Picture Bride

Picture Brides

"Between 1907 and 1924, more than 20,000 young Japanese, Okinawan, and Korean women journeyed to Hawaii to become the wives of men they knew only through photographs and letters, they were called "Picture Brides". Riyo is from Yokohama, Japan. After her parents died from tuberculosis she was too ashamed to keep living in Japan because no one liked her. Her only way leaving was to find a matchmaker. Although she only saw his picture and poem she thought he was going to a good husband.

Upon to her arrival in Hawaii she was up or a brutal awaking to find her husband was twice as older than his picture. He was in his forties while she hasn't hit her twenties. There was no turning back with the amount of money it cost for her to get there so she had to work to gain her money to fly back to Japan. Riyo first time working at the sugar cane farm wasn't something she expected. All the other ladies working helped her to catch up to them and teach the city girl how to work in the farm. Kana was one of the main characters who helped Riyo and was very close to her through the movie. All the other ladies didn't like Kana because her baby was the loudest at night keeping everyone up complaining. Working in the fields they sang songs of freedom and hope.

I enjoyed watching the film because it was about Asians immigrated to Hawaii which I don't read everyday about. I will always hear about mexicans immigrating but not Asians even when they have to be forced to be with someone they never met in person.