Having finished reading Joy Kogawa’s novel, Obasan, for the second time, I now have a decently comprehensive understanding of the various themes that the novel presents. Although this historical fiction novel does provide rich insight into the horrific experiences of Japanese Canadians interned during WWII, in the end, it probably raises more questions than answers. Most of these questions surround the ideas of Canadian identity and the dangers that result from fear.

Throughout the novel, it is evident that during WWII, the status of Japanese Canadians was “the enemy and not the enemy” of the Canadian government. This concept especially comes into light in the part of the novel when the Canadian anthem is played prior to a school day in Granton, which make Naomi and Steven feel uncertain about their identity. In fact, until present day, there still remains no definite answer to the concept of Canadian identity. However, to formulate an answer, there are considerations that we can make. Drawing from lesson material that Professor Kopas covered in our political science class, Obasan is a novel where the ideas of ethnic and civic nationalism collide. The various Japanese Canadian characters in the novel, especially Aunt Emily, embody the characteristics of civic nationalism, given their sense of pride for the living conditions and freedoms they enjoyed in Canada prior to internment. On the other hand, the Canadian government’s stance on nationalism consisted of ethnic considerations, which fits the definition of ethnic nationalism. As a result, the Canadian government deemed citizens of Japanese descent as non-citizens. From this respect, it would be fair for me to say that this was one similarity that the Canadian government back then shared with their principle enemy, the Nazi Germans, whom were radical ethnic nationalists.

The internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War also raises another critical theme in the novel, which is the fact that paranoia by the state authority often result in the committing of unjust and often irrational acts, even if unintended. When the War Measures Act was proposed following the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Canadian government was without a doubt fearful about the potential of further conquest by the Japanese Empire. Even if there might not have been any malicious intent at first, this nevertheless gave rise to one of the greatest injustices in Canadian history. In fact, throughout world history, various events have also clearly demonstrated this very concept. For example, when Joseph Stalin governed the Soviet Union, he purged and even executed millions of Russians whom he suspected were enemies of the state. Perhaps a more recent example is the controversial Patriot Act that the Bush Administration legislated following the 9/11 Attacks. As a result of the Patriot Act, many American citizens have lost their freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.

To conclude, the novel Obasan is indeed a novel that is highly relevant for students to study, especially for Canadian students. The novel itself not only centers on a largely forgotten piece of history, but also brings up the concepts of Canadian identity and the dangers of a paranoid state authority. What is especially important about such abstracts is that they do in fact pertain to us whether we realize it or not.