Customer Reviews

Strawberry Days: How Internment Destroyed a Japanese American Community

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
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One of the more shameful activities of our Government was the World War II internment of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II. I first learned about these camps many years ago when a friend of mine of Japanese ancestry was talking. As a teenager, he had been put into a camp (just like in this book, his parents were living in the Seattle area) and after a few years he reached draft age and was drafted into the Army from the concentration camp. I would have felt rather angry at a Government that did that to me, but he had accepted it gracefully.

The Army took one look at him and said, 'Japanese interpreter.' He said, 'I'm third generation, I don't speak a word of Japanese.' 'You will.' He did.

The treatment of these people seems to have been a combination of racism, fear, and some feel a desire on the part of some people to get their lands and buildings. No only was there never a proven case of anything at all against these people, there was not even an accusation of problems among the far more Japanese Americans in Hawaii. There was never a suggestion of moving German-Americans or Italian-Americans into camps. My friend's father died in the camp. Two brothers joined the famed 442 Regimental Combat Team, one was wounded and highly decorated, the other was killed in action.

This is a book that reminds us that a real group of people were treated pretty poorly by the rest of us and still retained a sense of well being. Very well done.

In light of the September 11 attacks and the recent bombings in London that have provoked talk of interning British Muslims, this is a book people need to read. Racists in America would like nothing better than to destroy the civil rights of our fellow citizens under the giuse of fighting a clear and present danger.

I have read other books about the internment of Japanese-Americans before, and worried that this book would be dull. However, I found it to be a very interesting and even entertaining read. I too have Japanese-American friends who lived in California and Washington, and were sent to camps, and find it compelling that they don't seem to harbor any bitterness for what they lost, and what was done to them. I don't know that I would be as forgiving.

I would like to comment on a previous reviewer's remark that "There was never a suggestion of moving German-Americans or Italian-Americans into camps." In fact, a suggestion WAS made that Italian-Americans be interred. "Una Storia Segreta : The Secret History of Italian American Evacuation and Internment During World War II" by Sandra Gilbert is an interesting book on the subject.

Growing up, the only things I had learned about WWII was what I saw in the movies and learned in my history classes. The subject of the Japanese internment during WWII was a topic that rarely came up. When I learned that David Neiwert was writing on the topic, I looked forward to reading it. His book on the extremists in the Northwest was very intriguing and I had hoped this book would be equally as good. And it was.

The book begins be examining the roles of East Asian immigrants in the US starting in the ate 1800's. Giving a brief overview of the experiences of Chinese immigrants and then moving into the early arrival of the Japanese. The book then moves on to explain the early anti-Asian laws passed in the pacific northwest (Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the "Gentleman's Agreement" of 1907, and the various alien land laws). Then, he begins to narrate the story of various Japanese settlers, their families, and their lives from their first arrival until the post-war era.

Many aspects of the decision are addressed throughout the work. The section on the MAGIC cables was very informative. It described how the Government of Japan had wanted to recruit spies from among the disaffected blacks and the Anti-Semitic. And, more importantly, how the Japanese American's made poor spies.

What I found most interesting was the debate within the Japanese community interned at the various camps concerning the oath of allegiance and volunteering for service in the US military. It raised several issues for me to think over as well. The Japanese-Americans were not Japanese and yet they forbidden from becoming American citizens. Not only were they not allowed to be citizens, but they could easily be expelled from the US at any time. Would I sign allegiance to a country that didn't allow me to be a citizen? Would I want to renounce my ancestral home knowing that I could be kicked out of the US and have no country to go to? Would I volunteer to fight for a country that wouldn't allow me to be a citizen? Would I fight to defend a Constitution that didn't apply to me or my family? Would I be willing to give up my life for a country that would not even allow me to own my own home?

I found the book interesting but perhaps it is because I am biased. I am of Japanese descent, a member of the community written about and the oldest son of Tom Matsuoka who is referred to throughout the book. The book is a good source for my family history and gives an accurate account of what happened before, during and after the evacuation of Japanese during WWII. From that aspect it will be good reference book. However, I am afraid that most readers not familiar with sociological writings will find this book boring.

The only reason i didn't give this book five stars is that i did not want to read it, it was necessary to pass my history class.

The book give you an exceptional insight on the experiences of the Japanese-American in the days following Pearl Harbor. It seems the Americans had reason to be worried after intercepting messages , they received reports about Japanese spies and espionage possibly happening they were simply taking all the safest measures they could. They offered the chance for most Japanese to simply move away from the military zones, and those that refused got interned. Not it is true I wouldn't have picked this book up myself I was sort of forced to know the information for a semester final. But despite me not initially being interested in the topic the book kept my attention because I was interested in the actions and experiences going on during this period in time. The book begins by examination the roles of Asian immigrants in the United States starting in the late 1800s. Giving an idea of what it was like for the Chinese and Japanese to move to America. The book then explains the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the "Gentlemen's Agreement" of 1907, both anti-Asian laws and the fact that you couldn't be considered a citizen.

I don't really want to pick a side here ill just state what I read. It just seems the treatment was unfair for the innocent but obviously fair for the guilty if they ever even got caught. And seeing how most were innocent and the government had no way of really knowing the situation of these individuals they just did the safest action possible which was keep then all detained and working. And I see our government as new and inexperienced much as a little kid trying to run a decent business. Also seeing how all of our politicians are motivated by the vote and being popular they want to make the majority of voters which happen to be mostly white citizen, and being as how a bunch of them got surprise bombed they didn't want possible Japanese-American spies contributing to a more intelligent Japanese war machine. Their actions seem justified by that standing. As long as the government and the people are the same they will for the most part agree on each others actions and not punish themselves, so racism motivated by fear and hatred ran wild and that's how everything in this book started. The book was named because of a community in the outskirts of Seattle renowned for its strawberries.

In conclusion I believe the act of the government was wrong or purposely misguided, there seem to be racist schemes involved to keep the Japanese from getting their land after the were let go. I found the book interesting and quite informative on the days when Japanese people were treated like traitors. The one thing I'm still pondering upon is whether I would fight for the country that wouldn't let me have citizenship for forgiveness for an action I didn't commit? I guess I would get some respect but I find it not worth it, its like you got to go fight against possibly your home country for some people that wrongfully accuse you in the first place.