Tokiko appreciated a friend who’d fell crazy about a keen Western Heavens Force officer
The marriage prohibit depicted the fresh Army Government’s unrelenting disapproval regarding erican troops and you may Okinawan women. Even with new ban try lifted that e judge, this new military continuously stressed troops never to feel as well amicable with regional female. Which plan is actually explained by some of the female We interviewed.
Residing in New york city, Okushima Tokiko had has worked from 1951 so you’re able to 1964 into Military Corps regarding Engineers on Camp Kuwae during the Chatan. Her work handled payment when property is confiscated to possess foot construction.
The business chief told them it had been ok to tackle up to into the girls in town, but don’t to locate big. Not merely did it pay attention in their very first “direction,” however it was also written in its “information pamphlet.” erican army had it thinking given that our very own nation shed the war, nevertheless seemed to me personally for example racial prejudice and entirely degrading off Okinawan individuals.
The couple is actually way of life together, however when their commanding officer realized, he was endangered that have forcible return to the You.S., and so they broke up. Tokiko by herself got erican, however, his commanding manager got attempted hard to speak him aside from it.
Whenever i arrived in 1977, We believed no special community surprise, although the following year i travelled away from Ca so you’re able to Fl from the auto, while the nation featured incredibly broad
“I thought the brand new travel would never avoid,” remembered Sachie (produced 1931 during the Naha, now staying in New york city). She would visited the united states once her wedding from inside the 1954 when she are twenty and her partner, upcoming in the Army, was nineteen. Her trip first started off White Seashore Naval Ft in the northeastern Okinawa at suggestion off Katsuren Peninsula. The latest watercraft likely to have San francisco transmitted throughout the two thousand passengers. Aboard motorboat was indeed video and you can dancing functions, very all the passengers and you may team preferred this new excursion. But Sachie, struggling with really serious water-sickness, missed from most of the fun. “I decided not to consume to possess fifteen weeks, and you may tossed right up most of the my personal foods. The only one thing I’m able Irisch weiblich to keep down was in fact sips out-of Coca-Cola and apple incisions. I thought I was attending perish by the point we surely got to San francisco.” Sachie rode the latest shuttle for the next four weeks, all the way nationwide on eastern coastline. “This new travel out-of Okinawa is arduous, but once my personal husband’s nearest and dearest asked me personally passionately, I was happy.” Travelling 2 weeks with the a vessel and you will five weeks crossing brand new country-made her exceedingly conscious of how far she was of domestic.
Most women said that they had known The usa was a massive country, but remained shocked once they saw it due to their individual vision. Yukiko (Nevada, ages 62) informed me,
Just before marrying, I would personally spent some time working for the Okinawa during the overseas twigs from a financial and a trading company. In addition got a great amount of connection with People in the us due to my personal partner’s moms and dads who resided with our team, and so i is actually some familiar with Western lifetime. From inside the Okinawa you happen to be never multiple or a couple of hours drive regarding the sea, in The united states we drove more than 10 circumstances and you may saw just house. It made me read just what a small isle I’d are from.
Reiko (Georgia, age 70) was likewise content of the “the new wider road one to did actually embark on forever. Riding on that wonderful street, I thought the country’s strength.”
Many was indeed as well as surprised that The usa it found try thus not the same as the fresh The usa they’d present in the films. “I was thinking The united states try a place where many individuals wore cowboy limits and you can sneakers. I first lived-in my personal husband’s hometown during the Nj-new jersey, and i think about getting troubled because We spotted no one truth be told there putting on them,” said Masako (New jersey, decades middle-fifties).