I asked my grandmother what it would’ve been like in the Japanese incarcaration camps.

“Well, I wasn’t there at the time. Your aunts were there, but they don’t like talking about it.”

For many Japanese people, having honor is a high priority. Working hard to build a good life. These values can lead them to hide or ignore any negative feelings or experiences. A common Japanese saying is “Gambate!” which holds the same sentiment as “Keep going!” or “Have strength!” My great grandmother worked until she was in her nineties, and having high grades to get a respectable job is prioritized.

When reading They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, I was reminded of the the ways Japanese American people deal with hardships. While in these incarcaration camps, people worked to build homes: they decorated their living spaces using what little material they had, held baseball games, and even had “Santa” come visit and give children gifts. They had to push down feelings of resentment at being forced to live in such a place and worked hard to make the best of it.

After the Japanese Americans were released from the incarcaration camps in 1946, they used education to rebuild their communities and lives. From an outside perspective, it would seem that everything had returned to normal. Despite having lost almost everything, Japanese Americans were able to be resourceful enough to find jobs and establish homes again.

However, psychological wounds have been left over time, leaving them to attempt to hold up their reputation at the expense of their mental health. It is seen as weak to ask for help, and as such most people will never receive the support they need.

When asking someone about a tramautic event, make sure you are doing so with the intention of helping them get through. Ask yourself if you really care about the person’s wellbeing, or if this information will only satisfy your curiosity.