Japanese American Books

Girocho: A Gi's Story of Bataan and Beyond

I had a special interest because John Henry Poncio is/was a relative, but even more because he bore no enmity for the Japanese. That still amazes me. The story of what our troops endured should be required reading in our schools.

Poncio's story from Bataan to Hirohata, written with total context of the war. An outstanding and complete story.

Every so often, one discovers a "POW" book that is not only accurate, but well written. Each line, each paragraph, each page weaves a complete tapestry of a Prisoner's life under the Japanese. Add to this, one sees beautifully crafted typography that makes this a classic. Of the more than 1000 books w have on the subject, this book ranks in the top ten.

Poncio adds depth and meaning to the history of our POWS, especially the guerilla and public support by foreign nationals and Filipinos. His is one of the rare books that even acknowledges the support from the legendary Madame Utinsky, a heroine who deserved the Medal of Honor. No phase of the experience is slighted nor any detail ignored as the writers weave a tapestry of horror endured yet an inspiring and unending battle to survive and sabotage the Japanese war effort. Poncio's description of desperate hunger alone is worth the price of the book. On a scale of one to five stars, Poncio's book deserves seven extra large stars.
Center for Research
Allied POWS Under the Japanese

If you wish to own a single book about the contributions of the 100/442 this is it.

This book probably should rate at least 588 stars. 588 stars because that is the number of Silver Stars won by these fine AMERICAN fighting men in WWII.

A lot of folks probably know the 100/442 was the most decorated unit in WWII. In fact, this fighting team was the most decorated unit in AMERICAN history. This great volume goes a long way to perhaps explaining why this was so. These AJA men were fighting a two front war. Hitler and Germany tried this and failed. The fighting men of the 100/442 prevailed on both fronts they were fighting on. These men proved their were good Americans with their bravery and with their blood.

Mr. Tanaka knows, he was there! He was one of the few men to make it through all of the major campaigns with the 100/442. His personal experiences appear to have been invaluable in putting the story together.

The men of the 100/442 had the Germans and their allies to deal with in Europe and the stupidly cruel actions of the American government and people to deal with back in the US and they prevailed.

Mr. Tanaka skillfully weaves first person remembrances into the story, and this coupled with the many fine pictures personalizes the AJA men of the 100/442 and the two battle fronts they were engaged on in WWII. The reader will come away knowing war is hell if they had missed the point before. The reader will come away with the idea that courage and spirit applied in liberal doses to any situation will win out.

Mr. Tanaka's book provides a fitting tribute to those members of the 100/442 who did not live to come home, men who fought and died while their families were imprisoned back at home.

The Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442ndRegimental Combat Team were among the finest units of World War II.Their astonishing exploits, decorations awarded, and casualties taken are legendary, but when the cheering subsided the discrimination they and their families suffered did not disappear.
Their story is well told here in this fine pictorial record of their achievements, with 240 photos, 8 maps, and informative endpapers, tied together with a good narrative, to form an admirable tribute to these brave soldiers.
Highly recommended for military history readers, students of the ETO campaign, and WWII buffs in general.

(The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of this page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

Life in Peking (Beijing) China before World War II was the ultimate big frog in a small pond experience for Europeans and Americans. Persons of modest means and position, such as Marine Captain John Letcher, could live like pashas on a modest salary. Moreover, Peking had fabulous art, architecture, food, and a glorious culture to enjoy.

Life was not nearly so good for the Chinese and that was why Letcher was there. He was a member of a US Marine Corps contingent with the mission of protecting foreigners and property. The Chinese had the disconcerting habit of rising up occasionally and killing the Westerners enjoying their bounty. Captain Letcher's tour in Peking was made memorable by the beginning of World War II when Japanese and Chinese troops clashed at Marco Polo Bridge, just outside Peking. What is perhaps most remarkable is how little the war between China and Japan disrupted the good life of the foreigners inside the walls of Peking although there is a sense of gathering doom in Letcher's account.

This book consists of Letcher's letters and diary entries from 1936 to 1939. A lengthy introduction, a few photos and maps, extensive footnotes, and a bibliography supplement the text. Letcher has no startling insights or wisdom to impart, but his stories of daily life conjure up life in Peking pretty well and his eye-witness observations of the war are interesting. "Goodbye Old Peking" is a well done book of interest to scholars and those of us who are fascinated by old time China and the Westerners who lived there.

Smallchief

Mr. Letcher's letters were written in a style that gives the reader a "visual" description of pre World War II China. Although some of his opinions may not be politically correct by todays standards, I think he honestly expresses his feelings of the people and surroundings at the time. Some of his predictions regarding the upcoming war are almost right on--however his prediction that California would eventually be captured by the Japanese happily did not come true. Regardless of Mr. Letcher's personal opinions, his letters are well written and gives the reader the feeling of being there. A good story. The editors did a great job of keeping the story on track, and the footnote information was very informative (Their references led me to several other publications which I subsequently read). The copy I read was from the public library. I plan to buy the book for my collection in the near future.

Mr Kinjo provides a miracle gift of money for his friend, Sad Mr Higa and restores the Honour of Mrs. Sugino. Mr. Sugino convinces Mr. Higa to give him $1,500 with the promise to double it, before Mr. Higa returns to Japan. After Mr. Sugino losses the money through drinking and gambling, Mrs. Sugino throws him out of the house. Rinko, who is learning Japanese lesson from Mrs. Sugino gets entangled in the drama. Rinko speaks honestly and opposes the marriage between Teru and Mr. Kinjo; Rinko plans on being the go between and arrange a marriage between Teru and Johnny Ochi; Johnny Ochi leaves for Las Vegas and messes up the plan; Rinko hopes to convince Teru not to marry for arrangment; Mrs. Sugino confides in Rinko telling her that she was arranged to Mr. Sugino, but was deceived since he sent a picture of another man; Rinko tells Teru to marry for love because marriage is just and important event in life. Rinko finally understands why Teru loves Mr. Kinjo, a much older man; a man who sponser her reuniting from Japan to her mother, Mrs. Hata; Mr. Kinjo find Boku after he runs away from home; and Rinko confesses she was wrong and Mr. Kinjo says, he hopes they will always be friends.

The Uchida story is beautiful and the last few pages are unbelievable sacred. To think there exists kind people like Mr. Kinjo, who sacrificed his monies to be used for a new home and marriage was impactful. The story is a beautiful Christ like story of love between friends, community, and culture. I wish the world would read this book and understand about love. Absolutely beautiful. A must read for all generations.

Rinko is talented and smart but does she always make the right choices? She gets a new japanese teacher and meets lots of new people and gets some first impresions with some rude remarkes. Even if she is growing up will she ever be polite and keep her lould mouth shut?

This cookbook is a great instructional cookbook filled with fun pictures and easy to make recipes that kids will love!

This cookbook is a fun and creative way to spend quality time with your children or anyone making food that taste great and fun to eat.

Patsy Oda writes a rich and wonderful account of her life and her loves-first and foremost her love for Jesus Christ and then to her husband. Her story is a testament to her clear understanding of priorities in her relationships and knowing that God needs to be number one in her life. She teaches through her own experiences the importance of being obedient to God, even in her choice of a husband and having courage to stand by her convictions. Heart's Desire is an important story that needs to be told to all Christians who are considering a partner for a life-long marriage.

This book is an incredible story of one woman's honest account of her journey of faith. In her autobiography, Patsy Oda shares how she struggled with being the only Christian in her family and tells of the amazing ways God showed her who to marry. Patsy Oda's autobiography is not only an inspirational story but also a must read for anyone wanting to know more about the Christian faith.

My teacher read this book to me in class. It's excellent! Especially if you're interested in Social Studies!! You have to read this!!

Bernard Fitpatrick is a Minnesota man and was drafted in April 1941. He left for the Phillipines in September of 1941. He was captured when Bataan fell and eventually ended up in Japan. This is a good book, and is not unreservedly horrible. He tells of Japanese atrocities but also of human and good Japanese. The story is artlessly but engagingly told, and is a war memoir I am glad I had a chance to read.

This book was one that out of all of the books about the Death March of Bataan, was the most vived.This man came to my school and old us how real that this war that most people just talk about, was so real! This man went through so much and survived it and then went through it again, just to tell people about it. I think that it was a very honorable thing to do.

Sgt. Gautier was given some unusual assignments while a prisoner of the Japanese, and he was fortunate to have survived the Death March, prison camp and the voyage to Japan. He gives a gripping account of his experiences, and also provides us insight into the lives of the PoWs after their returned to the States.

This is a good book. Anyone interested in learning what it was like to be a prisoner of war under the Japanese will find it intriguing.

Elena Tajima Creef's Imaging Japanese America: The Visual Construction Of Citizenship, Nation, And The Body is a recommended pick for college-level Asian studies readers: it begins with the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II and supplements photos with insights on how American popular culture viewed Japanese-Americans. An intriguing cultural analysis.

From the power of the cover photograph, to the images and words inside, Professor Creef has written a book that - as the above review says - correlates to the times in which we now live, while also offering an insider's view of the impact and power images possess. Anyone interested in the gaze, Japanese America, self-representation and cultural studies should definitely buy this book. It will certainly occupy a permanent place on my bookshelf.

This is the true story of a married couple who were sent to separate internment camps during World War II. It is a heart-wrenching, but heart-warming story, told mainly in his letters to her, as she was too depressed or too ill to write much of the time. All Americans should know the full details of this shameful time in our history. This book shows how a man can love his wife under any circumstance. Highly recommended!

In this simple, lovely paperback the life & times of two quiet, introspective pioneers come alive. They left the land of their birth for Seattle in America, arriving in the 1919. There they thrived within their community & their church. Until that fateful day when Iwao was snatched away shortly after Pearl Harbor. The World War II correspondence of this Issei couple throughout the dark years of their separate internments is the heart of this biography. Yet the memorabilia & superb black & white photographs of the NorthWest region give a greater insight into these quiet, devoted Americans. Truly an inspiring study in forgiveness & endurance. ........................