Farewell to Manzanar: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

Jeanne takes on the perspective of her brother, Woody, who is stationed in Japan with occupying American troops. One day, he goes to visit Papa’s family in the town of Ka-Ke. His elderly aunt Toyo shows him a family grave plot which has been upended by the aftershocks of the atomic bomb; she says that they are lucky only one member of the family died in the bombing.

Toyo also shows Woody a stone marker where Papa is “buried”; Woody is initially confused, but Toyo says the stone was placed to remember him after his immigration, when the family had no contact with him but wanted to remember him. Toyo says that her happiness at seeing Papa’s son “erases all this war has put us through,” and Woody tears up.

Woody has been afraid to visit his family; it’s hard enough to be a Nisei among the occupying troops, and he’s constantly afraid that the Japanese consider him a traitor. When he finally does visit, he brings a suitcase full of sugar, which is in desperately short supply; he has access to it through his job, which is to break up black market operations and confiscate goods. When he finally arrives, he realizes that it doesn’t matter if he’s an American soldier or what gifts he brings—it’s enough that he is Papa’s son.

The family accept the sugar with profuse thanks but carry it away quickly, in accordance with the Japanese tradition of not showing impolite interest in gifts. Woody senses that they’re embarrassed to be in dire need of such basic supplies. In fact, while the family compound has been spared bombing and is decorated with a beautiful rock garden, after years of war they have almost no possessions.

However, Aunt Toyo doesn’t act like a citizen of a defeated nation; she’s characterized by “an ancient, inextinguishable dignity.” Her cook prepares a delicious if small meal which is accompanied by tea. Afterwards, Toyo shows Woody to a guest room and insists that he take her own silk quilt. As Woody lies down, he thinks that Papa will be happy that his family has survived and proud of the reception they’ve given his son. Woody himself is relieved that all Papa’s fantastic stories about his family’s estate and pride have turned out to be true.

Woody dozes off but wakes suddenly and notices Toyo watching him and silently crying. She was Papa’s favorite aunt, who loaned him the money he needed to get to America, and now she tells Woody how much he looks like Papa. She tells him to sleep and hurries away.

Woody is struck by how graceful Toyo is even while sliding the screen shut—she’s accustomed to moving with such grace from centuries in the same surroundings. Woody rubs his cheeks and imagines Papa’s face, thinking about how Papa’s bearing and dignity are reminiscent of Toyo. He wishes he had asked Toyo to tell him about Papa’s youth but tells himself that tomorrow he will talk to her and learn everything he wants to know. Tomorrow he will climb a hill outside of the town and “see what [Papa’s] eyes used to see.”