For much of this book, I liked it much more than my rating may indicate. The first third to one half is quite intriguing, centering upon a family which, I would argue, is inappropriately labeled "Japanese American." The members are composed of persons who never lived in America nor became American citizens, those who lived in America only part of their lives and were never citizens, those who lived part of their lives in America that were citizens, and those that lived part of their lives in America who were citizens and lost their citizenship. [If I travel to Ethiopia and stay there several years without ever becoming a citizen, I would not consider myself an Ethiopian American (nor an American Ethiopian.)] That issue aside, the book is quite good at pointing out the intricacies of families with Japanese heritage living in America, starting before the Great Depression, and the differences that confronted the various members, into and out of World War II, plus the issues they faced when living in Japan. The internment camps for Americans with Japanese heritage after the attack on Pearl Harbor are well known for folks well versed in modern American history, but is it as well known that first generation Japanese immigrants were not only forbidden (before Pearl Harbor) from owning real estate property, they were also prohibited from using their own funds to buy such property for their American citizen offspring who could otherwise legally own property? As discrimination against Japanese Americans was rampant in America, it was just as pervasive, if somewhat differently manifested, for those who ended up living in Japan. The insights offered by the author are well narrated. Unfortunately, after the story line has atomic bombs dropped on Japan and some of the personal side of the devastation is brought out -- I recommend different books for understanding the full impact of that -- the narrative starts to degrade considerably, too often resorting to very general comments about key family members. Someone did well at. Someone got promoted. Someone made lots of money. Someone got more education. Nothing is said about why or how they did well or made money. They just did. What had been a not so unique family representing intricate social and economic dynamics in the not so distant past, becomes little more than the reader going through a family photo album with a third person who doesn't really know many meaningful tales to tell about the photo subjects. All in all, I still recommend the book. ( )

Well researched account of a Japanese-American family during WW II. Half the family was in Japan and half in the US. This account tells of the suffering, treatment and events for the family in both countries. Interesting look into the US fear of the Japanese-Americans at that time. Shows what could happen with unfound fear of people different than ourselves. ( )

Excellent description of Japanese culture prior to ww2. also the grave injustice that was thrust on them ( )

A very moving family narrative across not just physical distance but emotional. Sakamoto works mainly with two of the brothers but all the of family has a voice in this book. She does not down play anything from the American cruelty to the Japanese bulling of the American born sons.Sakamoto tells the story in a very reader friendly way. She is not just interviewing or reading journals, she brings the story and the people in it to life. She helps American readers to understand the mindset of this family and their cultures. How much Harry wars with himself about what he is doing to help the war. Frank so caught in an impossible place but with hope that it will get better. Sakamoto does a wonderful job with this family and tells a very important, moving story.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I was given this book by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. ( )