Japan and the California ProblemIyenaga, T. (Toyokichi)
History
Japan and the California Problem
Iyenaga, T. (Toyokichi)
Japan -- Emigration and immigration; Japanese -- California
_A._ I think that is right, fourteen.
_Q._ How old are you now?
_A._ Seventeen.
_Q._ You have to renounce the Japanese Emperor before you are seventeen?
_A._ I don't know a thing about it.
_Q._ You know, don't you, that you are claimed as a citizen by Japan, and
also by the United States.
_A._ I don't care. I was born here.
_Q._ Is it your intention to remain an American citizen or be a Japanese
citizen?
_A._ Why shouldn't I remain an American? I was born here. Why should I go
back there? This is my home here.
_Q._ You intend to remain an American citizen?
_A._ Nobody is going to stop me.
_Q._ That's what I want to get at. Do you remember when you were first
told that you were a native-born American citizen; do you remember when
that was first told you?
_A._ I don't know.
_Q._ How long have you felt the pride that you are a young American
citizen? How long have you held that feeling of pride?
_A._ Since I went to Grammar School.
_Q._ Has every young Japanese boy here expressed that feeling as you do to
us; have you heard them talk about it?
_A._ They don't talk about it much. It is mostly their home training. My
father and mother don't care whether I am an American. They would rather
have me an American.
_Q._ And they have encouraged you to be an American?
_A._ Sure.
_Q._ And your teachers have?
_A._ Oh, yes, naturally.
_Q._ And you like the idea?
_A._ Sure.
_Q._ Your father and mother intend to remain here all their lives, do
they, as far as you know?
_A._ Well, I would like to have them go back and see their home once
again, but that is about all. I don't know what I can do.
_Q._ (Mr. Vaile.) As far as you know, their own intention is to live here,
except for a visit home, perhaps, the rest of their lives?
_A._ Yes, sir.
_Q._ Suppose you visit Japan. You know, don't you, that the Japanese
Emperor still claims you as his subject? Suppose you are required to
render military service to Japan, what would be your position on that
subject?
_A._ It would be a pretty difficult one, but I will get out of it.
_Q._ Following that, suppose you were required to render military service
to the United States, what will be your position?
_A._ I will get in.
_Q._ Exactly. We are glad to meet you. Good luck to you.
(_Witness Excused._)
APPENDIX M
COMPARATIVE STANDING OF INTELLIGENCE AND BEHAVIOR OF AMERICAN-BORN
JAPANESE CHILDREN AND AMERICAN CHILDREN DISCUSSED BY SEVERAL PRINCIPALS OF
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
_Request Sent to the Board of Education of Los Angeles, California._
December 24, 1920.
President of the
Board of Education,
Los Angeles, California.
MY DEAR SIR:
I am collecting data on the intellectual and moral status of American-born
Japanese children. Among the data the most important, I need hardly say,
are their school records.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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