Medford mail tribune., February 16, 1936, Page 20, Image 20

U. S. Born Japanese Feel Out of Place In Land of Ancestors
Ancient Prejudices Beset
Newcomers Unused to Ways
Of Country, Survey Shotvs
By Rose McKee
(Editor's Note: Miss McKee is an American news
paper, woman now working on the editorial staff of
the Japan Times in Tokyo.)
JAPAN has failed to prove the Utopia that was
expected by the thousands of American-born
Japanese who, prompted by the depression, have
returned to the land of their ancestors from Wash
ington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii in the last
few years.
This they tell you in their private conversations,
explaining that the native Japanese are prejudiced
against them.
When the ordinary American in Japan makes a
mistake, the Japanese overlook it, saying, "He is
a foreigner and doesn't know any better," but when
an American-born Japanese errs, the Japanese do
not excuse it. They say, "He is Japanese and should
know better." As a result, the doors of Japan's far
famed hospitality swing closed and remain closed
to the American-born Japanese. They do not have
the advantages which are offered by their own
people to the ordinary American. They do not "fit
in." Naturally, they feel and resent this.
That their complaint is justified to some extent
is shown in an analysis of the first census of the
American-born Japanese taken in Tokyo, capital
of the Rising Sun empire. However, this survey,
recently completed, indicates also that the situa
tion is not as dismal as the so-called second gen
eration pictures it. It reveals that the American
born Japanese is beginning to enjoy the feeling of
ease and composure which results from associa-
tion with one's own people. On the other hand, it
proves that the young people miss the recreational
opportunities afforded in the United States and
that some of them are extremely lonely.
QUESTIONNAIRES were sent to 1000 members
of the so-called "second generation group" in
Tokyo by American-born Japanese working in the
Y. W. C. A.
Some of the questionnaires were returned unde
livered, for the "second generation group" moves
rapidly from one place to another in Tokyo, indi
cating that they, like other foreigners in Japan, (
have difficulty in finding a desirable place to live.
Others threw the questionnaires into the waste
paper basket. There were, however, 105 young
people, 06 boys and 39 girls, who replied. The
majority of these were 21 and 23 years old. The
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Japan Is no Utopia to American-born Japanese returning t. work in land of ancestors. Modern young Japanese (shown
above) find the customs and traditions against them. Native-born boys and girls (Inset) have the "edge" on them.
youngest was 17 and the oldest 47. Most were
college graduates.
Answering the question, "Do you feel free of
race prejudices?" 30 said yes, but 13 replied no.
Many left the question unanswered.
Replying to the query, "Is it good to live among
your own race ?" 24 said yes, but 10 said no.
To the query of whether or not they were happy
in Japan. 13 said, "Quite happy," 10, "Reasonably
hanpy;" 10, "Yes and no;" and 6, "Unhappy.."
Sixteen complained of language difficulties, 20
of being lonely, 20 of being misunderstood, 12 said
Loiv Standards of Living,
Class Distinctions, Cause
Many to Plan Return Here
it was hard to make adjustments to life in Japan,
15 complained of lack of understanding of things
Japanese, and only 9 found it easy to make
adjustments to life in the land of their fathers.
To the question, "What do you like in Japan
that you did not have in the United States?" some
of the replies were as follows: Feeling of ease and
composure from association with own people;
scenic beauty; courtesy and hospitality; better
positions; cultural betterment; inexpensive to live;
variety of friends; more scope and freedom; no
racial prejudices to combat; Japanese spirit, and
more tasty food.
ON the other hand, the question, "What are
your objections to living in Japan?" brought
the following replies: Standard of living low; hard
to make friends; too much class distinction; American-born
Japanese looked down upon; Japanese
men's undue superiority complex toward opposite
sex (listed by both men and women) ; lack of
free education; provincialism of people, and
unsanitary conditions.
Difficulty in finding employment was discussed.
Listed among difficulties were: Lack of knowledge
of oral and written Japanese; lack of proper
preparation in right line of work ; prejudice shown
by native Japanese against American-born Jap
anese; lack of proper contacts, and lack of under
standing of Japanese psychology.
But the group also had one outstanding advan
tage when it came to looking for a job, their ability .
to meet foreigners as they are accustomed to being
met. (Japanese firms doing business are glad to
have young Japanese who speak English and
understand foreign customs to "front" for them.)
Study brought many of the group to Japan,
although they wanted to work while they studied,
for the most part. Others came for work alone,
to visit, or to accompany their parents.
THE survey indicated that a large percent
intend to return to America. California was the
birthplace of the largest number, but almost as
many came from Washington, with Oregon rating
third. The University of Hawaii had most of the
college graduates with the University of Califor
nia second.
The census revealed that 71 are students, 15
stenographers, 4 secretaries, and that the others
are bank clerks, tutors, interpreters, reporters,
architects, teachers, and accountants.
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