War Brides of Japan, a docu*memory: THE CULTURE

War bride daughter M. Fumie (“Cactus…Cranes…Cooks") gives an origami demonstration from her Tucson home. Later, she prepares several Japanese dishes based on her late mother’s recipes. Meanwhile, daughters Michelle and Stephanie discuss their multicultural identities while fondly remembering their grandmother and their favorite Japanese foods.

In “Tamales 4 Bon Odori”, Diana recounts how her Japanese Mexican family was rejected by Japanese Americans in their Clovis community (near Fresno) because they were “hapa”. Yet, her mother instilled Japanese culture in her children, and they attended Obon every year. Diana’s youngest daughter, Hannah, discusses her plight of being multiracial and the impact of having never known her Japanese grandmother.

“Bringing Japan Home” features Sophia (Yoshi) reflecting on the influence her late mother had over her, how it compelled her to study Nihongo (Japanese language), travel to Japan, and bring back to her Sacramento home so many Japanese souvenirs that they literally take up her entire house.