By Carolyn Lee

For the Nisei, being ethnically Japanese and being born in America resulted in a duality of identity. Many did not want to have to choose one identity over the other. Although their parents, the Issei, were natives of Japan, the Nisei could not completely identify with their parents' homeland because it was a country that they only knew indirectly through their parents. Nonetheless, although they were American citizens, they did not want to completely assimilate into an American way of life because of their cultural background. Therefore, these Nisei lived with a double-consciousness and with a desire to maintain their "twoness" (Takaki, 225).

However, with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, this double-consciousness would be a source of great turmoil. World War II was a time of deep resentment and hatred for the Japanese. The Nisei were a fusion of "the Occident and the Orient" (Takaki, 224), yet following the attack and Executive Order 9066, which called for the internment of the Japanese, they were forced to choose a side. They were presented with a loyalty questionnaire, of which question 27 asked, "Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?", while question 28 asked, "Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any or all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power or organization?" (Takaki, 397).

The Nisei were forced to make a choice between expressing loyalty to America and supporting Japan. They could side with the United States, which represented democracy and a life that they identified with, while turning their back on Japan, which was a representation of fascism. On the other hand, they could support Japan, which was the land of their parents and their heritage, and oppose America, which was discriminating against and interning them (Kim, 152). For those who said no to both questions, known as no-no boys, the violation of their legal rights was enough of an incentive to refuse American loyalty. The United States interned the Japanese and took away their rights as citizens; so, to some, it was a hypocritical request to ask of these boys to fight for democracy when the United States was not being very democratic in their own actions. While some Nisei opposed going, a major factor for those who went was the thought of acceptance. They believed that patriotism and loyalty to the United States would lead to acceptance by society. In addition, many of the Nisei were ashamed of Japan's actions, expressing disbelief and regret that the country that had attacked the United States was Japan.

Reflection

I think that the Nisei's willingness to fight for the right to be viewed as citizens shows a lot of character, and their actions were admirable. Despite the fact that they could refuse to go to war because of the mistreatment that they were receiving, they chose to prove themselves in an honorable way. For the Nisei, "there is hardly a sacrifice too great for the prize of acceptance" (Kim, 149). The Nisei who went to war sacrificed themselves, going to the brink of death in order to prove to America that they were truly worthy of its acceptance. The fact that they even had to go to this extreme in an attempt to prove their loyalty to America displays the magnitude of their need to feel as though they were worthy of citizenship. With fallen comrades and battle wounds, those who fought deserved the honor and respect that they had been seeking by going to war. General Joseph Stilwell stated that the Nisei deserved a "place in the American heart" (Takaki, 402), for they had serviced this nation with their blood.

However, it truly is disheartening to realize just how cruel and unforgiving society can be. The fact that this strong racial prejudice towards the Nisei who fought still existed after the war truly reflects poorly of the American people. The Japanese-Americans were simply seen as "Japs". It did not matter if the Nisei were born in America; their parents were native Japanese, so they were not Americans. Although they fought bravely, they did not arrive home to the kind of greeting that heroes deserved. Instead, they came home to signs that read "No Japs Allowed, No Japs Welcome" (Takaki, 405). This prejudice was uncalled for on America's part and was undeserved by the Nisei. Although there were those who did not fight, the ones who did deserved the heroes' welcome that the other returnees received; nevertheless, society could not look beyond the physical attributes that separated the Japanese from the Caucasians. America was prolonging the anti-Japanese sentiments of the time, when it should have had a large enough heart to embrace all servicemen, whether they were white or not.

Ultimately, the distressing result was that the Japanese-Americans were still confused and in a state of turmoil. They answered positively to the loyalty questionnaire, went to war, and returned home to the same hostility that they believed that they had left behind. While some immediately knew that their allegiance belonged with America, there were those who had to wrestle with the choice of loyalty before going to war. Upon return, their state of turmoil caused by their dual identity was not abated, especially with society's lack of acceptance. The Nisei were still struggling with their decision and their identity, as they began to question whether they had gone to war and suffered in vain.

The internment of the Japanese was a grave mistake on America's part, and the Nisei were the ones who had to struggle with a double-consciousness. They had to make a decision of loyalty, which was a choice that they should not have had to make because choosing one side meant that they were denying their other half. Ultimately, the Japanese should not have been interned in the first place, nor should they have been denied their right to be part of both worlds.

Kim, Elaine H. Asian American Literature: An Introduction to the Writings and Their Social Context. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1982.

Takaki, Ronald. Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1989.