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Japanese Roses: A Novel of the Japanese American Internment
December 7, 1941: The Miramoto family’s second generation is torn apart, separated in the United States and Japan. After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, their lives would change forever.
Kimiko Miramoto must find a way to survive alone in Japan, the enemy’s country, without being a traitor to her own.
In America, Maggie, Akio, and Akio's Caucasian wife, Rose Marie, are labeled enemies of the United States. Taken from their homes, imprisoned, and separated in different internment camps, their hopes, dreams, and loyalty to their beloved country are put to the ultimate test.
Japanese Roses tells the story of one Japanese-American family’s incredible struggle to survive, caught in the tides of World War II and conflicted by national loyalty, forced to endure unspeakable betrayal and injustice.
Spanning the years of the war for the Pacific, Japanese Roses tells the story not only of one family, but of the struggles of all Japanese Americans during a time when they were labeled the enemy both in their own country and the country of their parents. Alternating between the eyes of Maggie, Rose Marie, and Kimiko, the story moves from the streets of Seattle as the bombs are dropped in Pearl Harbor, to the prison camps that lined America's West Coast, to the devastation of Hiroshima as the war drew to a close.
While all three women are separated by the war, they share one They want to go home. But will their homes even exist in the aftermath of the of the war? And will they all reach that place once the last bombs are dropped?
Kimiko Miramoto must find a way to survive alone in Japan, the enemy’s country, without being a traitor to her own.
In America, Maggie, Akio, and Akio's Caucasian wife, Rose Marie, are labeled enemies of the United States. Taken from their homes, imprisoned, and separated in different internment camps, their hopes, dreams, and loyalty to their beloved country are put to the ultimate test.
Japanese Roses tells the story of one Japanese-American family’s incredible struggle to survive, caught in the tides of World War II and conflicted by national loyalty, forced to endure unspeakable betrayal and injustice.
Spanning the years of the war for the Pacific, Japanese Roses tells the story not only of one family, but of the struggles of all Japanese Americans during a time when they were labeled the enemy both in their own country and the country of their parents. Alternating between the eyes of Maggie, Rose Marie, and Kimiko, the story moves from the streets of Seattle as the bombs are dropped in Pearl Harbor, to the prison camps that lined America's West Coast, to the devastation of Hiroshima as the war drew to a close.
While all three women are separated by the war, they share one They want to go home. But will their homes even exist in the aftermath of the of the war? And will they all reach that place once the last bombs are dropped?
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2013
53 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 11, 2015
Heart-breaking, but inspiring
What a testimony to the power of love and commitment in the horrors of war and all the hatred it breeds!
Yet if someone would have taken time to do some simple editing to fix the hundreds of misplaced words or missing ones, it would have been a much faster, easier read.
What a testimony to the power of love and commitment in the horrors of war and all the hatred it breeds!
Yet if someone would have taken time to do some simple editing to fix the hundreds of misplaced words or missing ones, it would have been a much faster, easier read.
December 18, 2014
riveting
Especially Kimiko's story. I found my self unable to stop wondering what happened next for her. And I wonder, are the characters real in this book? Is it a true story? If so, did Kimiko stay in Japan?
Especially Kimiko's story. I found my self unable to stop wondering what happened next for her. And I wonder, are the characters real in this book? Is it a true story? If so, did Kimiko stay in Japan?
February 8, 2015
I learned so much from this book about the Japanese internment camps in America during WWII. I'm a big fan of the writing format she used, alternating chapters between all the characters. Her research for this book was very good. And the message of hope, strength, courage, and endurance resonated throughout the entire story. I wish I could give this book five stars because she is a great storyteller, but her editing is lacking; there were so many mistakes and words left out. It's truly a testament to her talent that I kept reading because normally, this blunder would cause me to stop reading after a chapter or two.
October 17, 2018
We can't forget what happened during WWII. Sadly the were so many atrocities that happened. I gave this book four stars because of several grammatical errors. They aren't so aggregous that it took a lot away from the story; you just had to read the sentence a time or two to figure out what they meant. I'm so glad that this story has been told. We can never forget what happened and we can never let it happen again!
October 23, 2018
Excellent and informative.
Until now, I knew nothing of the camps that unjustly housed Japanese citizens--nothing but that they existed. This book gave a bird's eye view through several characters, both Caucasian and Japanese. One sees the "good" and "bad", as they experienced it, in the complexities of war, race, and heritage, and the challenge to gain a sense of belonging without sacrificing self, i.e, who one is. The book is very engaging, beginning to end, a true must-read for WWII literature!
Until now, I knew nothing of the camps that unjustly housed Japanese citizens--nothing but that they existed. This book gave a bird's eye view through several characters, both Caucasian and Japanese. One sees the "good" and "bad", as they experienced it, in the complexities of war, race, and heritage, and the challenge to gain a sense of belonging without sacrificing self, i.e, who one is. The book is very engaging, beginning to end, a true must-read for WWII literature!
March 5, 2018
Upon finishing this book, I have a slight headache from stopping myself from tearing up. A truly engrossing story with such care to research and detail. Of course, from looking at some of the reviews, many are unhappy with the editing. I can't say I noticed, but this is just me. A wonderful book that I will definitely be recommending.
February 6, 2018
Although the topic was well researched and the story intriguing, the errors in spelling and grammar forced me to fling this book across the room. How dare someone go to publish without editing?! Truly, too bad.
June 7, 2018
Very good view of the treatment of Japanese Americans during WW11, can understand the view that many held. We forget that there were Japanese Americans in Japan during that time who were treated badly by the Japanese. Thanks for the insight.
June 12, 2018
A good read
What a sad time it was. The war touched so many lives. It is good that someone tells what it was like to live through those years.
What a sad time it was. The war touched so many lives. It is good that someone tells what it was like to live through those years.
July 5, 2018
I found this very interesting..on a subject I knew very little about. Based on real people and stories of a terrible time in our history. What a strong people those Japanese Americans were!
September 8, 2018
Fiction based on true events about the Japanese Americans who were relocated to interrnment camps. Good book!
March 15, 2021
Reads more like a school textbook than a novel. The characters felt flat. The Kimiko storyline in Tokyo was the only one I felt at all engaged with. I would rate this 2.5, if half stars were a thing.
April 14, 2022
I enjoyed the book and the story line. What was distracting was the errors throughout it. It seems it wasn't proofread very well before going to print.
August 19, 2018
Very riveting book! Made me very aware of the plight of the Japanese Americans during WWII. When I think of WWII my first thoughts are about Europe and the Holocaust. We don’t think about how WWII affected these Americans. I could not put this book down, all the time I’m reading it, I’m thinking this would not happen today!! People just would not let this happen today to American citizens!! I highly recommend this book.
April 14, 2015
I must commend the author on her research. It’s clearly evident that she has done mountains of it and woven that into the overall story of this Japanese American family during WWII. From details on the lives of Americans caught in Japan on the outbreak of war to life in the Nisei combat units in Europe to daily life in the camps, Theresa takes us on one family’s odyssey of survival during WWII. The only glaring issue I have with the research was the whole geisha thing. The way the author presented that thread stuck out like a sore thumb in its inaccuracy and the attitudes towards it.
The first half of the book sucked me into the character’s stories. I got to know Rose Marie, Akio, Maggie, and Kimiko and felt engaged in their stories. I liked how each character had their own personality and outlook on the developing events unfolding before them. They each had their own way of dealing with the crisis, and I liked seeing that individuality.
Yet, the latter half of the book is where I was lost in the deluge of historical facts and figures; I lost my sense of the characters in the mountain of stuff presented. They became just names on a page and not personalities in my head and heart. I felt the author lost her sense of balance between the two elements to the detriment of her book.
I do have to also point out a special point of disappointment in the book for me. I was most looking forward to Kimiko’s story as it’s one I’ve never read before. And in the beginning, I wasn’t disappointed. I was fascinated at the precariousness of her situation, her hard time finding a job to put bread on the table and her efforts at finding a roof over her head through the mass of discrimination directed her way. The bits with the Radio Tokyo and Tokyo Rose were a bit of a saving grace in her storyline, later in the book.
Yet, once Ryuu entered the picture, I felt like Kimiko’s story veered drastically off course. It went from an intriguing portrayal of a young Nisei girl caught in what was essentially enemy territory and her story of survival in it to a melodramatic soap opera of abuse. Overall, I probably skipped most of her story as I was busy rolling my eyes at the soap opera atmosphere.
So the book started out very promising. The author definitely took her time in researching her subject and giving us an engaging look at life for the typical Japanese American family in America during WWII. I started out enjoying her characters and being sucked into their stories. But the latter half of the book dragged it down the tailpipe. A mix of too much historical fact and melodrama in one storyline made it a drag to the end that I didn’t enjoy. So not a bad read, but not the best either.
The first half of the book sucked me into the character’s stories. I got to know Rose Marie, Akio, Maggie, and Kimiko and felt engaged in their stories. I liked how each character had their own personality and outlook on the developing events unfolding before them. They each had their own way of dealing with the crisis, and I liked seeing that individuality.
Yet, the latter half of the book is where I was lost in the deluge of historical facts and figures; I lost my sense of the characters in the mountain of stuff presented. They became just names on a page and not personalities in my head and heart. I felt the author lost her sense of balance between the two elements to the detriment of her book.
I do have to also point out a special point of disappointment in the book for me. I was most looking forward to Kimiko’s story as it’s one I’ve never read before. And in the beginning, I wasn’t disappointed. I was fascinated at the precariousness of her situation, her hard time finding a job to put bread on the table and her efforts at finding a roof over her head through the mass of discrimination directed her way. The bits with the Radio Tokyo and Tokyo Rose were a bit of a saving grace in her storyline, later in the book.
Yet, once Ryuu entered the picture, I felt like Kimiko’s story veered drastically off course. It went from an intriguing portrayal of a young Nisei girl caught in what was essentially enemy territory and her story of survival in it to a melodramatic soap opera of abuse. Overall, I probably skipped most of her story as I was busy rolling my eyes at the soap opera atmosphere.
So the book started out very promising. The author definitely took her time in researching her subject and giving us an engaging look at life for the typical Japanese American family in America during WWII. I started out enjoying her characters and being sucked into their stories. But the latter half of the book dragged it down the tailpipe. A mix of too much historical fact and melodrama in one storyline made it a drag to the end that I didn’t enjoy. So not a bad read, but not the best either.
January 24, 2016
This is another book dealing with the internment camps. This one is divided into sections based on who is the featured person in that section. The unusual thing and unique to other books of this type is that one of the people is trapped in Japan and she has to deal with being an American in a country that is at war with the U.S.
Kimiko's part, the woman is stuck in Japan, is the most interesting. She has to deal with finding a job, the Japanese secret police watching her and it seems she ends up being charged with treason after the war. There's also emphasis on the anti-JACL feelings in the camps.
The book is worth getting because of the sections dealing with Kimiko.
Kimiko's part, the woman is stuck in Japan, is the most interesting. She has to deal with finding a job, the Japanese secret police watching her and it seems she ends up being charged with treason after the war. There's also emphasis on the anti-JACL feelings in the camps.
The book is worth getting because of the sections dealing with Kimiko.
December 28, 2014
Без никаква външна причина, даже не знам защо се запалих по темата за жените през Втората световна война и този интерес ме доведе до тази книга. Никак не съжалявам, че я прочетох, даже напротив, препоръчвам я горещо, защото в нея аз намерих потвърждение и доказателство, че женският дух е несломим и може да преодолее всякакви препятствия: да бъде далеч от любимия мъж, да бъде измъчвана, да гладува, и въпреки всички трудности и несгоди да ражда, отглежда и да възпитава деца.В тази книга аз видях тържеството на Живота над Смъртта.
February 29, 2020
Wow! Learned so much about the Japanese Internment camps that took place after Pearl Harbor. This book is told from multiple perspectives: Kimiyo, Maggie (Megumi), Akio Miramoto, and Akio’s Caucasian wife, Rose Marie.
Interesting: Issei= a Japanese immigrant to North America
Nisei=children of Japanese immigrants
Sansei=grandchildren of Japanese-born emigrants
All 3 of these generations were forced to live in internment camps—basically prison camps. The characters described what difficulties each faced during this sad time in our history.
Interesting: Issei= a Japanese immigrant to North America
Nisei=children of Japanese immigrants
Sansei=grandchildren of Japanese-born emigrants
All 3 of these generations were forced to live in internment camps—basically prison camps. The characters described what difficulties each faced during this sad time in our history.
February 9, 2015
I learnt so much from this book. I had no idea how hard it was for the Japanese Americans. This was a very emotional read and I just had to finish the story. Many a times I was wondering if this was a true story, and I was so eager to know what happened to everyone! I would definitely recommend this as a book club read.. Lots of emotion to discuss.
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February 21, 2025The author attempts to tell this story from multiple view points (all first person), but she doesn't give each character a unique voice, so it all comes across as inauthentic. Also, there is no depth to the characters. The author does not draw you in or make you care about these characters. So, on the whole, it was rather disappointing.
March 9, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the author provided different perspectives and that the stories of the characters were not just wrapped up in a pretty bow by the end of the book. I finished the book really wanting to know what happened to a few of the characters.
November 23, 2014
A very readable novel about a disgraceful time in American history that is too little spoken about. This book is a good option for people that want to know more about the topic, but don't like reading nonfiction.
December 4, 2014
Well defined characters that were believable. I liked the 3 different points of view which gave a more robust picture of what the Japanese-American experience was like during WWII. This could have used a good editor because there were many typos.
December 21, 2015
An interesting novel discussing the Japanese internment in the United States during World War II from the point of view of three characters who help us to understand the predicament of people in various situations.
April 17, 2025
Loved this book
I learned so much that I never knew before. I loved how this book showed what life was during the second world war for both countries and the racism on both sides. Highly recommend and such a good read.
I learned so much that I never knew before. I loved how this book showed what life was during the second world war for both countries and the racism on both sides. Highly recommend and such a good read.
November 4, 2014
An enjoyable read despite the numerous grammatical errors; misuse of pronouns. Look into Issei/Nissei internment during WWII.
March 8, 2015
Interesting book about Japanese-American families from the Seattle area before, during and after WW II. Told through different female characters.
June 19, 2015
Was any proofreading done on this manuscript?
I found it very distracting to try to read through so many grammatical errors and poor sentence structuring. Otherwise a good story
I found it very distracting to try to read through so many grammatical errors and poor sentence structuring. Otherwise a good story
July 19, 2015
Great story, many errors in kindle version that could use a good proof reading but the story was captivating nonetheless. A must read about a terrible crime committed against Japanese Americans.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews