Reading Okinawa

JAPANESE TEXT:

Ōshiro, Tatsuhiro. “Kakuteru pātī” [Cocktail Party]. Kakuteru pātī. Tokyo: Bungei shunjū, 1967. 181-258.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Ōshiro, Tatsuhiro. “The Cocktail Party.” Trans. Steve Rabson. Okinawa: Two Postwar Novellas. California: Center for Japanese Studies, 1989. 35-80.

Click here to get Japanese-English flashcards for “Cocktail Party.” Strongly recommended for anyone who wants to read the story in Japanese.


1. Introduction

“Kakuteru pātī” was published in Shin Okinawa Bungaku in 1966 and won the Akutagawa Prize in 1967. The story aims to expose the hypocrisy of international friendship and to get people to recognize that Japan was not only a victim, but also a perpetrator during the war. Ōshiro mentions that “Kakuteru pātī” won the prize because Okinawans were more interested in politics when the story, which examined the rape issue, was published.

The story’s setting is Naha in 1963. The four main characters are not only people but also representatives of their countries, so readers can interpret the story as a commentary on international relations. The protagonist, whose name is unknown, is also the narrator. He attends a cocktail party run by Mr. Miller, a U.S. military officer, and meets his friends from the U.S., mainland Japan, and China. After the party, the protagonist finds out that his daughter was raped by an American soldier named Robert Harris. After the tragic incident, the protagonist asks Mr. Miller to persuade Harris to testify about raping his daughter, but Mr. Miller turns him down. Then he asks Mr. Song, a lawyer, to help him. While he goes to his friends for help, his relationships with them change, and the strength of those ties are tested.

Many years later, Ōshiro turned the story into a play, an English translation of which can be found in “Living Spirit: Literature and Resurgence in Okinawa” (2011). He revised the work in the hope that Americans, too, would consider the terrible things they did during World War II. At the time, there was a dispute concerning the Smithsonian Exhibition of the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. War veterans objected to the display of photographs of the bombed city because they felt that they destroyed the city for peaceful reasons. The debate became world news, and Ōshiro felt that the issue mirrored Okinawan attitudes after the war. In 2011, the play was finally performed in Hawaii and received a positive response.


2. Character List

The protagonist 私・お前

An Okinawan man, who is also the narrator of the story. He is invited to a cocktail party at Mr. Miller’s house. He works at City Hall. Just after World War II, he worked as an interpreter for the Japanese military in China. Now, he is in a Chinese study group with Mr. Miller, Mr. Song, and Mr. Ogawa. He believed in their friendship, but after his daughter is raped, his attitude changes.

Mr. Miller ミスター・ミラー

An American man, and the leader of the Chinese study group. He hosts a cocktail party at his house on the U.S. base. He tries to have a good relationship with the other members; however, he works in the CIC and keeps this secret from them.

Mr. Song 孫氏

A Chinese man who is a lawyer in Okinawa. He is a member of the Chinese study group and is invited to the cocktail party. He is exiled from China and has a sad past. He reveals his past to the protagonist and Mr. Ogawa after the protagonist’s daughter is raped. Just the same, he tries to help the protagonist.

Mr. Ogawa 小川氏

A Japanese newspaper man from mainland Japan. He thinks that Okinawan culture is unique and distinct from Japanese and Chinese culture. He does not hesitate to speak his mind, so his character makes the protagonist nervous.

The protagonist’s wife 妻

She used to work for a laundry company on the U.S. base. She tells the protagonist that their daughter was raped after he comes back from the cocktail party.

The protagonist’s daughter 娘

She is a high school student who likes studying English. She goes to an English school where Mr. Miller’s wife works. She is raped by Robert Harris at M cape while her father is attending the party.

Robert Harris ロバート・ハリス

He is a U.S. soldier who rents a room behind the protagonist’s house for his girlfriend. He stays there twice a week, so he has known the protagonist’s family for a long time. He rapes the protagonist’s daughter and is then pushed off a cliff. He ends up in a U.S. hospital and sues her for injuring him.

Mrs. Miller ミセス・ミラー

She is the hostess of the cocktail party. She is interested in Okinawan traditional culture, such as bingata (traditional clothes), tsuboya (Okinawan pottery), and the sanshin (Okinawan banjo). She works at that English school that the protagonist’s daughter attends.

Mr. Morgan ミスター・モーガン

An American man who lives next door to Mr. Miller and who works in the maintenance department of the U.S. military. He is invited to the cocktail party. He thinks that Okinawa used to be a Chinese colony and debates this point with Mr. Ogawa at the party. His son disappears during the party, and he asks the members to help him search.

Mr. Lincoln ミスター・リンカーン

He is a talkative person and works as a lighting engineer in a theater on the U.S. base. He tells the protagonist and Mr. Song that Mr. Morgan’s son has been found.

Mr. Fink ミスター・フィンク

He is a guest at the party, and an owner of a company that imports cars. He thinks that Okinawan people are kind, so he tells the protagonist that he doubts that an Okinawan kidnapped Mr. Morgan’s son.


3. Plot

In the first section (181-186), the protagonist visits an American military base on Okinawa to participate in a cocktail party run by Mr. Miller, a U.S. military officer. The host invites not only the protagonist, but also Mr. Ogawa, a Japanese journalist, and Mr. Song, a lawyer from China. They are friends, and the group is for studying Chinese. While he is heading to Mr. Miller’s house, the protagonist remembers sneaking into the same place ten years ago. At that time, he got lost, asked a lady for directions, and was answered rudely. He managed to get home, but while on the base, he felt fear and as if he were in a different country. Now, he walks into the base proudly because he was invited, and if he gets lost, he can give Mr. Miller’s name.

In the second section (186-203), the protagonist appears at the party and meets his friends. During the party, they discuss history, traditional culture, and the future of Okinawa. Suddenly, Mr. Morgan, an American officer, appears and asks the group to help him search for his three-year-old son, who has disappeared. Agreeing to help, the members end their party, and their debate comes to an end.

In the third section (203-210), the protagonist tries to find Mr. Morgan’s son with Mr. Song outside Mr. Miller’s house. The accident reminds the protagonist of the fear he felt ten years ago, and he talks about that to Mr. Song. After the protagonist calms down, they start looking for the child again. Mr. Song tells him about his past in China. The protagonist worries that if an Okinawan kidnapped the boy, there will be a lot of trouble. A man named Lincoln comes and tells them that Mr. Morgan’s son has been found. He also mentions that an Okinawan lady who is working at Mr. Morgan’s house took the boy without permission. After that, they go back to Mr. Miller’s house, and the party starts again.

In the fourth section (211-218), the protagonist’s wife tells him that their daughter was raped by an American named Robert Harris, who rents the back parlor from them. Their daughter was on her way home when she met him. They went to M cape, where the incident occurred. Three days later, the protagonist decides to sue Robert Harris, although his daughter opposes the idea. The next day, two men from the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) come to his house and arrest his daughter. They tell the protagonist that she pushed Robert Harris from the cliff. After that, he goes to the police station to sue. He talks to the police and is told that proving self-defense in a rape is extremely difficult. He is also told that the trial will be held on base in English. Just the same, the protagonist feels determined to pursue his claim.

In the fifth section (218-222), the protagonist visits Mr. Miller to ask him to persuade Robert Harris to appear in court; however, Mr. Miller refuses the request because he is worried about the relationship between Okinawa and the United States. He tells the protagonist to ask Mr. Song for help instead. Disappointed at Mr. Miller’s answer, the protagonist returns home.

In the sixth section (222-226), the protagonist visits Mr. Ogawa to consult with him. Mr. Ogawa tells him that Mr. Miller works in the CIC. The fact shocks the protagonist because he never knew Mr. Miller’s real job. Mr. Ogawa suggests they visit Mr. Song’s house the next day. The protagonist complains about Mr. Miller and worries whether Mr. Song will help him. Then, he leaves and goes home to have dinner with his wife.

In the seventh section (227-233), the protagonist and Mr. Ogawa visit Mr. Song’s house. It is their first visit there. When they arrive, Mr. Song is pruning the leaves of a hibiscus plant. The protagonist explains the incident to Mr. Song and asks him to persuade Robert Harris to come to court. While the protagonist is explaining, Mr. Ogawa gazes at a Chinese picture. Mr. Song agrees to the request but asks what he should do if Robert Harris turns them down.

In the eighth section (233-236), the protagonist, Mr. Ogawa, and Mr. Song go to the hospital to see Robert Harris. Mr. Song tries to persuade him to appear in court, but the man refuses the request and says that attending court as a witness for the girl who hurt him is not his duty. He also explains that he had consensual sex with the protagonist’s daughter. When the protagonist hears this story, he gets angry and leaves the hospital.

In the ninth section (236-244), Mr. Song suggests that they go to a golf course to discuss the matter. They debate rights, duties, and laws in Okinawa. Mr. Ogawa tells Mr. Song to criticize the laws in Okinawa since China was treated badly by Japanese soldiers during World War II, and he should understand. Suddenly, Mr. Song asks them what they were doing on March 20, 1945. The protagonist answers that he was in China as a Japanese soldier, and Mr. Ogawa answers that he was a junior high school student in China for a trip. Mr. Song explains that he was living in China with his wife and four-year-old son, and that their son suddenly disappeared while playing with his friends. He goes on to say that he found the son with some Japanese soldiers, and that he deeply appreciated their finding him. After he went home with his son, however, he discovered that his wife had been raped by another Japanese soldier.

Mr. Song pointedly asks the protagonist and Mr. Ogawa if they witnessed the Japanese military treating Chinese badly when they were in China. The protagonist does not answer. He remembers that when he was in China, a Japanese officer shoplifted. The protagonist discovered the crime and booked the guy, but his boss told him to release the soldier. The protagonist tells Mr. Ogawa that not only American soldiers, but also Japanese soldiers treated Okinawans badly during the war. Mr. Song looks over at an Okinawan and an American playing golf, and says that even though they look like friends, there is distance between them. He adds that their relationships are the same.

In the tenth section (244-256), the daughter returns home. The protagonist asks what happened, and she answers that she was released after a few hours. He tells her that he is going to sue Robert Harris, but she begs him not to. The next day, the protagonist goes to the police station with his daughter and tells them he has given up suing. He calls Mr. Ogawa and Mr. Song to tell them, too. The daughter starts to go to school again. Ten days later, Mr. Miller asks the protagonist to come to a bar. Mr. Lincoln suddenly appears and reports that Mr. Morgan sued the Okinawan lady who took his son. The news surprises the protagonist, and they argue about the incident with the protagonist’s daughter. Annoyed, the protagonist says that he has reconsidered and has decided to sue Robert Harris for the rape. He also accuses the cocktail party of being full of deception. He leaves the bar and sees a banner which reads, “Prosperity to Okinawans and may Okinawans and Americans always be friends”(255). After reading it, he heads to the police station.

In the eleventh section (256-258), one month later, the protagonist is at the scene of the rape. His daughter is also there and follows orders from the judge to give testimony by herself. Robert Harris refuses to appear in court, so that is why she has to explain by herself. When the protagonist tells her that he decided to sue Robert Harris, she does not reply. He emphasizes that he is doing it for her. He just hopes that his daughter fights bravely and cheerfully in front of Mr. Miller and Mr. Song.

4. Point of View

In this story, the protagonist is the narrator, and the entire story is told from his point of view. In the former part (181-210), he calls himself watashi, which means “I.” He tells what happens at the cocktail party and how wonderful the party is. In the latter part (211-258), the narration becomes more reflective, and the narrator calls himself omae, which means “you.”

The reason why omae is used is that the protagonist feels guilty about his daughter’s rape and not being able to protect her. He also regrets that he was attending the party which was full of deception when the rape occurred, and feels guilty that he was enjoying himself. Since the use of the strong second person pronoun also has an accusatory nuance, the use of omae also changes the atmosphere of the story from elegant to tragic. According to Ōshiro, he originally wrote the entire story using the first-person pronoun. However, he later realized that since the latter part focused on the protagonist’s thoughts after the rape, that the second-person pronoun would be more effective.


5. Symbolism

The US military base fence 基地を囲む金網

The U.S. military bases in Okinawa are surrounded by fences to prevent local people from entering. They are like borders to another country. When Okinawans visit a U.S. military base, they need to get permission to enter, so the entrances to the bases are sometimes quite complicated. In Ōshiro’s story, the protagonist got lost and felt that he had entered another country when he sneaked into the base ten years ago. The fence separates Americans from Okinawans, and symbolizes the fact that Okinawans do not have access to the same rights and privileges. At the same time, the fence symbolizes the fact that there are various barriers preventing the characters from being true friends.


The four main characters 四人の登場人物





US flag, Japanese flag, Chinese flag, civil ensign of Ryukyu (1945-67), and civil ensign of Ryukyu (1967-72), respectively


This story can be read as an allegory with the four main characters representing their countries; the protagonist represents Okinawa; Mr. Miller, the United States; Mr. Song, China; and Mr. Ogawa, Japan. This device allows Ōshiro to discuss the political relationships of these countries after World War II. Since the characters are representatives, their actions parallel the political positions of their respective countries. For example, Mr. Miller, as a representative of the United States is in the strongest position. At the time, the United States had just won World War II and wanted to control everything, including Okinawa.

Mr. Ogawa represents Japan. He is friendly to Mr. Song and the protagonist, but sometimes offensive to Mr. Miller. Japan lost the war but wanted to be equal to the U.S. In addition, Japan had a hard time admitting that it had lost the war.

The protagonist represents Okinawa. Okinawa was ruled by the United States and was going to return to Japan soon, so Okinawa was in a difficult position. The protagonist worries when Mr. Ogawa discusses the matters offensively with Mr. Miller because he knows that this will create problems for his relationship with both of them.

Finally, Mr. Song represents China. China had lost much of its territory to Japan before the Pacific War. Japan controlled parts of China and treated Chinese people badly, so he feels some resentment toward Mr. Ogawa and the protagonist. Since China was a U.S. ally, and the U.S. won the war, his position is much higher than it used to be. In contrast to the protagonist and Mr. Ogawa, Mr. Song lives on the U.S. base with permission. However, he recognizes that if he caused any trouble, he would be punished immediately and not be able to live there anymore. Consequently, he tries to take a balanced view and to take a neutral position in order to protect his life.

The Chinese Picture 山水画

The Chinese picture in Mr. Song’s house symbolizes his position in the story. The house is built in the American style and is located in Okinawa. There is no place in the house for anything Chinese—except for this picture. It is as if the Chinese position is being pushed into an inferior position, and that it is difficult for Chinese in Okinawa to express themselves. Mr. Song is reminded of his position in Okinawa whenever he looks at the picture.


6. Historical Background

SOFA (States of Forces Agreement)

When “Kakuteru pātī” was published, Okinawa had not yet been returned to Japan. After Japan lost the Battle of Okinawa, the United States ruled Okinawa by the agreement until coming back to Japan. According to Wikipedia, the SOFA agreement was constructed between Japan and the United States after World War II and stipulated that Americans who committed crimes in Japan would be judged under U.S. law. Because of this condition, Americans could easily be freed from local custody, and the Ryūkyūan government could not prosecute them—even when they caused accidents or committed crimes.

In the same year that “Kakuteru pātī” was published, an Okinawan boy died in a car accident caused by the US military, according to “Kōkōsei no tame no rekishi,” an educational book. The US servicemen were not judged by the American court, and the judge did not punish them. The news spread rapidly; local people got angry; and protests broke out. The United States ignored the problem, but such incidents caused many Okinawan to oppose the U.S. occupation and to fight for a return to Japan.

American-Okinawan Interaction

On the other hand, Americans often held parties and invited Okinawans to their homes. Immediately after the war, the U.S. military had supplied Okinawans with food and medical aid—which made them seem much kinder than the Japanese. The aim of this policy was not only to make good relationships, but also to keep Okinawa as their most important base in Asia. Although many Okinawans fought to be liberated from U.S., many also had mixed feelings about returning Japan. Okinawans were worried about their economy and also wanted to maintain their unique identities. According to Okamoto, the difficult economic situation and these political issues had a major influence on the Okinawan literature of this period.

Rape in Postwar Okinawa

After World War II, Okinawa was controlled by the United States. At the time, Okinawans had few job opportunities and struggled to make a living. Therefore, many women resorted to prostitution to make a living. Under these situations, some American soldiers committed crimes, such as rape, vandalism, and robbery. Okinawan women’s position was weak and tenuous, so some soldiers viewed them in sexual terms. At the same period, a sad accident happened: a girl named Yumiko was raped and killed by an American soldier. The news shocked Okinawans, and they wanted the American soldier to be punished. Unfortunately, the Ryūkyūan government could not do anything because of the SOFA agreement, which stipulated that Americans would be tried in a US. The result was that the soldier was judged innocent. Under US control, Okinawans had to tolerate such abuses of their rights.


7. Criticism

Okamoto, Keitoku. “Kakuteru pātī ron.” Okinawa bungaku no jōkei [A View of Okinawan Literature]. Okinawa: Niraisha, 2000. 262-275.

Keitoku Okamoto argues that “Kakuteru pātī” questions the sincerity of international friendship during Okinawa’s post-war period. At the same time, the story also emphasizes that Japanese, including Okinawans, were not only victims during the war, but were also perpetrators of violence in China and elsewhere. In the story, the protagonist gives up accusing Robert Harris for raping his daughter because Mr. Song says that Okinawans were perpetrators in China during the Pacific war, and his daughter begs him not to sue Robert Harris. After that, the protagonist decides to accuse the cocktail party which Mr. Miller hosted because he heard that Mr. Morgan’s maid was sued for kidnapping his son in spite of her being innocent. Okamoto feels that this incident shows that if suing the maid were admitted, Okinawans’ identities would be broken, so the protagonist fights to protect their identity by suing Robert Harris.

Okamoto also points out that the protagonist’s daughter is the real victim. Certainly, the protagonist is justified in criticizing the cocktail party hosted by Mr. Miller, and it is understandable that he wants to fight in court for his daughter. However, Okamoto feels that the daughter’s point of view is not described enough. Consequently, readers do not have enough information to evaluate the protagonist’s decision.


Motohama, Hidehiko. “Kaisetsu” [Commentary]. Okinawa bungaku sen. [A Selection of Okinawan Literature]. By Okamoto Keitoku and Takahashi Toshio. Tokyo: Benseishuppan, 2003. 130-132.

According to Motohama, “Kakuteru pātī” is a great work of Okinawan culture. He agrees with Okamoto’s argument that the protagonist tries to protect Okinawan identity and adds his opinion to it. He points out that unfair laws at the time caused Okinawans to suffer. For example, U.S. soldiers sometimes were not punished—even when they committed rape or other crimes. But Okinawans could get the death penalty if they assaulted an American woman. Of course, Okinawans would also be severely punished for crimes such as robbery and shoplifting. In other words, the law discriminated against Okinawans and created an unbalanced relationship between Okinawans and Americans. In the story, the protagonist’s daughter pushes Robert Harris from the cliff when she is about to be raped. But shockingly, she is arrested by the CID. On the other, Robert Harris does not get punished—even though he raped her. Understandably, the protagonist is furious about that.

Motohama also agrees with Okamoto’s argument that the protagonist’s daughter’s point of view should have been more clearly expressed. Since she is the victim, readers should be able to understand how she feels. Even with this drawback, however, “Kakuteru pātī is a monumental work of Okinawan literature.


8. Themes

The Superficiality of International Friendship

The story teaches us that international friendship often disguises the truth of international power relations, and that friendship between rulers and those being ruled is extremely difficult. In the early part of the story, the protagonist enjoys a cocktail party with his friends from the United States, Japan, and China. In the latter part, his daughter is raped by an American, so he asks his international friends for help. Mr. Ogawa and Mr. Song help to a certain extent, but Mr. Miller—the person with the most power and strong ties with those in power—doesn’t cooperate at all.

The protagonist believed that Mr. Miller was his most trusted friend, so he is shocked when Mr. Miller refuses to help him. On the other hand, Mr. Song, who suffered under Japanese rule, helps the protagonist more than others.In political terms, this implies that China is closer to Okinawa than the United States. As a result of the rape, the protagonist learns that he is powerless as a result of Okinawa’s position. Then, he decides to give up on the cocktail party hosted by Mr. Miller—in order to regain a modicum of self-respect.

Okinawa as a Perpetrator

Okinawan people often see themselves as victims of the war. However, Ōshiro points out that Okinawans were not only victims but also perpetrators. According to “Kōkōsei no tame no Okinawa no rekishi”, in Japan, conscription started in the 1880’s, and the system was expanded to include Okinawa in the 1890’s. Although some people turned down the order to join the military, most people obeyed. People who refused the order, of course, were punished as betrayers and even their families would be despised. Consequently, numerous Okinawans participated in the war as Japanese soldiers, too. The Japanese military destroyed cities, raped women, and committed war crimes in the many of the areas they occupied.

In “Kakuteru pātī,” the protagonist feels that he is a victim when his daughter is raped. But when he asks Mr. Song for help, Mr. Song questions him about what he was doing during the Pacific War and points out that Japanese soldiers, including Okinawans, committed rape, robbery, and other crimes in China. The protagonist himself recalls witnessing Japanese soldiers robbing a store. In this way, Ōshiro’s story warns Okinawans to take responsibility for their own evil actions during the war—before making appeals as victims.


9. Discussion Questions

1. How did the protagonist feel when he visited the US military base for the first time ten years ago? Why did he feel that way? How does he feel now?

2. Why does the Okinawan woman take Mr. Morgan’s son from his house? What is the result of her action?

3. Why doesn’t Mr. Miller help the protagonist after his daughter is raped?

4. If you were Mr. Miller, would you have helped the protagonist? Why? Or why not?

5. What role does Mr. Song play in the story? How does his experience parallel that of the protagonist?

6. What hints are in the story about the setting? What role does the setting play in the story?

7. How do the four main characters serve as representatives of their respective countries?

8. How would the story change if told from Mr. Song’s or the protagonist’s daughter’s point of view?

9. If you were the protagonist, would you sue Robert Harris? Why or why not?

10. In the second half of the story, why does Ōshiro switch to using the second person pronoun in the narration?

11. What does Ōshiro want to say about victims and perpetrators?


10. Works Cited

Motohama, Hidehiko. “Kaisetsu” [Commentary]. Okinawa bungaku sen. [A Selection of Okinawan Literature]. By Okamoto Keitoku and Takahashi Toshio. Tokyo: Benseishuppan, 2003. 130-132.

Okamoto, Keitoku. Gendai bungaku ni miru Okinawa no jigazō [Okinawa in Contemporary Novels and Dramas]. Tokyo: Kōbunken, 1996. 128-135.

---. Okinawa bungaku no chihei [The level of Okinawan Literature]. Okinawa: Sanichi shobō, 1981. 96-103.

---. “Kakuteru pātī ron” Okinawa bungaku no jōkei [An Overview of Okinawan Literature]. Okinawa: Niraisha, 2000. 262-275.

Okinawaken kōtōgakkō shakaika kenkyūkai. Kōkōsei no tame no Okinawa no rekishi [Okinawan History for High School Students]. Directed by Tetsuo Nakachi. Okinawa: Ōzato insatsu yūgen kaisha, 1994. 95-96, 126-127.

Ōshiro, Tatsuhiro. “Atogaki” [Afterword]. Kakuteru pātī. By Ōshiro Tatsuhiro. Tokyo: Rironsha, 1987. 330-333.

---. “Kakuteru pātī” [Cocktail Party]. Kakuteru pātī. Tokyo: Bungei Shunjyū, 1967. 181-258.

---. “Kame no kōbaka” [Turtleback Tombs]. Kakuteru pātī .Tokyo: Bungei Shunjyū, 1967. 5-66.

---. “The Cocktail Party.” Trans. Steve Rabson. Okinawa: Two Postwar Novellas. California: Center for Japanese Studies, 1989. 35-80.

Wikipedia contributors. “Nichibei chii kyōtei” [States of Force Agreement]. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 14 Oct. 2014. Web. 27 Nov. 2014.



Original Report by Shingo Izawa. Edited and revised by Kasumi Sminkey.