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— 27 —
Of Americans of Japanese ancestry 72.7 percent have never been in Japan, much less studied there. Another 14.4 percent, while they have visited
Japan, have had no schooling in that country. In this group fall those who
have taken short summer trips to the Orient or who have gone with family
members for short periods to see sick or dying relatives for a last time. Only
12.2 percent have had three or more years of schooling in Japan.99
If American citizens of Japanese ancestry who are under twenty years
of age are considered we find that 86.8 percent have never been in Japan.
Another 11.1 percent, though they have had a glimpse of Japan, have had no
schooling there, Only 1.8 percent of the citizens under twenty years of age
have had three or more years of schooling in Japan and can by any stretch of
the imagination be called kibei.100 In other words, the practice of sending children to Japan for schooling had just about ceased, and over 98 percent of
these young Americans could have been automatically and easily cleared of the
blanket accusation leveled against them had hearings been held.
Nor does it follow that the 12.2 percent who have lived and studied in
Japan for three years or more have all been subjected to Japanese nationalistic
propaganda. Of those who fall in this category, 26.8 percent are forty years
of age or older. Their education in Japan was received during the period
before the seizure of power by the military, when rising liberalism was a
force in Japan, particularly in educational circles.101
The War Relocation Authority study also proves that many kibei returned
to America to avoid (this in the case of dual citizens) service in the Japanese
army.102 These individuals can hardly be considered Japanese patriots or persons upon whom the Japanese government could or would count very strongly.
Also, it should be remembered that many of the kibei volunteered for the United
States Army or were drafted. Many more have been sought, because of
their special knowledge of Japan and the Japanese language, for posts in our
Army and Navy language schools and for strategic services of the most important and confidential type. The Armed Services have depended upon these
people at crucial times and places, and the faith placed in them has never been
betrayed. It ill becomes General DeWitt, as a representative of the Army,
to vilify the kibei as a group or to use them as an instrument to justify his
panicky and unnecessary banishment of all persons of Japanese ancestry from
the West Coast.
It should be remembered, moreover, that real kibei are quite conspicuous
and easily distinguished. If hearing boards had been established, which was
the very least the authorities should have done, young people lately returned
from Japan who cannot speak the English language well could have been
thoroughly investigated without ruining the lives and fortunes of thousands
ot Americans who have had no ties of schooling or residence in Japan whatever.
Moreover, the War Relocation Authority study cited above indicates that
"Ibid., p. 3.
,mIdem.
"'Idem.
'"'Japanese Americans Educated in Japan, p. 4.
Object Description
| Title | The Case For The Nisei |
| Subjects | Identity and values--Nisei |
| Type | image |
| Genre | Books |
| Language | eng |
| Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
| Collection Description | 113 items |
| Project Name | California State University Japanese American Digitization Project |
| Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Description
| Local ID | csufr_hfp_0769 |
| Project ID | csufr_hfp_0769 |
| Title | Page 27 |
| Creator | Japanese American Citizens League |
| Date Created | Unknown |
| Subjects | Identity and values--Nisei |
| Type | image |
| Genre | Books |
| Language | eng |
| Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
| Collection Description | 5.27 x 8.50in |
| Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
| Transcript | — 27 — Of Americans of Japanese ancestry 72.7 percent have never been in Japan, much less studied there. Another 14.4 percent, while they have visited Japan, have had no schooling in that country. In this group fall those who have taken short summer trips to the Orient or who have gone with family members for short periods to see sick or dying relatives for a last time. Only 12.2 percent have had three or more years of schooling in Japan.99 If American citizens of Japanese ancestry who are under twenty years of age are considered we find that 86.8 percent have never been in Japan. Another 11.1 percent, though they have had a glimpse of Japan, have had no schooling there, Only 1.8 percent of the citizens under twenty years of age have had three or more years of schooling in Japan and can by any stretch of the imagination be called kibei.100 In other words, the practice of sending children to Japan for schooling had just about ceased, and over 98 percent of these young Americans could have been automatically and easily cleared of the blanket accusation leveled against them had hearings been held. Nor does it follow that the 12.2 percent who have lived and studied in Japan for three years or more have all been subjected to Japanese nationalistic propaganda. Of those who fall in this category, 26.8 percent are forty years of age or older. Their education in Japan was received during the period before the seizure of power by the military, when rising liberalism was a force in Japan, particularly in educational circles.101 The War Relocation Authority study also proves that many kibei returned to America to avoid (this in the case of dual citizens) service in the Japanese army.102 These individuals can hardly be considered Japanese patriots or persons upon whom the Japanese government could or would count very strongly. Also, it should be remembered that many of the kibei volunteered for the United States Army or were drafted. Many more have been sought, because of their special knowledge of Japan and the Japanese language, for posts in our Army and Navy language schools and for strategic services of the most important and confidential type. The Armed Services have depended upon these people at crucial times and places, and the faith placed in them has never been betrayed. It ill becomes General DeWitt, as a representative of the Army, to vilify the kibei as a group or to use them as an instrument to justify his panicky and unnecessary banishment of all persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast. It should be remembered, moreover, that real kibei are quite conspicuous and easily distinguished. If hearing boards had been established, which was the very least the authorities should have done, young people lately returned from Japan who cannot speak the English language well could have been thoroughly investigated without ruining the lives and fortunes of thousands ot Americans who have had no ties of schooling or residence in Japan whatever. Moreover, the War Relocation Authority study cited above indicates that "Ibid., p. 3. ,mIdem. "'Idem. '"'Japanese Americans Educated in Japan, p. 4. |
