Japanese Bride in America (1952)

• 77%
• 1952
• Documentary

In 1945, an American serviceman named Walter Lutz meets a Japanese woman named Miwako. Two years later they marry and he brings her home to Cleveland, Ohio, where she describes learning to live in a new country with a new language. Walter's mother lives alone since her husband died, so he and Miwako move in with her until they can afford their own home. Miwako feels afraid because her new life will be very different than it was in Japan. As she settles in, she worries about whether her husband's family will accept her. She struggles to speak on a telephone, and is always nervous about using one. While watching a slide show of photos of Miwako's family and Japan, Walter sees how much children like her. They go shopping where they get a few looks from others. Walter describes his desire for his wife and mother to get along, since they would be left alone together while he went on a business trip. Miwako feels lonely without her husband.To help her feel more comfortable, Walter decides to leave his job and start a business making bamboo furniture using bamboo supplied by her brother so he could stay at home with her. While working at their store, the phone rings, and Miwako is unable to answer it, leaving her ashamed. She joins an English class to improve her skills, and is able to wait on customers, but is still afraid of the phone. While on a picnic together, Walter slips going down a hill, and Miwako has to run for help and use a phone to call a doctor. Later, Walter and Miwako invite friends over for a dinner displaying Miwako's Japanese food and Miwako shares with Walter that she is pregnant. The film ends with a family photo.