99-nen no ai: Japanese Americans (2010– ) User Reviews

Excellent in portraying historic events, but...

[Windsun33 · 8/10 · 27 July 2013]

This series somewhat surprised me in how well it showed some of the problems with pride and prejudice on both sides. The stigma on Japanese first and second generation that were repatriated to Japan is almost never covered by any Japanese media.

But it was not without its' flaws: 1. While there are quite a few comments about how bad the atomic bomb was, nothing at all is mentioned about the Pearl Harbor attack except for the fact that it happened.

2. I guess because nearly all the characters were played by Japanese actors (no real Isei, Nisei, or Sansei) much of the American dialog does not ring true. Probably due to the writing, which was also totally Japanese done. They pretty much totally ignored the fact that nearly all Nisei and later generations could speak perfect English - and the fact that many do not speak Japanese.

3. It put forth the view that nearly all Japanese-Americans at that time were far more "Japanese" than they were American, which is simply not true. The loyalty and/or attachment to America in fact ran across the whole spectrum - a fair percentage in fact considered themselves betrayed by Japan.

Japanese depiction of Nisei-Japanese

[DeusWar · 8/10 · 17 February 2022]

I had the opportunity to watch this series in its entirety not too long ago. It is a very touching Japanese drama about life for Japanese people moving to America in the early 1900s as well as the second generation living during WW2. It really focused on hardships faced in a new country, family-ties, and racism experienced for the "Nisei" Japanese people.

Aside from the obvious Japanese biases, I would say that the series itself was very good. The acting, setting, atmosphere, and portrayal of events were done very well. Unfortunately, it did not capture the reality of Japanese Nationalism, Japanese racism-superiority, hostility toward neighbors, or Pearl Harbor events very well. This does not bode well for a Japanese audience, who to this day are in much denial about their countries' great contribution to the evils of WW2. A drama like this would have been a good chance to open eyes in Japan, but chose to play the safe-route instead to appease public-opinion.

An unexpected portrayal was that of the Nisei returning to Japan and how they were treated harshly. Few people understand how harshly Japanese treat each other, however this drama really demonstrated it well.

Despite its biases, I believe it is worth a watch for American and Japanese alike.

A sob story with no artistic merit, only interesting to get a glimpse of the skewed Japanese view of history

[escadamausgaby · 15 October 2016]

This show is such a ridiculously obvious attempt at painting the Japanese immigrants to the US as noble, superior people who work harder and are all-around better than their American hosts.

Of course it disregards the facts known about the actual internment camps and practically stylises them as Nazi death camps.

All Americans in this drama are stereotypically sinister and racist people, while the Japanese are hard-working victims with no flaws whatsoever.

As this drama has been made for Japanese audiences, of course it is dumbed to the point that it becomes nothing but a fairytale for children, and the Japanese makers of this probably had a very good reason to not release it in the US.