Hisaye Yamamoto

Hisaye Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本 久枝, August 23, 1921 – January 30, 2011) was an American author known for the short story collection Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories, first published in 1988. Her work confronts issues of the Japanese immigrant experience in America, the disconnect between first and second-generation immigrants, as well as the difficult role of women in society.

Background and career

Early life

Yamamoto was born to Issei parents in Redondo Beach, California. Her generation, the Nisei, were often in perpetual motion, born into the nomadic existences imposed upon their parents by the California Alien Land Law. Yamamoto developed a strong passion for reading and writing from a young age, leading to the early publication of her work in Japanese-American newspapers. As a teen, her enthusiasm mounted as Japanese-American newspapers began publishing her letters and short stories. Many Issei immigrants were concerned with preserving their native language, while the interests of the Nisei tended more towards expressions of loyalty to the United States, most easily achieved through knowledge and application of the English language. As a result, the communication lines between Japanese parents and their children faced rapid degradation, hampering the preservation of traditional Japanese culture in America. Initially writing solely in English, Yamamoto's recognition of this language barrier and generational gap would soon become one of her primary influences.