Women in the Shadow of the U.S. Military Bases in Okinawa
by Akemi Johnson
Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jun 2019
224 pages
Genre: History, Current Affairs and Religion
Publication Information
A beautifully written examination of the complex relationship between the women living near the U.S. bases in Okinawa and the servicemen who are stationed there.
At the southern end of the Japanese archipelago lies Okinawa, host to a vast complex of U.S. military bases. A legacy of World War II, these bases have been a fraught issue in Japan for decades—with tensions exacerbated by the often volatile relationship between islanders and the military, especially after the brutal rape of a twelve-year-old girl by three servicemen in the 1990s.
But the situation is more complex than it seems. In Night in the American Village, journalist Akemi Johnson takes readers deep into the "border towns" surrounding the bases—a world where cultural and political fault lines compel individuals, both Japanese and American, to continually renegotiate their own identities. Focusing on the women there, she follows the complex fallout of the murder of an Okinawan woman by an ex–U.S. serviceman in 2016 and speaks to protesters, to women who date and marry American men and groups that help them when problems arise, and to Okinawans whose family members survived World War II.
Thought-provoking and timely, Night in the American Village is a vivid look at the enduring wounds of U.S.-Japanese history and the cultural and sexual politics of the American military empire.
"A searing and stylish debut... This is a must-read look at the impact of the U.S.'s overseas military presence on the people who live near it, cultural collisions, and gendered violence." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A deep dive into the intricacies of the lives of those who are dependent upon, yet in danger from, their involvement with the U.S. military." - Booklist
"Night in the American Village melds intimate contemporary portraits and vignettes with deep post–World War II history to give us a powerful picture of Okinawan people and political culture today. Akemi Johnson is a truly gifted teller of complicated, engrossing, disturbing, and often unexpectedly uplifting tales. She brings vividly to life what it is like to live at the very heart of America's global empire of military bases." - John Dower, author of Embracing Defeat and Cultures of War
"Night in the American Village is a lively encounter with identity and American military history in Okinawa and America. By turns intellectual, hip, and sexy, with the backdrop of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II and one of the darkest shadows of the American military empire, this is essential reading for our times." - Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead
"A beautifully written, often chilling book that explores the complexities of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa, getting beyond stereotypes and clichés that have dominated conversations about U.S. bases in Okinawa for too long. The book is a model for understanding the historical and contemporary impacts of U.S. military bases in Okinawa and worldwide, including subtleties of colonialism and empire, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, power and political economy." - David Vine, author of Base Nation and Island of Shame
"A multifaceted look at Okinawa and the impact of the U.S. military presence there that is compelling and thought-provoking. It is the best book about modern Okinawa that I have read, and any foreign reporter covering Okinawan issues should be required to read it." - Jake Adelstein, author of Tokyo Vice
"Once you know Okinawa, it grabs you and doesn't let go, and this book does the same. Akemi Johnson is the guide we need to travel to this singular island. Clearly and incisively, she reveals the hidden world of the U.S. military abroad and bears witness to the human spirit that thrives even in the face of oppression. Every American should read this important book." - Sarah Bird, author of Above the East China Sea
"Meticulously researched, this book explores the history of women and the U.S. military in Okinawa from the 1945 battle to the present. Written in deft and evocative prose, Night in the American Village is must-reading for anyone seeking to understand the effects of the vast U.S. military presence in nations around the globe." - Steve Rabson, professor emeritus of East Asian studies, Brown University, and author of The Okinawan Diaspora in Japan
"A substantial and powerful account of the women whose lives are drawn into the orbit of the U.S. military in Okinawa. Nuanced and meticulously researched, Night in the American Village is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of gender, sex, power, and national identity." - Shawna Yang Ryan, author of Green Island
"At once compassionate and unflinching, Night in the American Village expertly illuminates the consequences of American military presence abroad. Akemi Johnson reveals a national identity fractured by violence, war, and cultural discord." - James Han Mattson, author of The Lost Prayers of Ricky Graves
This information about Night in the American Village was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Akemi Johnson is a former Fulbright scholar in Okinawa and has written about the island for The Nation, Travel + Leisure, Explore Parts Unknown, and other publications. She has also contributed to NPR's All Things Considered and Code Switch.
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