The Wash

by Philip Kan Gotanda

By the author of Yankee Dawg You Die, The Wash examines the slow and painful death of a marriage after 42 years. Masi Matsumoto has been separated from her husband, Nobu, for more than a year, but she still returns weekly to pick up and deliver his laundry, while Nobu refuses to believe their marriage is over. One daughter hopes for reconciliation; the other estranged from her father since her marriage to a black man, encourages her mother's move towards freedom. Nobu is engaged in a growing friendship with restaurant owner Kiyoko, but when he discovers that Masi has tentatively begun a relationship with another man, Sadao, Nobu's pride is battered, and he becomes reclusive and obstinate. Finally, Masi asks Nobu for a divorce, and at the end of the play, Nobu is alone trying to figure out what his life has become, and how to restore relationships with his daughters.

Genres: Plays

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this play whilst reading 'Asian-American Literature: An Anthology, by Shirley Geok-lin Lim.' I just stumbled upon the play and felt like reading about an older Japanese American woman (Nisei) who decided to leave her husband... and I do not regret it one bit!
The story is paced really well and even though (in the beginning) I was a bit confused with all the characters, I really enjoyed the plot and development of characters. I recommend it to people who like reading about the personal struggles of second-generation immigrants or just want to read about a couple coming to terms (or not) with their dysfunctional relationship.

[dante☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shouldn't be too surprised that the character I had the most in common with, was indeed, the elderly Japanese man.

[Renee Walden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank u Gotanda for teaching me abt asian America's interesting relationship with processed meat lol