Depiction of Japanese Canadian Internment in Joy Kogawa’s Obasan

After the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, Canada responded quickly by establishing several concentration camps for Japanese civilians of any descent, including Canadians. The individuals in these camps were forcibly removed from their homes, businesses, and even separated from their families. In Joy Kogawa's novel, "Obasan," the author shares the experiences of Naomi, a teacher of Japanese Canadian descent, who gradually uncovers the whereabouts and reasons behind the disappearances of several family members. Through Naomi's point of view, the novel offers readers insight into how the Japanese Canadian Internment profoundly affected survivors of this event.

The Japanese Canadian Internment in British Columbia

The novel primarily focuses on the events in British Columbia and how a significant number of Japanese Canadians living there were affected by the internment. In an article by Judith Roberts-Moore, the internment of Japanese Canadians in British Columbia is discussed. At the time, approximately twenty-two thousand Japanese Canadians lived along the coasts of British Columbia, relying on industries such as fishing to sustain their livelihoods and honor their heritage. Fishing was their main source of sustenance, but their boats were confiscated, depriving them of their means of living. Following the Pearl Harbor bombing in December 1941, the Canadian government invoked the "War Measures Act" and "Trading with the Enemy Act" to strip Japanese Canadians of their rights and categorize them as aliens. This racial discrimination resulted in their internment in camps, where they were subjected to forced labor and deplorable living conditions. Many were even deported from Canada to Japan, despite lacking Canadian citizenship. These hardships paralleled the experiences depicted in "Obasan," where Naomi's family lost numerous members and faced the same family separations that occurred in the internment camps.

"Obasan" employs vivid imagery to convey the mistreatment and discrimination faced by Japanese Canadians, making the experiences depicted in the book incredibly realistic. The imagery of a chicken pecking at baby chicks symbolizes the unjust treatment and suffering endured by Japanese Canadians due to their heritage. Similarly, Naomi's description of a "pool of water, but a prison at the exhibition grounds" and the "protected area" along the coast illustrates the harsh reality of their situation. These descriptions serve to vividly convey the experiences of Japanese Canadians during this period. Moore's article complements the novel by providing factual information that reinforces the authenticity of the depicted events.

The Journey of Discovery in "Obasan"

At the beginning of the novel, Naomi does not initially consider delving into her family's past. Obasan advises her to leave the past behind, a sentiment Naomi embraces for many years. However, Aunt Emily's letters and encouragement eventually influence Naomi to revisit her family's history and the traumatic experiences she endured, including sexual abuse by Mr. Grower and forced relocation. As Naomi unravels her family's history and explores her own memories, she gains a deeper understanding of the historical background of Pearl Harbor and World War II. This process of discovery allows her to uncover vital information about her family's experiences during the internment. Naomi's journey mirrors the way survivors of such events think about and remember them today.

In an article by Robert Krell, it is noted that the majority of children who survived concentration camps have remained silent about their experiences, with their memories intensifying rather than fading over time. This explains why Naomi was initially kept in the dark about her ancestors' experiences and why Obasan chose to withhold her secrets. Krell's insights shed light on the emotional responses of survivors, emphasizing their desire to leave the pain and suffering of the past behind. The article also underscores the appalling conditions in Japanese concentration camps, where disease, famine, and cruelty took a heavy toll on the internees, resulting in an estimated 100,000 or more lives being affected. This mirrors the fate of Naomi's father in the novel, who contracted tuberculosis after being interned and eventually passed away.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Obasan" masterfully portrays the real-life experiences of Japanese Canadians during World War II, aligning with scholarly sources to offer a realistic depiction of the internment's impact. Discrimination, poverty, and trauma are central themes in the book, and the experiences of Naomi and her family closely parallel the historical events following the Pearl Harbor attack. Joy Kogawa skillfully combines real letters from individuals and actual historical events with fictional characters, creating a narrative that authentically conveys the pain and suffering endured during this dark period in history.

Works Cited

1. Kogawa, J. (1981). Obasan. Anchor Canada.
2. Roberts-Moore, J. (2018). The Internment of Japanese Canadians in British Columbia. BC Studies: The British Columbian Quarterly, (199), 87-108.
3. War Measures Act, S.C. 1914, c. 2. Retrieved from https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/W-11/page-1.html
4. Trading with the Enemy Act, S.C. 1939, c. 43. Retrieved from https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/T-6/FullText.html
5. Krell, R. (2003). Surviving the Holocaust: The Life of a Child Survivor. In J. H. McCulloch & P. C. Patton (Eds.), Family Matters: Jewish Education in an Age of Crisis (pp. 235-252). Purdue University Press.
6. Canadian Encyclopedia. (2020). Japanese Canadian Internment: Prisoners in Their Own Country. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/japanese-internment-banished-and-beyond-tears-feature
7. Urquhart, J. (2012). Asian Settler Colonialism: From Local Governance to the Habits of Everyday Life in Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press.