Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family (Oregon Reads)

Stubborn Twig - by Lauren Kessler.This well-researched story of three generations of the Yasui family was of special interest to me because it parallels the time frame and journey of my own family's experience, though we were not as successful, and, therefore, didn't have as much to lose as the Yasui's. Their saga begins in Japan in the late 1890's, and explains the reasons that first generation of issei emigrated to the U. S., the visa processes, the voyage across the Pacific in steerage. Each segment was fascinating to me because I imagined that my grandfathers underwent the same kind of process, and it filled in the many blanks in my family history. My family also made its start in farming the Pacific Northwest and in Southern California. However, both branches lacked the drive and ambition of our protoganist Masuo Yasui who built up a mini empire in Hood Valley, Oregon - of apple and citrus farms, a local store, loan arrangements and multiple other businesses. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, his was the head that stuck out the most and, hence, got pummeled as mercilessly and irrationally as any whac-a-mole. We learn that the racial paranoia and animus that rose at that time did not come from nowhere - it was part of the underlying atmosphere of fear and hate Asians experienced all along the west coast for decades. It was especially prevalent in Hood River. Since my father hardly talked about his experiences in the internment camp at Gila River, I never knew (till reading this account of theYasui family) about the everyday insults and indignities that accompanied life for the first generations of Japanese and Chinese. Masuo spent the whole war and even months afterwards in a prison on unproven charges of being a spy. (In fact, no evidence was ever found to prove that any internees were ever guilty of espionage.) He and his wife never returned to Hood River where his many properties were sold at basement prices just to pay loans and taxes, and where he had mistakenly thought he had gained the trust and friendship of his white neighbors over the many decades he and his family lived there. Though there were white neighbors and friends who stood by them, they, too, paid a price in threats and ostracism. Masuo, his nisei children and their experiences take up the bulk of the book. The third generation sansei (of which I am a member) inhabits the last quarter of the book and is not nearly as compelling as they continue their transition as Japanese- Americans into the social and economic fabric of the U. S. The author has found the perfect family to represent the plight of the Japanese through three generations. Within its members, the Yasui family experiences success, persecution, rebellion, incarceration and ultimate realization of their quest to be Americans. There are truly sad moments in this book where the clash between the old and new cultures have a terrible outcome. And where the realization that no matter how hard you may try, you are not going to fit in. It breaks your heart.

I have now read this book twice and perhaps before my end on this earth comes, I shall read it a third time. It's local to Hood River about 50 miles east from here and in this resurgent era of racism, it is an excellent study of our American treatment of the Japanese before and during World War II all based on 3 generations of the same family...the Yasui's.

A captivating story of the Yasui family, the many challenges they faced and overcame. I personally know some of the Yasui family members and will long treasure these stories.

This is a well written book about the Japanese experience prior to and after World War II. Being a sansei, I had always asked 1st and 2nd generation family members about those experiences but they rarely gave significant information or they minimized the shame and humiliation. This book gave me great insight into what actually happened in an interesting and captivating way. It also gave me greater knowledge in the Japanese philosophy of life, work, community and family. Thank you Ms. Kessler for the insights into those silent and hidden experiences. This has to be a "must read" especially for anyone of Japanese ancestry or anyone interested in history or human nature.

I am in a book club and we all seemed to agree that the author repeated examples of the family too much. This made me speed read. There were areas that read really well. Over all, really enjoyed the story of the family. Good for Oregon reading.

Wonderful book! Highly recommend it!

Love this book, great condition

A thought provoking and somewhat disturbing history of a multi-generational Japanese family in the US....this book causes one to ponder the results of fear and ignorance, and how some truths (we WERE eventually at war with Japan) can be distorted into exaggerated and corrupted pronouncements, (all the Japanese were here to take our land, spy for Japan, and "take over"), causing actions of far reaching consequences. The story becomes engaging on a personal as well as historical level.