Excellent but now overlooked movie about WWII that shows the history of the Japanese-American segregated Army units who fought in Europe in WWII. From today's perspective, a viewer will note the careful line the producers walked between portraying the racism in the US and making a movie that would still be palatable to white Americans.
I mention "Ganbatte" above because that is the word I learned when living in Japan that kept coming into my mind as I watched this movie. Here is an excerpt I found at the yabai website that explains: "Ganbatte", along with its many variations, is a word dearly loved by the Japanese community. Its essence revolves around the concept of never giving up no matter how hard the challenges may be. This general idea of perseverance is ingrained in almost every individual in Japan practically from the day they are born and lives within them until their last breath."
Not being Japanese, I cannot say whether this phrase was used in the Nisei community in Hawaii and California, but it seems to fit perfectly the attitude of the men of the 100th/442nd.
I recommend reading about the 100th/442nd after watching the film so that you can understand the controversies that surrounded its treatment by the Army beginning with the context after Pearl Harbor, its formation, its leadership, its performance under fire, and its casualty levels.
The history of the 100th/442nd deserves a new film that can more openly portray their struggles, but don't miss your chance to see this film, which I highly recommend.
I mention "Ganbatte" above because that is the word I learned when living in Japan that kept coming into my mind as I watched this movie. Here is an excerpt I found at the yabai website that explains: "Ganbatte", along with its many variations, is a word dearly loved by the Japanese community. Its essence revolves around the concept of never giving up no matter how hard the challenges may be. This general idea of perseverance is ingrained in almost every individual in Japan practically from the day they are born and lives within them until their last breath."
Not being Japanese, I cannot say whether this phrase was used in the Nisei community in Hawaii and California, but it seems to fit perfectly the attitude of the men of the 100th/442nd.
I recommend reading about the 100th/442nd after watching the film so that you can understand the controversies that surrounded its treatment by the Army beginning with the context after Pearl Harbor, its formation, its leadership, its performance under fire, and its casualty levels.
The history of the 100th/442nd deserves a new film that can more openly portray their struggles, but don't miss your chance to see this film, which I highly recommend.