A Nisei's American Odyssey

By Yutaka Kobayashi

This memoir describes the musing of a Japanese American, now in his 90's, reflecting on his life's journey growing up as a son in an Asian Christian immigrant family. He believed firmly in the promise of democracy taught in the public schools - that anyone who earns good grades, respects the laws and is a good citizen - will enjoy a good, productive life in America. He rebelled in grammar school against his parent's wish for him to attend Japanese school to learn to read, write and speak the language to improve his job opportunities as an adult because he believed that, as an American, he did not have to speak Japanese. His dream world crashed when WWII broke out during his senior year in high school. He and his family ended up in an American concentration camp, the government classed him 4-C (undesirable alien) in the draft, which made him ponder who he was if he was no longer an American and what the future held for him. This memoir chronicles his worrisome journey from the concentration camp into an unknown future. He concludes that in spite of all the challenges and disappointments faced in his life's journey, he is happy and living a rewarding life, and that we are all fortunate to be Americans.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1530949955
• ISBN13: 9781530949953
• Release Date: June 2016
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 84 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 0.2" x 8.0"