Regina Cheung (’24, Japanese Minor) received the Rick Lee Prize for Asian American Studies for her essay, “The Struggles of Japanese War Brides.” Written for Professor Haruko Wakabayashi’s Asia-Pacific in Cross-Cultural Perspective, the essay examines the experiences of the 30,000 to 45,000 Japanese women who married American soldiers and then moved to the United States after World War II. These women faced legal challenges, discrimination, and stigma from both the American and Japanese public. The essay shows how the American-Japanese relationship shaped and influenced much of the struggles of Japanese war brides. “Through the Japanese language and culture courses I have taken, I am grateful to have met so many friends with common interests in learning a new language and exploring various aspects of Japan,” says Cheung.
