Topaz Oral History Project research files: Published articles (1920s-1980s)

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4 Th e :.1 t my L lov d f llow countrym n now living in the United States n r·n fif y, n w r b :Jinnin h r 1 m n s from th m abou growing old. s 01 :::s uen f thi:::s r liz tion, they h ve started building and dedicating Bu dhist temple 11 over to leave for posterity. Furthermore, since they invest all their ho es in their Nisei children, nd consider the problems of the Nisei most import nt, " isei Education" s become their watchword. Thus, recently we have seen Japanese langu ge schools cropping up everywhere, like mushrooms after rain. I think the non-Japanese in the community must stare in wonder at all of this. (7/30/28) III This might very well be called one of the Seven Wonders of the United States, since it is unlikely that such a phenomenon has ever existed in the case of other immigrant groups in America. Considering this, could our fellow countrymen really be proud of these developments? And is our way of thinking truly sound? Let us look back to see whether we can be proud of the thirty-year history of immigration and settlement of the Japanese and whether it can be considered a success, generally. It is open to serious doubts. While immigrants from other countries were diligently endeavoring to gain a foothold in America, our fellow contrymen were still boasting about their home country, often ignoring facts in their bluster. While other immigrants were rising from the ranks of poor laborers to join that of landowners, establishing a foundation for the good life for themselves and their progeny, our countrymen, unwilling. to part with the idea that they were working temporarily away from home, did not try to Americanize themselves. Instead, they spent their time indulging in trifling pastimes such as drinking and gambling, while neglecting to make long- range plans. And many of those who did manage to save some money, sent it back home to Japan or returned, forthwith, to Japan themselves.