Japanese Eyes, American Heart: Volume II

Japanese Eyes, American Heart: Volume II - Personal stories compiled by the Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board.

“We were awakened by a ‘boom-boom’ sound like that of distant thunder on that Sunday morning.” So begin many of the stories in this book by Japanese Americans living in Hawaii on December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

These personal recollections, many of them written for the first time, capture the experiences and feelings of what it was like to be Japanese in Hawaii during World War II. Everything changed for all residents of the then Territory of Hawaii as the devastating attack sparked the entry of the United States into World War II. For Hawaii’s Japanese especially, who made up about 40 percent of the population, the ensuing war with an enemy who looked like them cast suspicion on aliens and American citizens alike. Yet during the war, no act of sabotage or espionage was ever committed by Hawaii’s Japanese.

As the second volume of Japanese Eyes, American Heart, this book complements the personal memoirs presented in the first book by nisei soldiers, who served with gallantry and distinction on the war front for our nation. Together they offer insights into a generation’s moment in history that challenged our country to live up to its democratic ideals and created new opportunities for the Japanese in Hawaii.

Details: Hard cover. 224 pages. Book measures approximately 6 inches by 9 inches.