Chiyo: A Japanese Picture Bride
Chiyo Mikami arrives in the United States as a Picture Bride, a decision that sees her swapping places with her sister, Fujie. Born with a cleft lip, ,she had always felt like an outcast and believed she would never find a man to marry her in Japan. However, the reality of her life in the United States proves to be a stark contrast to her expectations.
Chiyo's choice to marry Minoru Iwai catapults her into a new world. With unyielding determination, she navigates the challenges of America. She confronts prejudices stemming from her disability and undertakes the daunting task of learning a new language and culture in the United States, showcasing her remarkable resilience.
Driven by curiosity, Chiyo undergoes a profound transformation as she strives to comprehend the world's ways. She doesn't just accept the prevalent prejudice against immigrants entering the United States. She question it. After all, her blood is red like everyone else's, and she is determined to adapt and understand.
When Japan and the United States are thrown into World War II, she has to cope with becoming a prisoner in America's concentration camp called Minidoka in the desert lands of Idaho.
After fifty years, Chiyo and Minoru return to Japan to visit relatives. Chiyo learns of their hardships through the war and compares them with hers. They both suffered in different ways, and to what end?
Chiyo and Minoru learn that living in America is a privilege and life in Japan would have been harder. They are proud to teach their children to be good American citizens with both their Japanese and American values.
