NPR's Book of the Day 2 new books were inspired by dark moments in Japanese and Japanese American history
11 snips
Aug 8, 2025 Julia Riew, a composer and playwright, co-authored 'The Last Tiger' with her brother, drawing inspiration from their grandparents' experiences during the Japanese occupation of Korea. In this conversation, they dive deep into the historical context of their work, discussing the harrowing choices faced by Japanese Americans in WWII and the impact of their mixed heritage. They also reflect on the importance of storytelling in navigating identity and resilience, linking past injustices to present-day immigration challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Mother Chooses Son Over Daughter
- Elaine Buckman-Yoneda chose to stay with her three-year-old Japanese son in a concentration camp, leaving her white daughter behind.
- She couldn't imagine sending her vulnerable, ill son to Manzanar without her care and protection.
Racial Profiling Led to Incarceration
- The U.S. government labeled all people with even a drop of Japanese blood as threats, regardless of age or citizenship.
- This led to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were citizens.
Harsh Living Conditions in Camps
- Life inside the camps was desolate with poor sanitation and overcrowded barracks.
- Families suffered from lack of privacy, inadequate heating, and frequently spoiled food.
