Ninety percent of an iceberg lies underwater, leaving a mere ten percent on the top to be viewed. This same effect can be seen while looking at novels. Authors put years of work and dedication into producing books, which is often not taken into consideration while reading them. Another factor which is often overlooked is the history to the making of the book; Where were these ideas developed? Does it have a connection to history? A connection to today’s events? Joy Kogawa’s novel, Obasan, is a perfect example of the depth that can lay beneath the pages of a novel. Obasan is a novel developed from enriched historical events encrypted with Joy Kogawa’s personal experiences and interpretations, which has set forth a wave of realization and a commitment to change after the publishing of the book.
At UBC there is a library called Rare Books and Special Collections which holds tens, in fact hundreds of articles of all genres in regard to Joy Kogawa’s Obasan. Some of these articles contain information regarding the making of the book and portray Kogawa’s struggle and prolonged efforts to shape the book, not just the way she wanted but in a way that it would be accepted. In this collection of articles there were multiple rejection letters to Obasan, some with carefully constructed criticism and others with very vague remarks, simply stating they would not be publishing Joy Kogawa’s book. There were also collection of rough drafts that would later be formed into the book Obasan, and a list of different proposed titles for the book to come. These pieces illustrate Joy Kogawa’s prolonged efforts and careful construction of the book Obasan. These articles, particularly Joy Kogawa’s rough drafts and list of different titles, also show the consideration that goes into building a book. Each chapter, each character, each sentence structure and use of imagery was put into place carefully with the intention of having a specific effect on the reader.
Just as we can see the efforts that went into the creation of this book we can also see its effects on the individuals who read it, society as a whole and the way in which it has shaped Canadian history. Within the documents at the library there were personal letters wrote from fans to Joy Kogawa, thanking her for portraying the brutality that took place in Canada towards Japanese Canadians during World War Two. The book Obasan as expressed in some of these passionate letters, brings forth an injustice of the past that has often been overlooked and silenced. This book, although fictional, brings a truth claim to the truly immoral acts committed by the Canadian government to Japanese Canadians during World War Two. News articles, within the collection of documents, exposed Obasans effect on all of history while telling how in 1988, a passage from Obasan was read in parliament during the official apology to Japanese Canadians and the signing of the Japanese-Canadian redress agreement. More evidence, such as Joy Kogawa’s letters to the Premier of Ontario and the Prime Minister of Canada in an attempt to use her book as a weapon to initiate change for elder Japanese Canadians Living in old age homes, shows again how Obasan has had a great effect on society and the formation of history.
Obasan has had an important role in delivering and shaping the history of Canada, and shows us, when deciphering the importance of a book we need to look below the tip of the iceberg.