War Bride -- by Yu Yoneto

    November 11 is Remembrance Day. This was the date of the end of the First World War, and it is now a day to remember soldiers who died. People usually wear the poppy and visit war memorials. However, have you thought about women who got married with soldiers who came from overseas? We called them war brides. We remember the men who fought, but we should also remember these women who some soldiers brought home. It is because those Japanese war brides respected the other country and adjusted their social identity patiently. We have to respect them and get to know how they spent their entire life with a completely different society.

     “War bride” indicates marriage between foreign soldiers and local residents in the two World Wars, Korean War or Vietnam War. I would like to talk about Japanese war brides. According to the research, there are tens of thousands of young Japanese women married seventy years ago. Saying that, the international marriage is concerned with the balance of power between states. In recent years, we can see a lot of international couples. However, how about the time after the war? I think that it is difficult to immigrate to a former enemy country. There are a lot of reasons such as longing for a new life, escaping from a poor life condition, and for love. How do they live the life in America? Where did Japanese women meet their husbands?

     First of all. Okinawa prefecture in Japan was a major location that the United State military used. So, predominantly Japanese young women met their husbands in Okinawa prefecture. I am going to show one example. Hiroko was working as a sales assistant at the PX United States military supply store. She met her husband in that store. At that time, for young Japanese women, American people are handsome and kind. It means they had a positive attitude toward them. After World War Two, American soldiers helped delivering foods to Japanese. Sometimes, they distributed snacks to children.

    “His parents never accepted me.”

     “Because they are our former enemy.”

     It is absolutely difficult that people accept a former enemy. According to my research, some people gave up Japanese identities and became fully American. When Hiroko met her husband’s family, she wore her favorite kimono which made her beautiful. However, they wanted her to change it. Therefore, she put away her kimono for a long time. War brides had to change their names to adjust to society. After her child was born, she taught them only English and western culture. Without question, it must have been difficult for her to live with her husband’s family. Because, the life styles were totally different such as food, clothes, and culture. Also, some war brides were not allowed to have children. Husbands’ parents treated them as people from Mars and disliked mixed blood.

     To tell the truth, she did not know her husband very well. In her case, her purpose was not living a luxurious life. She was upper-class. And her husband’s family had a chicken farm. She just wanted to take a chance to get married and escape from Japan. At that time, we had few jobs for women. Moreover, all of them were serving tea are not a dream job for her. To adjust to society, some people went to “bride school” to learn how to live the American way. For example, how to cook, how to bake cakes and how to walk with heals.

     In recent years, international marriage or going abroad is common. Because our international relations are quite good, except some countries. I assumed that a bunch of people became outcast as former enemies. However, she tried to get in the community. They had always known that they could not see Japan anymore. There are some people who broke off the relationship with their Japanese family. They threw away everything and bet on American life with a stranger. However, they had to face up to this situation. But on the other hand, they were also pioneers between Japan and America. I am proud of them.