know your roots.

  • @squakke
    @squakke Před měsícem +3

    He never did Ancestry DNA obviously.

  • @baberaham
    @baberaham Před měsícem +4

    One of us! Welcome to the club. Saw the title of this video and I thought it was troll at first.

  • @tknows470
    @tknows470 Před měsícem +1

    I never noticed he had light eyes! He’s such a good mix of ethnicities.

  • @realliferealtalkwithbiggs777
    @realliferealtalkwithbiggs777 Před měsícem +8

    Powerful

  • @summerlavender17
    @summerlavender17 Před měsícem +3

    I fully thought this was going to be a spoof (like his “Documentary Now!” series). Still entertaining though!!

  • @SuperTracilee
    @SuperTracilee Před měsícem +1

    So cool!!! Love Fred!!!!

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Před měsícem

      Now Fred Armisen himself has more reasons to love Fred! If we can ever help with your own family history, you can start your own Ancestry journey here: www.ancestry.com/c/ancestry-family
      Thanks for watching, Traci.

  • @kathleenbremer758
    @kathleenbremer758 Před měsícem

    What a fascinating story! I’m so happy for Fred that he was able to learn about his genuine ethnic background and hope that he’s able to connect with his Korean relations.
    I had my own wowza Ancestry moment, while researching my Irish born great-great grandmother, Martha.
    She was born in 1841, just prior to the famine that wasn’t an actual famine. The Great Hunger, An Gorta Mor in Irish, occurred not only because of blight ruining the potato crops which were the main sustenance for the Irish, but also because the Irish were being forced out of their homes by the ruling British.
    Martha crossed the Atlantic in an overcrowded and disease ridden coffin ship, so named because so many people died during the crossing. She ended up in Quebec City, which was basically a “dumping grounds” for the coffin ships which all other ports refused to accept the passengers, including U.S. cities.
    The wowza moment occurred when Martha, an Irish Catholic, married James, a Church of England widower with a son, in an Anglican cathedral! It’s like a cat and a dog getting married, lol!
    Martha and James had ten children, six of whom lived to adulthood. On census listings, Martha continued to list herself as Catholic and ALL of the children were listed as Catholic! I would love to know the backstory behind how this all happened! Martha must’ve been one very strong-willed woman!

  • @Kit-se3zs
    @Kit-se3zs Před měsícem +1

    Fred is a lovely human being. ❤😊

  • @killervacuum
    @killervacuum Před měsícem

    i love the antagonistic chuckle the host gives

  • @yugandali
    @yugandali Před měsícem +1

    Korea had been conquered by Japan. When I heard that he went to school in Japan, I immediately knew that his family was wealthy, because nobody else had that sort of opportunity. A lot of Koreans did hard labor in Japan, but they sure didn't become dancers!
    I'm glad Armisen has finally met his grandfather. I hope he goes to Korea to link with his family there.

  • @jokomendoza_official
    @jokomendoza_official Před měsícem

    Family talent has remained to Fred! Being on a newspaper was a big thing back in the colonization days in Korea.

  • @user-jv5pj3lr9i
    @user-jv5pj3lr9i Před měsícem +2

    Oh my gosh this makes more sense- I never thought he looked Japanese!☺️

  • @amyhyde70
    @amyhyde70 Před měsícem +2

    That was really good.

  • @kathleendibacco8883
    @kathleendibacco8883 Před 28 dny

    I absolutely love this show!!!! ❤

  • @pekkle007
    @pekkle007 Před měsícem +2

    Welcome to the team, Uncle Fester. Time to like Kimchi + Korean Bbq.

  • @Showza83
    @Showza83 Před měsícem +19

    As a Korean, we accept Fred.

  • @deedetres703
    @deedetres703 Před 29 dny

    he is one of the funniest men ever and intelligent in his style of humor! love him :)

  • @user-mt5lj8ot3h
    @user-mt5lj8ot3h Před měsícem +3

    Good to know Fred was just as curious as the rest of us

  • @seward9
    @seward9 Před měsícem +2

    He musts read the book from Kang Younghill , about his souvenirs as a korean student in Japan. I don’t know the name in english.

  • @TheFokonia
    @TheFokonia Před měsícem

    Good things they all look alike ! That saved his grandfather’s life !!

  • @Lalalalala...
    @Lalalalala... Před měsícem

    0:21 Ngl tho his dad was an adorable baby lol like could be in commercials 😂

  • @Athompthomp
    @Athompthomp Před měsícem

    what an interesting story!

  • @HavendaleBlvd80
    @HavendaleBlvd80 Před měsícem

    Fred has a pretty incredible story of his elders here. Very nice.

    • @AncestryUS
      @AncestryUS  Před měsícem +1

      It truly is such an incredible family tale! We hope you enjoyed learning more about Fred Armisen's incredible family history. Thanks for watching!

  • @bcvc3365
    @bcvc3365 Před měsícem +1

    We ❤ u Fred!

  • @medusagorgon8432
    @medusagorgon8432 Před měsícem

    How interesting!😳

  • @animegirlnamedDani
    @animegirlnamedDani Před měsícem

    That picture of his grandfather in dance makeup looks sooooo similar to Fred 😱

  • @gaea17
    @gaea17 Před měsícem +2

    He could’ve shown that pic to any Asian and they all would’ve told him Korean. He is the most Koreanest looking Korean to ever Korean

  • @pattyh2410
    @pattyh2410 Před měsícem +7

    I love this show. Thanks so much Mr Gates.

  • @susannemontagnemslmtryt7885

    I was waiting for Fred Armisen to fully embrace the Korean lifestyle on Portlandia.

  • @ariesviolent
    @ariesviolent Před měsícem

    I would love to do something like this but I'm sure it's quite costly at this magnitude.

  • @Samtalentt
    @Samtalentt Před měsícem +2

    Fred Armison's real last name is Park. Please come to Korea Fred and find out about your culture. 😊

  • @hblock8361
    @hblock8361 Před měsícem

    No part 2?

  • @ryutheslayer123
    @ryutheslayer123 Před měsícem

    I have never heard this man speak without an accent before and now I learn he is a quarter Korean

  • @Queenkirlia
    @Queenkirlia Před měsícem

    I would love to hear their parents’ reaction, too.

  • @drsonaligandhi6989
    @drsonaligandhi6989 Před měsícem

    Called it!

  • @stcroixatlast
    @stcroixatlast Před měsícem +1

    Honestly, he looks like planet earth.

  • @tammyhuynh8006
    @tammyhuynh8006 Před měsícem +1

    somehow not surprised that this is something Fred Armisen would experience hahah