A Multicultural Existence

 There's a strange dynamic that goes on when a culture is placed within a culture. For one, keeping true to one's culture is made difficult when outer forces impede on that culture's values. On the other hand, the the impeding culture has is own paradigm-- placing those who are in different cultures with specific expectations. This is the relationship dynamic is what Kiyo and his brother, Tosh, struggle with. Culture is a social structure is born into. However, that same individual can just as easily accept and reject parts of their culture and other cultures as well.

    In the case of Kiyo and Tosh, their Japanese culture has essentially indebted them to their father's debt. However, they're no longer in Japan they're surrounded by an immigrant Hawaiian culture. In a developing Hawaiian culture at that! (During a time of war and increasingly progressive times) Kiyo out of the context of his culture is individually already inquisitive in nature, but is also attached to his cultural obligations. Kiyo is somehow disheartened when his mother tells him "Toshio has been little help as number one son, and we're depending on you to help the family." ( 97). Though he is of Japanese blood and is expected to repay the debt, Kiyo wants something outside of his culture. Things like higher education and freedom from his familial duties.

  In my experience cultural acceptance has been a struggle with me as well. I was born in the Philippines, yet my parents figured that America had more opportunities. I came to California speaking Ilacano, but I quickly gained a fascination with the English Language. Years later, with almost all my Ilacano speaking skills diminished, I'm in college studying Western Literature. Though it wasn't my intention to reject my first language, I strayed far from it because I wanted to explore the wider freedom of Western Literature. I, like Kiyo, wanted something outside of my culture.

  Though there are always imposing outer force that shape the individual, a multicultural existence doesn't necessarily have to be a negative side effect of living within another culture. I for one enjoy literature and had the opportunity of going to college. Kiyo, by joining the army, aligned himself to patriotically fight by America . Though Kiyo wants to reject the cultural position of "number one son", by joining the army consequently helps reshape that imposing culture by proving his loyalty. Yet he does not fully leave one culture for another. Instead he chooses  a multicultural existence, and pays off his family's debt through a series of crap games while in the barracks.

Marielle Argueza