The Youth Who Bridged Opposite Worlds
In 1946, the U.S. Military inadvertently conducted one of the most fascinating social science experiments of the 20th century: They began sending thousands of American children from all over the U.S. to live in lands of recent bitter enemies for years at a time, with their parents. One prominent destination was Japan (including Okinawa), a culture as mysterious to America as any on Earth. Whatever happened to those American children in Japan, and the waves of dependents that followed them?
This project answers that question with hundreds of heartfelt stories, photographs, historical & cultural context, and copious research while providing hope for our currently polarized society: That regardless of our differences, we can come together with common cause no matter how daunting the circumstances.
Volume two provides hundreds of compelling first-person stories (with photographs) that explore the fascinating daily life experiences of Japan Brats from 1946 into the 21st century: What were their lives like at the intersection of Japanese, American, and U.S. military cultural exchange? What were their challenges, lessons learned, triumphs, loves, and lasting memories? What was life like on the "Little America" bases & posts they frequented, as well as off-base in Japanese and Okinawan communities? What were social dynamics like both at school and home? So many stories, insightfully shared. 480+ pp. with 500+ photos/images.
Pamela G. Blaxton-Dowd, author of Condemned to die & A Mother's afterthoughts wrote:...a monumental labor of love that I—as a former military kid who spent part of my youth in Japan—read with tears in my eyes and a new understanding of the power of representation.
Margaret Johnson, Chair of the LA County Bar Association’s Armed Forces Committee wrote:With tears in my heart, thank you, Michael Weddington, for Japan Brats.
Ruth E. Van Reken, co-author, Third Culture Kids wrote:Exceptionally captivating, personal, and raw accounts of Third Culture Kids growing up in post-war and mostly pre-internet/social media Japan.
Mary Edwards Wertsch, author, Military Brats wrote:A great, important, and captivating read. Japan Brats: The Youth Who Bridged Opposite Worlds, occupies a unique place in the world of Third Culture Kid (TCK) writings.
Dr. Circe Olson Woessner, Founder, Museum of the American Military Family wrote:Eminently readable, deeply moving, and very revealing.
I am delighted that Michael Weddington has created such a comprehensive and thoughtful look into the culture, history, and stories of military children.
