Tokyo Rose - Zero Hour is the story of Iva Toguri, a Japanese-American woman who found herself trapped in Japan during World War II and forced to broadcast propaganda for the Japanese. This graphic novel tells of her prosecution by the U.S. government and eventual her redemption decades after World War II.
In June 1941, Iva's mother Fumi learned that her sister Shizu in Japan, was seriously ill. Iva's parents decided to send her to Japan in their place as neither could travel. Iva was reluctant to go but obeyed her parents wishes, thinking she would soon return home. But it didn't work out that way at all. It is from this point the graphic memoir begins.
Initially the story fast forwards eight years into the future to the Federal District Court in San Francisco where everyone is waiting for "Public Enemy Number 1" to arrive. In the courtroom is Harry Brundidge an Army reporter, some U.S. soldiers and Iva's family. Iva hurriedly gets dressed in her cell as her two army guards, one of whom is very hostile, barge in to take her to the court.
In Chapter 1, after travelling by boat to Japan in July, 1941, twenty-five-year-old Iva is met by her Uncle Hottori to take her to his home some distance away. At the home of her uncle and aunt, Iva receives an unfriendly welcome from her sickly Aunt Shizu. Iva meets her cousins, Aika and Itsuki and learns that their brother Akihiro is training with the Japanese army. Iva finds herself doing chores, attending vocational school and doing the grocery shopping. She is bored and feels even more a stranger in Japan because "...being an American instantly puts people off." She is labelled a "Nisei".
On December 3, 1941, Iva receives a letter from her father indicating that she is to return home by booking passage on the Tatsuta - the following day! To her shock, Iva realizes the letter was mailed a month ago. Initially, she isn't alarmed, believing she just has to pack her suitcase and show up to book a ticket on the boat. However, when Iva attempts to book passage on the ship she discovers she needs three letters for the ticket. Iva manages to get two of the letters, but the third, a letter of finance won't be ready for four days. Still undaunted, Iva plans to book passage home then.
But on December 11, 1941, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declares war on the country, leaving Iva trapped in Japan. At her uncle's home, Iva is visited by Mr. Fugiwara, a member of the "Thought Police". He tells her "...in order to continue your life comfortably you have only to become Japanese. To continue as an American is to risk...discomfort." That night Iva's uncle suggests it might be best for her to remain at home, stating that as a Nisei she risks bringing herself dishonor. But Iva believes they are more concerned about her bringing dishonor to them. Furious, she packs her bags and leaves, renting a room in a building filled with others trapped in Japan.
Iva soon finds that the people of Japan consider her an enemy and that many Nisei are giving up their American citizenship, after being threatened with jail. Meanwhile back in America, Iva's family are being "relocated" under Executive Order 9066 as a matter of public security.
But on December 11, 1941, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declares war on the country, leaving Iva trapped in Japan. At her uncle's home, Iva is visited by Mr. Fugiwara, a member of the "Thought Police". He tells her "...in order to continue your life comfortably you have only to become Japanese. To continue as an American is to risk...discomfort." That night Iva's uncle suggests it might be best for her to remain at home, stating that as a Nisei she risks bringing herself dishonor. But Iva believes they are more concerned about her bringing dishonor to them. Furious, she packs her bags and leaves, renting a room in a building filled with others trapped in Japan.
Iva soon finds that the people of Japan consider her an enemy and that many Nisei are giving up their American citizenship, after being threatened with jail. Meanwhile back in America, Iva's family are being "relocated" under Executive Order 9066 as a matter of public security.
At Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japanese Broadcasting Corp.) in the Military Department of Communication, Major Tsuneishi is told his efforts to ruin American troop morale are not working but he insists his new idea called Zero Hour will work. Yuchi Hirakawa, Head of Radio Tokyo and leader of the Department of American Intelligence at NHK, tells him he has hired Nisei from the West who have pledged allegiance to Japan and who are professional broadcasters.
Iva is now working at Radio Tokyo where she meets two POWs, Major Charles Cousens and Major Reyes. They have been POW's for almost a year. She sneaks Japanese beer into the writers room where they work and lets them know that if they need anything she can help. Cousens, who is from Australia, is forced to co-operate with Major Tsuneishi's plans for Zero Hour by writing the scripts that the Western Nisei women broadcasters will read. Tsuneishi's intent is to destroy the morale of American soldiers. But Cousens believes if they can get someone to do the broadcasts who is sympathetic to the Allies, the broadcasts will not be taken seriously and may have the opposite effect. He decides to enlist Iva as the broadcaster, believing that her delivery of his script is the key to thwarting Tsuneishi's plans. He eventually gets Iva to agree to his plan and has her call herself "Orphan Ann".
Iva does the broadcasts and at first Tusneishi seems pleased. In Australia, the Allied command believe that Orphan Ann wants them to take the propaganda out of context. They refer to her "Tokyo Rose" although it is explained that this name refers to a group of Japanese women propagandists and not one person. They are hopeful this "Tokyo Rose" is on their side. But then Major Cousens collapses. Iva finds herself replaced by Tsuneishi's Western Nisei broadcasters and he reveals that he has seen through Cousen's attempts. By this time it is 1945, Japan is losing the war and when the Allies invade Japan, Felipe D'Aquino whom Iva has been living with proposes. She accepts.
Iva is now working at Radio Tokyo where she meets two POWs, Major Charles Cousens and Major Reyes. They have been POW's for almost a year. She sneaks Japanese beer into the writers room where they work and lets them know that if they need anything she can help. Cousens, who is from Australia, is forced to co-operate with Major Tsuneishi's plans for Zero Hour by writing the scripts that the Western Nisei women broadcasters will read. Tsuneishi's intent is to destroy the morale of American soldiers. But Cousens believes if they can get someone to do the broadcasts who is sympathetic to the Allies, the broadcasts will not be taken seriously and may have the opposite effect. He decides to enlist Iva as the broadcaster, believing that her delivery of his script is the key to thwarting Tsuneishi's plans. He eventually gets Iva to agree to his plan and has her call herself "Orphan Ann".
Iva does the broadcasts and at first Tusneishi seems pleased. In Australia, the Allied command believe that Orphan Ann wants them to take the propaganda out of context. They refer to her "Tokyo Rose" although it is explained that this name refers to a group of Japanese women propagandists and not one person. They are hopeful this "Tokyo Rose" is on their side. But then Major Cousens collapses. Iva finds herself replaced by Tsuneishi's Western Nisei broadcasters and he reveals that he has seen through Cousen's attempts. By this time it is 1945, Japan is losing the war and when the Allies invade Japan, Felipe D'Aquino whom Iva has been living with proposes. She accepts.
With the surrender of Japan, Iva and Felipe, now married and expecting a baby, are looking for a way to travel to the United States. Iva learns that Harry Brundidge, a journalist from Cosmopolitan is offering two thousand dollars for an interview with "Tokyo Rose". Although Iva never used this moniker, desperate for money, she decides to do the interview, claiming to be Tokyo Rose, against Felipe's advice. Little does she know it will be the beginning of years of persecution and have serious repercussions for both her and Felipe.
Discussion
Tokyo Rose: Zero Hour is a graphic novel that tells the real story of Iva Toguri, a Japanese-American who did radio broadcasts for Radio Tokyo during World War II. These broadcasts were directed at Allied troops in the South Pacific. Toguri who called herself "Orphan Ann" on the broadcasts, mistakenly became identified as "Tokyo Rose".
Tokyo Rose: Zero Hour is a graphic novel that tells the real story of Iva Toguri, a Japanese-American who did radio broadcasts for Radio Tokyo during World War II. These broadcasts were directed at Allied troops in the South Pacific. Toguri who called herself "Orphan Ann" on the broadcasts, mistakenly became identified as "Tokyo Rose".
In the post-war period, two reporters, Harry T. Brundidge and Clark Lee were determined to learn the identity of the mythical Tokyo Rose, the name given by Allied soldiers in the Pacific to the women who did radio broadcasts intended to demoralize troops. There was no one person identified as Tokyo Rose. However, Iva Toguri D'Aquino, now married to Felipe D'Aquino and desperate to get home to California learned of a two thousand dollar payment for an interview with the woman who was Tokyo Rose. Lacking the funds to travel back to the U.S., Iva passed herself off as Tokyo Rose and agreed to do the interview with Brundidge. However, when Brundidge's story was rejected by Cosmopolitan after they learned she lost her baby during her arrest, he refused to pay Iva. Instead, he went to Walter Winchell, a radio host who often posted sensationalist stories. Iva had been arrested in Japan and cleared of any charges of treason, but Winchell's story reopened this claim. Iva was convicted of treason and spent eight years in jail. She was pardoned in 1977 by President Gerald Ford. Her story is partly one of ongoing racism towards Japanese-Americans in the post-war period as well as the failure of the American justice system. It was later determined that the two star witnesses for the prosecution, George Mitsushio and Kenkichi Oki perjured themselves at the direction of the FBI.
But Iva Toguri's story is also one of honor, loyalty, determination in the face of adversity and belief in her own worth as a human being. Frattino states that "...it was immensely important to us that we be respectful and sensitive in chronicling Iva's experience, not only for her own legacy but for the entire Asian-American community as a whole." To that end, Frattino and Kasenow "...assembled a volunteer committee of Asian-American readers...to review our content" for accuracy. They worked to be historically accurate basing their story on "recorded testimonies, personal interviews and documented statements."
In the Preface, Janice Chiang who lettered this graphic novel highlights what made Iva Toguri so special as well as some of the issues she faced. She had to "straddle two worlds and two cultures" both in America and in Japan during the war. As Chiang points out, these two world views could be a point of strength.
Tokyo Rose offers young readers much to consider. Iva was a young woman who believed in her own self worth, so much so that she left her uncle's home - a risky choice during the war, determined to be true to herself and her beliefs. Her own family believed her presence brought them dishonor. This belief reflected "the deep prejudice and condescension towards those who have immigrated to other parts of the world".
Iva proved herself not only a loyal American but loyal to the ideals of freedom and democratic rights as well. She refused to renounce her American citizenship, insisting she was American and she risked jail or worse helping American POWs in Japan. She also agreed to work with Cousens in the hope of thwarting the Japanese attempt to demoralize American troops during the brutal Pacific campaign. For her loyalty she was labeled a traitor, largely due to the efforts of Harry Brundidge, Walter Winchell and the FBI. The result was her incarceration in an American prison. But Iva persisted and eventually her name was cleared and she was pardoned.
This well-written and richly illustrated graphic novel brings to light the truth about the Tokyo Rose saga, exposing the difficulties many first-generation Americans experience, as they find themselves straddling two cultures. It also highlights the effects of war in perpetuating fear and racism towards those who are different. Tokyo Rose portrays the courage and resiliency of Iva Toguri, mislabeled Public Enemy Number 1, but in reality, a loyal American citizen.
In the Preface, Janice Chiang who lettered this graphic novel highlights what made Iva Toguri so special as well as some of the issues she faced. She had to "straddle two worlds and two cultures" both in America and in Japan during the war. As Chiang points out, these two world views could be a point of strength.
Tokyo Rose offers young readers much to consider. Iva was a young woman who believed in her own self worth, so much so that she left her uncle's home - a risky choice during the war, determined to be true to herself and her beliefs. Her own family believed her presence brought them dishonor. This belief reflected "the deep prejudice and condescension towards those who have immigrated to other parts of the world".
Iva proved herself not only a loyal American but loyal to the ideals of freedom and democratic rights as well. She refused to renounce her American citizenship, insisting she was American and she risked jail or worse helping American POWs in Japan. She also agreed to work with Cousens in the hope of thwarting the Japanese attempt to demoralize American troops during the brutal Pacific campaign. For her loyalty she was labeled a traitor, largely due to the efforts of Harry Brundidge, Walter Winchell and the FBI. The result was her incarceration in an American prison. But Iva persisted and eventually her name was cleared and she was pardoned.
This well-written and richly illustrated graphic novel brings to light the truth about the Tokyo Rose saga, exposing the difficulties many first-generation Americans experience, as they find themselves straddling two cultures. It also highlights the effects of war in perpetuating fear and racism towards those who are different. Tokyo Rose portrays the courage and resiliency of Iva Toguri, mislabeled Public Enemy Number 1, but in reality, a loyal American citizen.
Book Details:
Tokyo Rose - Zero Hour by Andre Frattino and Kate Kasenow
Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle Publishing 2022
Tokyo Rose - Zero Hour by Andre Frattino and Kate Kasenow
Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle Publishing 2022
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