Reading Notes W12: Fusako, Part B

Kushi Fusako, “Memoirs of a Declining Ryukyuan Woman” (400-408)

Kushi Fusako:

·         1903-1986

·         She is known for this single classic story and this is her only work

·         “Her famous story gives a memorable depiction of the life of minorities in modern Japan” (400).

·         She is actually one of the few Okinawan women who actually published fiction in the early twentieth century.

·         Okinawans were considered to be second-class citizens no matter the social level.

·         “The new government instituted assimilation campaigns to bring the supposedly backward Okinawan society in line with the civilized culture of Japan: its targets included the communal landholding system, the use of dialects, women’s fashion, and the custom of tattooing the backs of women’s hands…” (400-401).

·         Okinawans were forced to migrate to the mainland because of work (in search of work).

·         Many Okinawans pretended to be Japanese and hid it in order to work and such.

·         The story may link to the author’s own struggles/life.

·         This story of hers caused uproar: the student association said the story was presenting Okinawan’s in a negative/demeaning light.

·         Her writing style: evocative portrayal of nature which conveys the narrator’s intense emotions. This was similarly used by the other writers too.

·         IMPORTANT: people in the main islands of Japan were prejudice against Okinawan’s.

Quotes:

·         “Tattoos have caused suffering in almost every Ryukyuan family. Even if every woman can save enough money to send several sons to higher school, she is destined to be left behind in her hometown until she dies, thanks to those tattoos on the back of her hands” (402). Tattoo-a symbol of their status in society? The tattoo was an easy way to tell Okinawans from main landers.

·         “You have to understand that if people found out I was Ryukyuan, it would cause me all kinds of trouble. To be honest, I even lied to my wife, telling her I was going to visit Beppu City in Kyushu” (406). This equals into the prejudice against them.

·         “I don’t care whether Okinawans are identified with Ainu or with “pure Japanese” because I firmly believe that, despite superficial differences resulting from environmental conditions, we are all Asians and equal as human beings” (407).