Rezension zu: Sylvia Junko Yanagisako's "Transforming the Past: Tradition an Kinship Among Japanese Americans"

In her book Transforming the Past: Tradition and Kinship Among Japanese Americans, Sylvia Junko Yanagisako argues that Japanese American kinship is the outcome of a process of negotiation between Issei and Nisei, between the past and the present, between Japanese and American culture. The Nisei use the same words and concepts
as their Issei parents to evaluate the real world, they attribute, however, a different meaning to these words and concepts. In order to make sense of their world, they interpret the mass culture they are exposed to on the basis of their own folk history. Like any other work, Transforming the Past has both strengths and weaknesses, some of them more important than others. In this essay, I want to point out those strengths and weaknesses that I believe to be most important. As far as the structure is concerned, Transforming the Past is a quite well organized book. It looks at the three aspects of marriage, filial relations, and siblinghood and
kinship in a very organized way, namely by first describing the Issei views, followed by the opinion of the Nisei.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Marriage
• Issei Views
• Nisei Views
• Filial Relations
• Issei Views
• Nisei Views
• Siblinghood and Kinship
• Issei Views
• Nisei Views

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This book analyzes Japanese American kinship as a dynamic process shaped by the interplay of cultural influences, historical context, and individual interpretations. Yanagisako investigates how Japanese American identity is formed through the ongoing negotiation between the Issei (first generation immigrants) and the Nisei (second generation), as well as between traditional Japanese customs and the realities of American society. Key themes explored in the book include:

• The role of culture as a primary unit of analysis in understanding kinship dynamics
• The active role of individuals in shaping cultural change and redefining traditions
• The importance of historical context in shaping present-day kinship practices
• The impact of American society on Japanese American identity and social behavior
• The concept of unity in diversity as a defining feature of modern American society

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The book examines three key aspects of Japanese American kinship: marriage, filial relations, and siblinghood. Each chapter first presents the Issei perspective on these topics, drawing from their traditional Japanese views. Subsequently, the Nisei perspective is explored, highlighting how they navigate and reinterpret these traditions in the context of American society. The book meticulously analyzes the nuances of how these different perspectives intersect and influence each other, showcasing the dynamic nature of cultural transformation. For example, while the Issei might emphasize traditional Japanese norms concerning marriage, the Nisei might place more emphasis on the American ideal of love and individual choice.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The central concepts examined in the book are Japanese American kinship, cultural transformation, intergenerational negotiation, tradition and modernity, Issei and Nisei perspectives, American society, unity in diversity, and the dynamic interplay between culture and identity. The book offers a nuanced understanding of how individual agency and historical context shape cultural practices and identities within a diverse and ever-changing society.

Details

• Hochschule: San Francisco State University (Ethnic Studies)
• Veranstaltung: AAS 833 Asian American Family and Identity
• Note: B
• Autor: B.A. Stephanie Wössner (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2003
• Seiten: 6
• Katalognummer: V138135
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640471577
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: Rezension Sylvia Junko Yanagisako Transforming Past Tradition Kinship Among Japanese Americans