Beyond the Betrayal: The Memoir of a World War II Japanese American Draft Resister of Conscience (Nikkei in the Americas)

__Beyond the Betrayal__ is a lyrically written memoir by Yoshito Kuromiya (1923–2018), a Nisei member of the Fair Play Committee (FPC), which was organized at the Heart Mountain concentration camp. The first book-length account by a Nisei World War II draft resister, this work presents an insider’s perspective on the FPC and the infamous trial condemning its members' efforts. It offers not only a beautifully written account of an important moment in US history but also a rare acknowledgment of dissension within the resistance movement, both between the young men who went to prison and their older leaders and also among the young men themselves. Kuromiya’s narrative is enriched by contributions from Frank Chin, Eric L. Muller, and Lawson Fusao Inada. Of the 300 Japanese Americans who resisted the military draft on the grounds that the US government had deprived them of their fundamental rights as US citizens, Kuromiya alone has produced an autobiographical volume that explores the short- and long-term causes and consequences of this fateful wartime decision. In his exquisitely written and powerfully documented testament he speaks truth to power, making evident why he is eminently qualified to convey the plight of the Nisei draft resisters. He perceptively reframes the wartime and postwar experiences of the larger Japanese American community, commonly said to have suffered in the spirit of __shikata ga nai__—enduring that which cannot be changed—and emerged with dignity. __Beyond the Betrayal__ makes abundantly clear that the unjustly imprisoned Nisei could and did exercise their patriotism even when they refused to serve in the military in the name of civil liberties and social justice. Kuromiya’s account, initially privately circulated only to family and friends, is an invaluable and insightful addition to the Nikkei historical record. Beyond the Betrayal is a lyrically written memoir by Yoshito Kuromiya (1923–2018), a Nisei member of the Fair Play Committee (FPC), which was organized at the Heart Mountain concentration camp. The first book-length account by a Nisei World War II draft resister, this work presents an insider’s perspective on the FPC and the infamous trial condemning its members' efforts. It offers not only a beautifully written account of an important moment in US history but also a rare acknowledgment of dissension within the resistance movement, both between the young men who went to prison and their older leaders and also among the young men themselves. Kuromiya’s narrative is enriched by contributions from Frank Chin, Eric L. Muller, and Lawson Fusao Inada. Of the 300 Japanese Americans who resisted the military draft on the grounds that the US government had deprived them of their fundamental rights as US citizens, Kuromiya alone has produced an autobiographical volume that explores the short- and long-term causes and consequences of this fateful wartime decision. In his exquisitely written and powerfully documented testament he speaks truth to power, making evident why he is eminently qualified to convey the plight of the Nisei draft resisters. He perceptively reframes the wartime and postwar experiences of the larger Japanese American community, commonly said to have suffered in the spirit of shikata ga nai —enduring that which cannot be changed—and emerged with dignity. Beyond the Betrayal makes abundantly clear that the unjustly imprisoned Nisei could and did exercise their patriotism even when they refused to serve in the military in the name of civil liberties and social justice. Kuromiya’s account, initially privately circulated only to family and friends, is an invaluable and insightful addition to the Nikkei historical record. Beyond the Betrayal is a lyrically written memoir byYoshito Kuromiya (1923-2018), a Nisei member of the Fair PlayCommittee (FPC), which was organized at the Heart Mountainconcentration camp. The first book-length account by a Nisei WorldWar II draft resister, this work presents an insider's perspectiveon the FPC and the infamous trial condemning its members' efforts.It offers not only a beautifully written account of an importantmoment in US history but also a rare acknowledgment of dissensionwithin the resistance movement, both between the young men who wentto prison and their older leaders and also among the young menthemselves. Kuromiya's narrative is enriched by contributions fromFrank Chin, Eric L. Muller, and Lawson Fusao Inada. Of the 300Japanese Americans who resisted the military draft on the groundsthat the US government had deprived them of their fundamentalrights as US citizens, Kuromiya alone has produced anautobiographical volume that explores the short- and long-termcauses and consequences of this fateful wartime decision. In hisexquisitely written and powerfully documented testament he speakstruth to power, making evident why he is eminently qualified toconvey the plight of the Nisei draft resisters. He perceptivelyreframes the wartime and postwar experiences of the larger JapaneseAmerican community, commonly said to have suffered in the spirit ofshikata ga nai-enduring that which cannot be changed-andemerged with dignity. Beyond the Betrayal makes abundantlyclear that the unjustly imprisoned Nisei could and did exercisetheir patriotism even when they refused to serve in the military inthe name of civil liberties and social justice. Kuromiya's account,initially privately circulated only to family and friends, is aninvaluable and insightful addition to the Nikkei historical record "A memoir by a Nisei member of the Fair Play Committee that was organized at the Heart Mountain War Relocation Authority camp. A book-length, insider's perspective, account by a Nisei World War II draft resister. A rare acknowledgment of dissension within the resistance movement, between the young men who went to prison, and older leaders." Provided by publisher