UCHIDA, Yoshiko

Born 24 November 1921, Alameda, California; died 21 June 1992

Daughter of Dwight Takashi and Iku Umegaki Uchida

A tenacious belief in the power of literature and education directed Yoshiko Uchida's work as an author. A cum laude graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (1942), Uchida received an M.Ed. from Smith College (1944). Her publications included articles on folk arts and crafts for the Tokyo Nippon News and columns for Craft Horizons; her diverse contributions to children's literature span the genres of picture book, chapbooks for young readers, adolescent novels, collections of folklore, and historical novels. In addition, an adult novel, a number of nonfiction titles, and countless short stories illustrate Uchida's versatility.

Of her work, Uchida stated: "I try to write of meaningful relationships between human beings, to celebrate our common humanity." The realistic stories set in the United States often depict immigrant Japanese families and first-generation Japanese Americans struggling to make a good life in a new land. The Promised Year (1959), The Birthday Visitor (1975), A Jar of Dreams (1981, 1996), The Best Bad Thing (1983, 1993), and The Happiest Ending (1985) especially portray the promises of America and the hopes of a better future.

Journey to Topaz (1971) and Journey Home (1978, 1996) never abandon such hope even as they chronicle a dark chapter of America's history. As a college student, Uchida was evacuated with her family from California to the Tanforan Racetrack with 8,000 other Japanese Americans, and four months later moved to the Topaz concentration camp in Utah. In writing of the Japanese internment during World War II from an eleven-year-old child's perspective, Uchida not only describes the physical treatment of prisoners, but also captures the individual and collective bafflement at America's imprisonment of its own citizens. She also speaks openly about her experience in a Japanese relocation center, where she worked as a teacher. In her two novels, Uchida recreates the family's sparse and crowded living quarters, and contrasts their physical humiliation and poverty with a triumphant spirit and tenacious belief in goodness.

Well-developed, complex characters, provocative situations, and gifted storytelling account for Uchida's success with critics and readers alike. She garnered many awards and honors, including citations from the National Council of Teachers of English, the American Library Association, the California Association of Teachers of English, chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League, the International Reading Association, the National Council for Social Studies, and the Children's Book Council. A Ford Foundation Fellowship in 1952 enabled Uchida to travel to Japan. This and later trips brought authority and authentic settings to her writing. Books set in Japan include the series about the endearing young Sumi, Rokubei and the Thousand Rice Bowls (1962), and In-Between Miya (1967). An early work, The Full Circle (1957), is a compelling story of postwar peace in Japan and of the dubious privilege of being Umeko Kagawa, the adolescent daughter of a prominent religious leader. Based on conversations between Uchida and Kagawa, the novel is essentially a biography.

Ceremony, tradition, and revered customs influenced Uchida's creations. Both old and young are respected; joyous friendships between young and old promote genuine intergenerational understanding. The centrality of family, and its unquestioning support of individual contributions and invaluable uniqueness, fosters the growth of all of Uchida's characters. A strong sense of morality inhabits the center of her work, but it never overpowers nor seems artificial. Uchida's early commitment to education flows through her books that teach in the best possible ways: answers are never simple, growth never easy but always possible. Her memoir, The Invisible Thread (1991), chronicles the relationship between her adopted country, her Japanese legacy, and her growth as a writer. Sharing her own cultural heritage, Uchida defeated stereotypes and presented to "Japanese-American young people an understanding of their own history and pride in their identity."

Other Works:

The Dancing Kettle and Other Japanese Folk Tales (1949). New Friends for Susan (1951). We Do Not Work Alone: The Thoughts of Kanjiro Kawai (1953). The Magic Listening Cap: More Folk Tales from Japan (1955). Takao and Grand-father's Sword (1958). Mik and the Prowler (1960). The Forever Christmas Tree (1963). Sumi's Prize (1964). The Sea of Gold and Other Tales from Japan (1965, reprinted with M. Yamaguchi 1991). Sumi's Special Happening (1966). Sumi and the Goat and the Tokyo Express (1969). Kisako's Mysteries (1969). Makoto, the Smallest Boy (1970). Samurai of Gold Hill (1972). The History of Sycamore Church (1974). The Rooster Who Understood Japanese (1976). Tabi: Journey Through Time: Stories of the Japanese in America (1981). Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese American Family (1982, reprinted 1989). The Foolish Cats (1987). Picture Bride (1987, expanded, 1997). Bird Song (1992). The Bracelet (1993, reprinted 1996). The Magic Purse (1993). The Wise Old Woman (1994).

Contributor to numerous anthologies and collections, including: Animal Tales (1990); The Graywolf Annual Seven: Stories from the American Mosaic (1990); Tales of Justice (1990); Humorous Tales (1990); Six Short Stories by Japanese American Writers (1991); Growing Up Female: Stories by Women Writers from the American Mosaic (1993); Berkeley! A Literary Tribute (1997); and others.

Yoshiko Uchida's manuscripts and papers are in several collections across the country: in the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota; manuscripts prior to 1981 at the University of Oregon Library; and manuscripts, papers, and all published materials since 1981 are in the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.

Bibliography:

Allman, B., et al, eds., Children's Authors and Illustrators (1991). Chang, C. E. S., Language Arts (1984). Dreyer, S. S., The Bookfinder: A Guide to Children's Literature about the Needs and Problems of Youth Ages Two through Fifteen (1981). Flora, S. B., Famous Asians & Their Culture (video, 1992). Marvis, B. J., Contemporary American Success Stories: Famous People of Asian Ancestory Vol. II (1994, 1997).

Reference works:

Asian American Literature: Reviews and Criticism of Works by American Writers of Asian Descent (1999). CA (1975). CANR (1982, 1988). Children's Book World (1967). MTCW (1991). SATA (1971, 1989). TCCW (1989).