The Sun Gods by Jay Rubin

Author:Jay Rubin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chin Music Press Inc.

Frank had another opportunity to sound off three days later when the Irrigator received the results of the most recent Gallup Poll on attitudes in the five westernmost states toward the evacuated Japanese. Asked, “Do you think that the Japanese who were moved from the Pacific Coast should be allowed to return after the war is over?”, only twenty-nine percent said they were willing to see all Japanese return to their homes. Twenty-four percent said they would allow only American citizens, and thirty-one percent thought that none should be allowed to return, with sixteen percent undecided. Those opposed to allowing the Japanese to return were asked, “What should be done with them?”, to which more than two-thirds responded that they should be sent “back” to Japan, while the rest thought they should be kept in the inland areas where they were now interned. Altogether, ninety-seven percent agreed that the Army had done the right thing in evacuating the Japanese, while only two percent disapproved and one percent were undecided.

“God-damned racists!” bellowed Frank when the piece was read aloud to the gathered staff. “Do they think we’re animals to be put in cages? Let them try to lock me up in this place after the war is over and they’ll have a rebellion on their hands!”

Another blast of wind rattled the flimsy siding that enclosed the editorial office, and, even seated by a burning hot stove, Mitsuko felt a chill go through her at the prospect of spending the rest of her days here in the desert. For her, the thought of returning to a defeated Japan was far preferable to dragging out her existence here—especially if she was destined to lose Billy in any case. But when she looked at the grim faces of the Nisei staff who were trying to digest this overwhelming rejection by their own countrymen, she felt her heart go out to them.

Mitsuko told Goro and Yoshiko about the Gallup Poll report that night after Billy was asleep.

“Ninety-seven percent against us,” said Goro. “They really hate us, don’t they? Maybe we should go back to Japan.”

“I hardly remember what Japan looks like,” said Yoshiko. “What is left there for us?”

Goro said, “True. I would never really go back. But if they tried to keep us locked up here after the war …”

“They could never do that,” declared Yoshiko.

“Not to the Niseis, perhaps,” observed Mitsuko, “but what about us?”

“Why not the Niseis?” Goro asked. “They were so sure of their constitutional rights as American citizens, and what did it get them?”

Mitsuko said, “I remember once, Yoshiko, you said we didn’t have to worry, that they would treat us all alike. I’m afraid you were right. We’re all the same to them: Japs. We’re all as guilty as the ones who dropped the bombs on Pearl Harbor. It’s just as Frank said—racism, pure and simple.”

“Young Frank Sano?” Yoshiko asked.

“Yes, you should have heard him sounding off at the Irrigator office,” Mitsuko said with a laugh. She recalled the fire in his eyes, and she found herself admiring him in many ways.

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