Looking for a future, a group of young Japanese women board a ship bound for San Francisco to become brides of fellow countrymen already living there. With only their fiancés’ photograph and a few belongings, they make the arduous journey with hopes of better days ahead. When they arrive in America they are met with many challenges and hardships. These women must find the strength and resilience needed to survive in an environment that is not only indifferent but often hostile to them.

Otsuka masterfully writes with a collective voice that gives us a kaleidoscopic vision of the Japanese people in America in the mid 1930’s. Although the book has a mere 130 pages, it is full of details and descriptions that sheds light on a time in history that too few have known about. Fear is a natural response to the unknown but understanding can replace fear with empathy.

I find this story is a timely reminder to me, to re-examine my own impressions and test the validity of those feelings. It is a powerful step when we can move past our prejudices and see others for who they truly are.

Diane Stratmeyer, March 2024

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