evident, Ichiro declines her affections due to his persistent psychological conflicts. When Ralph seeks a divorce, Emi reaches out to Ichiro, reflecting her enduring affection through a shared night of dancing. Her interactions with Ichiro represent potential pathways to emotional healing and resilience.

Taro Yamada

Taro Yamada, Ichiro’s rebellious younger brother, starkly opposes Ichiro's choice to remain a "no-no boy." Driven by defiance, he is adamant about joining the U.S. Army despite parental disapproval. Taro's disdain for Ichiro's decisions leads to orchestrating a violent setup outside the Club Oriental, highlighting the brothers' irreparable divide. His choice to enlist underscores his determination to forge his own path, distinct from the shadow of his family's turmoil.

Freddie Akimoto

Freddie Akimoto is another "no-no boy" and a close friend of Ichiro. Upon returning to Seattle, Freddie's demeanor is marked by rebellion, characterized by reckless behavior as a means to conceal his inner despondency. Engaging in drinking and fighting, he perceives Ichiro as similarly ensnared in a cycle of guilt. Freddie’s defiance ultimately leads to his demise, following a fatal car accident after a confrontation at the Club Oriental, embodying the consequences of unresolved inner conflict and societal pressures.

Eto Minato

Eto Minato, a former acquaintance of Ichiro and an Army veteran, initially welcomes Ichiro with friendliness. However, upon discovering Ichiro's "no-no" status, Eto's reaction turns antagonistic, culminating in an act of open hostility. Eto's service record, which includes a brief six-month tenure before a medical discharge, hints at his own complex engagement with military service, juxtaposing his disdain for "no-no boys" with underlying personal struggles.

Bull

Bull is a vociferous Japanese American veteran whose antipathy towards "no-no boys" is well-documented. His taunting of Freddie at the Club Oriental indirectly precipitates the tragic car accident that claims Freddie's life. Bull's abrasive conduct underscores the deep schisms within the Japanese American community in the post-war period, highlighting the intense divisions and animosities among those who served and those who did not.

Mr. Carrick

Mr. Carrick is an Anglo American who owns a small engineering business, showing empathy towards the Japanese American plight. Acknowledging the injustices they suffered during the war, he offers Ichiro a job, motivated by a desire for reconciliation and recognition of Ichiro's potential. Mr. Carrick's compassion and foresight offer Ichiro a glimmer of hope for reintegration and acceptance within American society, serving as a pivotal point for Ichiro’s aspiration towards redemption.

Mrs. Ashida

Mrs. Ashida, sharing a village origin with the Yamadas in Japan, empathizes with Mrs. Yamada’s unwavering loyalty to Japan. Despite residing in the United States, she remains convinced of Japan’s wartime victory, reflecting the enduring ties and traditional loyalties held by some Japanese immigrants, despite the realities of their adopted homeland.

Birdie

Birdie, an African American man employed at the foundry, exemplifies cross-racial camaraderie by standing up for Gary amid workplace hostility. His presence illustrates the intersectionality of racial struggles and solidarity, enhancing the narrative tapestry of diversity in Ichiro’s community.

Professor Baxter Brown

Baxter Brown, Ichiro’s former engineering professor, encourages him to resume his studies, offering a vision of potential redemption and personal growth. As a symbol of hope, Professor Brown represents the educational opportunities that could guide Ichiro towards a more fulfilling and purposeful future.

Gary

Gary, a Japanese American associate of Ichiro, works at the Christian Reclamation Center as a sign painter, aspiring to become an artist. Like Ichiro, he has been incarcerated, yet he perceives his imprisonment as a pivotal moment for self-clarification and ambition. Gary’s journey parallel’s Ichiro’s in seeking meaningful existence post-imprisonment.

Hanako Kanno

Hanako Kanno, Kenji's sister, contributes to the supportive familial environment that defines Kenji’s background. Employed as a bookkeeper in Seattle, her character underscores the nurturing and stable family dynamics that bolster Kenji’s resilience and kindness.

Mr. Kanno

Mr. Kanno, Kenji's father, embodies generosity and familial dedication. He respected Kenji’s decision to volunteer for military service, even amidst its dire consequences. Originally intending to return to Japan prosperous, Mr. Kanno instead established a life in the U.S., raising his children single-handedly after his wife's passing, representing the immigrant’s commitment to perseverance and adaptation.

Tom Kanno

Tom Kanno, Kenji's brother, works as a drafter at an aircraft plant and is an avid baseball enthusiast. His stable career and interest in sports provide a foil to Kenji's turbulent experiences, highlighting diverse paths and responses within the same family unit to societal and familial challenges.

Mr. Kumasaka

Mr. Kumasaka and his wife, friends of the Yamada family, have acclimated to American life while mourning their son Bob's sacrifice for the U.S. military. Their story reflects the poignant narrative of sacrifice and the complex emotional landscape faced by Japanese Americans during and after the war.

Mr. Morrison

Mr. Morrison, the benevolent employer at the Christian Reclamation Center, offers Ichiro employment without hesitation. His actions signify a commitment to rehabilitating individuals who have faced systemic injustice, embodying compassion and the potential for societal reintegration.

Rabbit

Rabbit works at a shoe shine parlor, representing the rich diversity within Ichiro’s community. His role, though minor, adds to the tapestry of multicultural interactions and the broader societal milieu in which Ichiro’s story unfolds.

The details of Executive Order 9066 are crucial to understanding the historical context of Okada's book. Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, this order led to the internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans in camps across the United States. The title No-No Boy references two questions the U.S. government required all internees to answer to secure their release: "Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?" and "Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any or all attacks by foreign or domestic forces, and foreswear any form of allegiance to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power, or organization?" Those who responded "yes" to both questions were released and enlisted in the U.S. armed forces. Conversely, those who answered "no" to both questions remained imprisoned. Ichiro, the novel's protagonist, answered "no" and thus became a "no-no Boy." Okada illustrates that neither answer provided a true resolution. Japanese Americans, in the aftermath of World War II, found themselves continually struggling for self-acceptance, acceptance within American society, and acceptance within their own communities. Some pledged allegiance to the U.S. and viewed themselves as Americans, while others remained loyal to their Japanese heritage. Almost all felt displaced and confused.

At twenty-five years old, Ichiro is finally released from prison and returns to his estranged family in Seattle. He faces a profound identity crisis, exacerbated by post-war confusion over race and nationality. Ichiro is torn between cultures, harboring resentment towards the U.S. government that imprisoned him and his own Japanese heritage. He is consumed with self-hatred. Ichiro returns to a fractured community and a divided family. His mother is unwaveringly loyal to Japan and believes that Japan won the war. His brother Taro is fiercely loyal to the United States and disrespects Ichiro for his no-no status. Ichiro's father is an alcoholic grappling with his own issues, including a domineering wife. This sets the stage for Okada's novel, Ichiro's struggle, and the broader confusion over identity and nationality that Okada himself experienced in postwar America.

Ichiro's decision to answer "no" to both questions compels him to scrutinize his loyalties. Raised by a traditional and domineering Japanese mother, Ichiro adopted the traditional value of filial piety—placing family loyalty above all else. Mrs. Yamada, Ichiro's mother, applauds his decision and sees it as a demonstration of pride in his Japanese heritage. However, Ichiro feels torn. He understands that whether he identifies as Japanese or American, he faces a lifetime of racial discrimination. He cannot relate to his mother, who mistakenly believes that Japan won the war, nor to his brother, who claims to be American and dismisses their Japanese heritage. Ichiro finds himself unable to separate from his family or culture, yet he also feels he can never truly live freely in America without facing discrimination.

Okada addresses the issue of filial piety in the novel, partly by referencing the Japanese fairy tale "Momotaro: The Peach Boy." In the tale, the son demonstrates his readiness to sacrifice his life to save his parents. Ichiro shows this willingness by becoming a No-No Boy and staying in prison with his parents. He acted out of respect for them, driven by filial piety. His mother clearly expected him to remain loyal to Japan, even at the cost of his freedom. However, not only does he lose his freedom, but he is also ostracized by both the Japanese-American community and American society for the rest of his life.

Okada's novel highlights the American treatment of Japanese citizens after the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a violation of their constitutional rights. The Japanese prisoners were denied the opportunity to express their opinions and were forced to answer "yes" or "no" to questions about their loyalty—either to the U.S. government or to the emperor of Japan. Neither option provided them with true resolution or freedom. In the novel, Okada introduces characters who make different decisions and hold various beliefs. Despite their choices, all these characters experience confusion and feel that their rights as citizens are compromised, no matter what they decide. Mike fights in the war, believing he proves his loyalty to America. Bull continually harasses Ichiro for his no-no status and perceived "disloyalty" to the United States. Kenji becomes a yes-yes boy, but unlike Bull, he treats Ichiro with respect instead of disdain. Nevertheless, both Ichiro and Kenji question their choices and suffer from guilt. Ichiro's guilt is exacerbated by the discrimination he faces from Japanese Americans who see him as a traitor to America, while Kenji's guilt is intensified by Japanese loyalists who view him as a traitor to his heritage.

Perhaps because Okada himself was a compliant individual, Kenji's inner conflict likely mirrors Okada's own struggles. Kenji, a wounded war veteran, gradually deteriorates after losing his leg. The symbolism of Kenji's injury is significant. He physically loses parts of himself, much like how Japanese Americans figuratively lose their identity by disregarding their cultural heritage. Kenji's family has become Americanized, embracing American customs and attitudes, and Kenji sacrifices himself for the American cause. The theme of self-sacrifice is recurrent throughout the novel.

Several events at the Club Oriental highlight the divisions within the Japanese community and shed light on the racial hierarchy present in postwar America. The Club Oriental is a popular spot for nisei, and during the postwar years, it becomes a setting for young people to navigate the tensions between Japanese and American loyalties. One scene features a young man named Bull, who enters the bar with a white woman, making it clear that he sees her as superior. Another scene involves nisei discriminating against several African Americans who are turned away at the bar. These incidents reflect the self-hatred with which young nisei grapple.

Ironically, Kenji feels at ease at the Club Oriental because he doesn't sense prejudice there, yet the Chinese owners prevent two African Americans from entering. Bull's pride in escorting a white woman reveals his own reluctance to accept minorities like himself as equals to white Americans, a common attitude among Japanese Americans. Kenji advises Ichiro to distance himself from the Japanese community and marry a white girl—essentially to assimilate and interbreed with whites to the point of Japanese extinction, suggesting this is the only path to equality in America. The notion of Japanese extinction—the demise of one culture for the survival of another—emerges as another theme. The deaths of Kenji, Mrs. Yamada, and Freddie at the novel's end exemplify this. Kenji and Freddie are physically broken, symbolically alluding to the fractured lives and emotions of people who faced blatant hatred for their native culture.

By emphasizing his characters' uncertainty about their native culture, Okada delves into the themes of racial tension and self-hatred. Ichiro's journey for self-acceptance, compounded by the challenging postwar environment, leads him to experience self-loathing. This issue arises because nisei who saw themselves, or wanted to be seen, as American, found themselves despising their parents, their cultural heritage, and ultimately themselves. Ichiro's relationship with his mother is fraught with difficulties. Following Japanese tradition, he was raised to show unwavering loyalty to his family, and Mrs. Yamada expects her son to be staunchly loyal to Japan. However, Ichiro feels the need to distance himself from his mother's allegiance to integrate into American society. He resents her inability to accept Japan's defeat in the war. The conflict between his upbringing in Japanese culture and his need to assimilate into American society strains his relationship with his mother. Only after Mrs. Yamada's death does Ichiro feel free to move towards integration and find a way to identify with both cultures.

Mrs. Yamada's death marks a significant turning point in the story. She takes her own life when she can no longer deny Japan's defeat, as she realizes that accepting this loss would make her uncomfortable as a Japanese woman living in America. The theme of self-sacrifice emerges once more. Ichiro experiences mixed feelings about his mother's death; it liberates him to assimilate into American culture, yet it also compels him to acknowledge the value of his Japanese heritage. Ichiro understands his mother could never feel at ease as an American, nor was she ever accepted as one (since issei were denied citizenship). Had she embraced an American identity, she would have been a woman without a country, displaced and homeless, unable to find peace in her new environment. Although Ichiro remains conflicted at the novel's conclusion, he has gained an understanding of his mother's loyalties and has forgiven her for instilling a Japanese identity in him that he felt pressured to abandon. By the end of the novel, through his mother's death, Ichiro has also learned to accept responsibility for answering "no" to the loyalty questions. He looks forward to a more hopeful future, even though he knows he will continue to live in a divided community.