Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment

Jeanne uses Papa (also referred to as “Ko” by Mama) to illustrate many of the experiences of Japanese Americans before, during, and after WWII. Papa’s journey to the US embodies the story of Japanese immigrants. As an issei, he comes to the US through Hawaii before settling on the mainland. He is subject to the same racist legislation that barred other Japanese Americans from becoming citizens even after spending years in the US. As an issei, he also occupies a liminal space, loving his country of birth but also being loyal to his country of residence.

The systemic racism Papa encounters has detrimental effects on his mental health, particularly because—unlike the rest of his family—he is interrogated and held prisoner at Fort Lincoln before arriving at Manzanar. Papa’s experience of Manzanar is also distinct, as he suffers ostracism from those who view him as a traitor to the Japanese American community. Papa’s alcohol use, mood swings, and verbally and physically abusive behaviors all illustrate the effect that US policy toward Japanese Americans had on the mental health and well-being of individuals. As his mental health wanes, so does Papa’s cherished position as a family respected patriarch: He loses his position as breadwinner, is hit by his son Kiyo, and finds he cannot control Jeanne’s behavior as a teen. More than any other figure, Papa illustrates Imprisonment’s Harmful Effects on Mental Health.

Honor, dignity, and education are important to Papa. He is constantly seeking out new ventures, such as his law degree and the housing collective, but he rarely finishes them. He also fears the unknown, as he is not willing to relocate to the East Coast to find work like many of his family members do. Although he values much about Japanese culture, he ultimately determines that he is loyal to the US. Jeanne closes the book with a memory of Papa’s defiance, commemorating him at his best.

Mama is the bond that holds Jeanne’s family together during Papa’s physical and mental absences. The dynamic between Mama and the family thus changes over the course of the memoir. In the beginning, she is a supportive wife and mother, whereas after leaving Manzanar, she becomes the breadwinner. Manzanar has a detrimental effect on Mama, especially via the physical, emotional, and verbal abuse she experiences at Papa’s hands. However, she generally has her family’s support in these situations; Kiyo comes to her rescue during a particularly violent incident, and over time Jeanne loses empathy for her father as she sees Mama working to support the family. Mama also supports Jeanne’s interests; she is less concerned about traditional Japanese femininity than her daughter’s happiness. Overall, her personality reflects the motifs of both the changing family unit and endurance.