There is a tragedy of human experience trapped within the character of Charlie. Immediately likeable, Charlie seems to be the bond that brings together the opposing worlds of American pop and traditional Japanese society. On one hand, Charlie is the dutiful Japanese son, imploring Lily to fulfill her role in the family and marry for the dowry. In a moment of metaphysical insight he tells his youngest sister, "It's the only thing he could have done...because of honor" (Paradise). On the other hand, Charlie has adapted to American life in many ways. he speaks little Japanese, and does not seem to have much interest in Japanese culture. However, as an avid fan of baseball, he has little trouble recalling names of the heroes of America's favorite pasttime. He tells Harry, "Enemy alien? I can't believe this...what about the Germans and the Italians? Is joe Di Maggio and enemy alief for Christ's sake?" (Paradise). If a cultural identitiy was to be assumed for the second generation Japanese children born and raised in America, Charlie would seem to be the best model. However, under the duress of confinement, under the gaze of bitter xenophobia, the true nature of Charlie's cultural identity emerges. Fierce pride colors his former love for Americana. Charlie proves that despite the generation gap between life in Japan and life in America, he most truuly empthizes with Japan.

     In Harry the opposite paradigm is displayed. When the character of Harry is first introduced, he is obviously well liked and respected. A feeling of maturity permeates his scenes. Harry is a singer and appears in Hollywood movies. Harry is the pride of the family. The viewer gets the feeling that Harry relates to the Japanese side of the family heritage much more so than does Charlie. However, when tragedy strikes Pearl Harbor, the strength in Harry's character shines through. Harry proposes that the family must do what the government suggests. Additionally, when Charlie and Harry discuss the ramifications of signing or not signing it is Harry that says, "But we're Americans...I'm gonna go into the Army" (Paradise). Harry becomes the voice of reason in the chaose of the encampments. Whilst Charlie proposes anarchy and rebellion, Harry suggests that the Kawamura family has become American in fact as well as in word. By joining the U.S. Army he proves that in him the trappings of Japanese culture have indeed taken second place to the way of life that America has given him.

     The contrast personified by the two characters of Harry and Charlie show that despite a common heritage and upbringing, individual people are not shaped by the identity of a culture. Haryy and Charlie are both young Japanese-American males, but they have both drawn different values from that upbringing. The Japanese culture of the era promoted fierce loyalty and pride. It is a culture where death can be a sentence when honor is violated. On the flip side, Amercian culture has always been about promoting fierce independence. The rhetoric of American culture is the idea of the self-made man. But so is fighting for the rights ensured in the Constitution, even if it involves fightin the government. It is ironic that when the world is hattered by the attacks on Pearl Harbor, it is the American independence and willingness to fight which shine so clearly in the character of Charlie, and which push him ever farther and farther away from that very same culture. And in Harry, it is the Japanese traits of lyalty and pride that force Harry into joining the Army.

     Harry and Charlie exemplify that it is the individual that shapes the identity of the culture, not the culture that shapes the individuals. Even though both Harry and Charlie react differently to the tragedy of Pearl Harbor and the subsequent internment, both come obviously from a culture that is a mixture of Japanese and American. In both characters the strength and determination of both cultures is portrayed. In the end, this overlooked relationship between Harry and Charlie is perhaps a more potent indicator of cultural identity than the more common relationship between Lily and Jack.