Summer Reading Reaction

 As a summer reading, I read No-no boy which is about Japanese American boy who was arrested in prison because of refusal to go to American army during the World War Ⅱ.  This book is written by Japanese American, John Okada. I chose this novel because I am Japanese, so I think Ican feel close to this book and the author. In addition, I think the theme of this novel seems interesting, clear and understandable. I also like this book's constraction such as wide margin, big size of letters, clear division of chapters and adequate length.

 This story starts with the main character, Ichiro's returning back from prison. He refused going to the American army because of his strict mother's expectation. After retuening, he was descriminated against by other Japanese American who went to the army and despired his life.

 However, he met his friendes who understand him and American who do not care about his past. From these, he was becoming positive step by step and tried to face his difficult reality.

 Through his best friend's death because of injure in the war and his mother's suicide, he thought about the war, discrimination and domination of race, family, happiness and life etc. At last, he lost his friend in quarrel among Japanese American and then, he shared his pain with Japanese American who descriminated against him.

 This novel has many significant themes.

 I think one of the main themes of this novel is the system of racial descrimination. In this novel, American descriminated against Japanese. As aresult, young Japanese Americans came to hate older Japanese American because the old is more Japanese than the young. Young Japanese Americans mostly went to American army and thought behaving as American was good. Thus, Ichiro was attacked by young Japanese American because he did not go to the army.

 From this novel, I think the problem of racial discrimination is very complex and difficult to be reduced. It is because descrimination is the problem about people feelings. For instance, Ichiro and other Japanese Americans felt difficulties to find jobs in America because they are Japanese. There is almost no actual difference conpetence to work between Japanese American and American. However,  prejudice to another races makes (phychological) barrier.

 In addition to it, this novel shows that people who was descriminated also come to descriminate against those who are in the same position and have the same element more because people want to be in the dorminant position. In belief, discrimination makes other discrimination not only other race but also the same race.