Weedflower

Sumiko and her family face several changes resulting from the Pearl Harbor attack. Their first response after hearing about the attack is to burn anything they own that may associate them with Japan. For Sumiko, this means burning what little she has left of her parents. Ironically, the family has a hard time gauging what items will appear disloyal because they are, in fact, loyal to the US. Furthermore, the family’s priorities change overnight; before, they and their neighbors focused on their flowers, but they now focus on burning Japanese belongings while the flowers languish in the fields.

Kadohata highlights elements of Japanese culture primarily through her depiction of Sumiko’s family life. When Uncle and Jiichan are arrested, the family loses its leaders. Even though it means breaking curfew, Ichiro continues to take the flowers to market, and Bull keeps working the fields. The family’s way of life is under threat, but they have few options for making money and decide to continue with what they know. Kadohata also uses Japanese words to highlight various cultural concepts. For example, she notes the idea of shame, or haji. In Japanese culture, people feel shame deeply, yet Sumiko doesn’t feel haji as much as her family members. This indicates that although Sumiko has a Japanese heritage, she’s American and has been influenced by American culture.

Although Sumiko faced racism before Pearl Harbor, she and her family experience it more intensely after the attack. Many people call Japanese people “Japs,” including a state governor on the radio who says he would hang Japanese people from trees in his state. Furthermore, white people beat up a friend of Ichiro, presumably for no other reason than his race. Kadohata highlights the lack of common sense that drives judgment of Japanese Americans. For instance, an American general states that the absence of sabotage is proof that sabotage will occur in the future. Kadohata explains the illogical nature of this statement from Sumiko’s point of view, emphasizing the nonsensical nature of the racism Japanese Americans faced during this time in history. She shows how fear can make people lash out and blame others without thinking clearly.

Pearl Harbor also brings financial consequences for Japanese Americans. Their bank accounts are frozen, and evacuees are taken advantage of by people who buy their furniture and belongings at a cheap price. Sumiko notes how degrading it feels to have people walk through her home and offer far less than what the family’s belongings are worth. Sadly, the family has no other choice but to take what people offer, since they must leave quickly. Even continuing to sell their flowers at the market comes with a risk, as Ichiro must break curfew every day to drive to the market. Kadohata shows the immediate results of Pearl Harbor for Japanese Americans—and how American fear led to racism and unfair treatment of Japanese Americans. The lives of Sumiko and others changed overnight because of an act of war in which they had no part.