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TO OUR AMERICAN SONS AND DAUGHTERS After an absence of fifteen years, I recentl y retur ned to Japan for a short visit. It was a revelation indeed to observe the sign ificant tran sformations that have taken place there and are taking place now. But it was an even greater revelation to note in what lines changes had not taken place. Una ltered remain the fundamenta l characteristics of the Japanese, a heritage of the race, glorified and exemplified by the heroes of the past ensh rined for reverence and emulation on the part of the citizens of toda y. In fact, these sterling qualities have become more firml y rooted in the race in spite of the manifold vicissitudes that beset this mutable world . On the other hand, my personal reactions to the inevitable superficialities that seem to play so important a role in the common life and daily routine of all peoples often made me pause to wonder whether I had really returned to my native land . There never was doubt in my mind or spirit that I was of the Japanese race. I repeated it to myself with pride and reassurance. However, from time to time on numerous occasions, I was often troubled with a queer prickling sensation (for example, when my legs became numb after squatt ing on the mat for even a comparatively short duration) -a prickling sensation that pins-and-needled to my brain with the tormenting q uestion : .. Which was now my native land, America or Japan ? " My body accustomed to the comforts and luxu ries of Western civilization replied, .. America," but my soul still retaining 52 :-by c. S. M;Yilza~i the ineradicable spirit of our race strongly protested, .. Japan:' However. it is not my intention to recount here my experien m Japan, nor is it my desire to discourse here on the Japan 1001ay, as seen th rough the eyes of one who had volunta rily led the life of an exile for almost two score years. Had I the keen pct ceprion of the artist to seek out the beauty of Japan, and the ,!:ifr' of a poet to intluse this cold print with the warmth of that beaun ' had I the witty pen of the humorist to smile and at times cachinn;ll( at my amusing and oftenrimc Rabelaisian experiences: then wool(! I dare to attempt to spin a gossamer of words to delight the gentl' reader and to vie with the charming portraits of the handsome ;ttlt l beautiful second generation included in this volume. However, to continue with this verbose article, in keepitl~ perhaps with the second generation concept ion of our generat ion. I am well aware that this is not the appropriate place to inchlL! an account of my impressions of [apan; but I have mentioned rJl trip because, while observing conditions there, somehow I carne I apprec iate and comprehend bette r the position of our children al1• l th eir generation in America. Away from home, family and coJ11' rnunity, I seemed to haw been able to view our particular groJ.lI ' with the proper perspective. Hitherto vague notions lurking ill obscure nooks of this scatter-brains of mine seem to have crystJ lizcd and come to the foreground. Inchoate thoughts seem to hal"
Object Description
Rating | |
Title | To Our American Sons and Daughters. |
Subject | Identity and values; Immigration and citizenship; Issei; Japanese American identity |
Description | Pages 52-65 from "United States-Japan and younger generation photos." The document discusses C.S. Miyazaki's recounting of the aspirations of the "first" generation of Japanese American citizens (Issei), and what they charge the second generation (Nisei) with upholding. This includes things like respecting elders and economic ambitions. Miyazaki advocates a Japanese American identity based upon loyalty to America but centered around what he identifies as Japanese values. |
Creator | Miyazaki, C. S. |
Date | 1938 |
Type | Text |
Genre | Documents |
Format | Original issues were scanned as 24 bit color 300 dpi pdfs on a Zeutschel OS 14000 A0-LS scanner. Using Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Adobe Acrobat X, the tiffs were OCRed and converted to pdfs, which were then uploaded into CONTENTdm. |
Identifier | sc14.1b02f018 |
Source | Is found in SC 14.01, Tom Hide Collection https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/finders/sc014_1.htm at Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC) https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc |
Language | English |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/ |
Rights Notes | No known copyright. Item is believed to be in public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities. |
Date Digitized | 2013-01-11 |
Note | If you have additional information or corrections for the images in this collection, please let us know. |
Description
Title | Page 52 |
Text | TO OUR AMERICAN SONS AND DAUGHTERS After an absence of fifteen years, I recentl y retur ned to Japan for a short visit. It was a revelation indeed to observe the sign ificant tran sformations that have taken place there and are taking place now. But it was an even greater revelation to note in what lines changes had not taken place. Una ltered remain the fundamenta l characteristics of the Japanese, a heritage of the race, glorified and exemplified by the heroes of the past ensh rined for reverence and emulation on the part of the citizens of toda y. In fact, these sterling qualities have become more firml y rooted in the race in spite of the manifold vicissitudes that beset this mutable world . On the other hand, my personal reactions to the inevitable superficialities that seem to play so important a role in the common life and daily routine of all peoples often made me pause to wonder whether I had really returned to my native land . There never was doubt in my mind or spirit that I was of the Japanese race. I repeated it to myself with pride and reassurance. However, from time to time on numerous occasions, I was often troubled with a queer prickling sensation (for example, when my legs became numb after squatt ing on the mat for even a comparatively short duration) -a prickling sensation that pins-and-needled to my brain with the tormenting q uestion : .. Which was now my native land, America or Japan ? " My body accustomed to the comforts and luxu ries of Western civilization replied, .. America," but my soul still retaining 52 :-by c. S. M;Yilza~i the ineradicable spirit of our race strongly protested, .. Japan:' However. it is not my intention to recount here my experien m Japan, nor is it my desire to discourse here on the Japan 1001ay, as seen th rough the eyes of one who had volunta rily led the life of an exile for almost two score years. Had I the keen pct ceprion of the artist to seek out the beauty of Japan, and the ,!:ifr' of a poet to intluse this cold print with the warmth of that beaun ' had I the witty pen of the humorist to smile and at times cachinn;ll( at my amusing and oftenrimc Rabelaisian experiences: then wool(! I dare to attempt to spin a gossamer of words to delight the gentl' reader and to vie with the charming portraits of the handsome ;ttlt l beautiful second generation included in this volume. However, to continue with this verbose article, in keepitl~ perhaps with the second generation concept ion of our generat ion. I am well aware that this is not the appropriate place to inchlL! an account of my impressions of [apan; but I have mentioned rJl trip because, while observing conditions there, somehow I carne I apprec iate and comprehend bette r the position of our children al1• l th eir generation in America. Away from home, family and coJ11' rnunity, I seemed to haw been able to view our particular groJ.lI ' with the proper perspective. Hitherto vague notions lurking ill obscure nooks of this scatter-brains of mine seem to have crystJ lizcd and come to the foreground. Inchoate thoughts seem to hal" |
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