08 November 2010
Dear Japanese American People
I just recently watched TV mini-series drama about Japanese Americans who immigrated to the U.S. in early 20th century. The title of the series is "99nen no ai (99 years of Love), Japanese Americans."
I watched last 2 episodes of 5. It was a story of young Japanese Americans who joined 442nd regimental Combat Team that rescued Texas Batallion in Germany. When they went for the battle with Germans, they shouted like "Go by Yamato-Damashii (Japanese Spirit)." Seemed "Go for Broke" is rooted from Kamikaze spirit. Is it really true?
I think not, because they were Japanese Americans who got the U.S. citizenship after they were born and raised in the U.S.
This in fact, typical portrayal of Japanese Americans by Japanese nationals, which in fact upset a lot of Japanese Americans, isn't it?
Japanese Americans are Americans, especially from the 2nd generation. But Japanese nationals tend to treat them like extention of Japanse nationals living in Japan.
I am concerned that the mini-series strengthened wrong portrayal of Japanese Americans.
The scenes of 442nd unit battle with German and their parade on Washington street was impressive. Cannot believe such people really existed in history.
But sorry, the drama was produced from Japanese national's point of view. I know they fought for their families in the internment camp, and for their homelnad, the U.S. not for Japan, which was one of the enemy states at that time.
Recently new documentary film on 442 was released, maybe this is what you can really learn about them. I would like to see it if I can get a chance.
There has been rumor that Japanese actor Ken Watanabe is directing a Hollywood film of this 442.
I can't wait to see it if the rumor is real.
Although I know Japanese Americans are not Japanese nationals, let me say that as Japanese national.
"I am proud of sharing the same ancestry with such brave people."
To Mr./Ms. Sansei or J/A,
I apologize to you if my comments on this blog offended you. I have no intention of harming American people by that. I respect your opinion although we have difference. Anyway, I am truly glad descend of 442nd unit soldiers left some comment on this post. I know my ideas are very emotional and simple-minded. It is because I am being honest when it comes to writing on this blog. I agree with your opinion that Japanese are too softies and don't know the value of freedom and justice. That is something we still have to learn from you, maybe. Please remember Japanese generally appreciate the U.S. help to reconstruct post-war Japan. I agree with that Japan made a big mistake in early 20th century and the U.S. fought against fascism, and won over it. Current U.S. military presence in Japan is another issue. No relationship with your father.
16:44 Posted in Film, Media, US-Japan relationship | Permalink | Comments (4) | Tags: military, history, japanese american
Comments
You are right that the Japanese Americans who fought in the 442nd were Americans of Japanese descent, not Japanese who happened to be in America. "Go For Broke!" is Pidgin English for "shoot the works" which came from the cane fields of Hawaii--it has no roots in Japan.
My father fought in the 442nd--he was from California. The trailer from this mini-series looked overly dramatic and completely unrealistic in many ways. For example, having the nisei 442nd soldier yell out during in battle a Japanese phrase is completely ridiculous--the only thing that would have been more stupid is if the nisei character would have yelled out something in German.
It seems that the Japanese really don't understand Japanese Americans.
However, having read some of your comments on America on this blog, I have to say that you are sadly misinformed and impossibly naive. If you believe that there is no reason for an American presence in Asia because the Cold War is over, then you really didn't understand the Cold War OR WW II.
Personally I think that America should have not entered the war and let Japan and Germany prevail. The real winners of WWII were Japan and Germany--these truly evil empires ended up infinitely wealthier because America sacrificed its best young men for a bunch of morally inferior ingrates.
So I'd like America to pull out of Japan and let Japan and China slug it out in the future. War has ALWAYS existed between nations and there's no reason to believe that the future will not be full of conflict.
You Japanese are a bunch of softies who don't know the value of freedom or justice--you have no moral compass and you don't deserve to have your security ensured by Americans.
It's embarrassing to see how low the Japanese people have come--as someone whose grandparents came from Japan, I find your ideas incredibly naive and simple minded.
You don't have the right to claim ANY relationship to my father of the men of the 442nd.
Posted by: J/A | 22 November 2010
You are right that the Japanese Americans who fought in the 442nd were Americans of Japanese descent, not Japanese who happened to be in America. "Go For Broke!" is Pidgin English for "shoot the works" which came from the cane fields of Hawaii--it has no roots in Japan. My father fought in the 442nd--he was from California. The trailer from this mini-series looked overly dramatic and completely unrealistic in many ways. For example, having the nisei 442nd soldier yell out during in battle a Japanese phrase is completely ridiculous--the only thing that would have been more stupid is if the nisei character would have yelled out something in German.It seems that the Japanese really don't understand Japanese Americans.However, having read some of your comments on America on this blog, I have to say that you are sadly misinformed and impossibly naive. If you believe that there is no reason for an American presence in Asia because the Cold War is over, then you really didn't understand the Cold War OR WW II.Personally I think that America should have not entered the war and let Japan and Germany prevail. The real winners of WWII were Japan and Germany--these truly evil empires ended up infinitely wealthier because America sacrificed its best young men for a bunch of morally inferior ingrates.So I'd like America to pull out of Japan and let Japan and China slug it out in the future. War has ALWAYS existed between nations and there's no reason to believe that the future will not be full of conflict. You Japanese are a bunch of softies who don't know the value of freedom or justice--you have no moral compass and you don't deserve to have your security ensured by Americans.It's embarrassing to see how low the Japanese people have come--as someone whose grandparents came from Japan, I find your ideas incredibly naive and simple minded.You don't have the right to claim ANY relationship to my father of the men of the 442nd.
Posted by: sansei | 22 November 2010
I also am a Sansei. My mother was interned as a baby during WW II. Much of this mini-series rings true. I believe that it gives us a great deal of insight into the thoughts of the Issei during the time. I agree with other posts that the Nissei portrayal was way off. Nissei spoke primarily English and had distinctly American values. The mini-series misses the whole point of the internment. The people interned were not Japanese, but were Americans jailed by Americans! What is truly incredible in this mini series is the Yonsei continuing to speak Japanese natively! I'm not going to say that it is impossible for that to have happened, but I personally have NEVER seen this. The mini-series also incorrectly leads the viewer to believe racism and hatred no longer exists for Asians (and AJAs). The sad truth is that in the 21st century there are many ignorant people who believe that AJAs are not American or that Hawaii is a state in the United States. The continuing racism was demonstrated very clearly by the UCLA student who recently posted a video on Youtube complaining about "all the fuss" over the Tsunami/nuclear accident in Japan. 99 Years of Love should be the beginning of the discussion on how to fill the gap between our cultures.
Posted by: pm | 01 June 2011
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Posted by: riodan | 13 July 2011
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