Swimming in the American: A Memoir And Selected Writings
"Japanese American literature just got a little deeper with the publication of Hiroshi Kashiwagi'sSwimming in the American... Kashiwagi has written a memoir of a No-No Boy ... I hope that Japanese America deserves the good writing, the quality of verifiable fact, and the daring of AACP's publishing venture." --Frank Chin, author & playwright,Born in the USA,Chicken Coop Chinaman, andDonald Duk"Hiroshi Kashiwagi'sSwimming in the Americanis quite a bit more than its modest subtitle would suggest... The main narrative tells of [...] the shameful internment of Japanese Americans; of the development and distillation of a Japanese-American sensibility in the man and the writer; and ultimately the journey of the human soul.... [But it is] as much about Mr. Kashiwagi's lifelong passion: reading, writing, and acting. This is a long and diverse life, well lived, well reflected upon, and above all, well and enthrallingly told." --John Philbrook, Librarian, San Francisco Public Library"This interesting mixture of literary genres is a reflection of a life in America, the high and low, the joys and pains, but a clear-eyed spirit that never gave up... [Kashiwagi's] writings illustrate the meaning and significance of cultural pluralism in America. I recommend it as a genuine "live in" account of a Japanese American." --James Hirabayashi, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University and Senior Program Advisor, Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles