My Japanese Heritage

My grandfather was in college learning how to work on industrial motors when he was drafted into War World II. He was sent to Japan, where he met my grandmother. At the time, she worked in housekeeping. They were married, and she became pregnant with my uncle. Here is a photo from their Japanese style wedding.

However, the war continued, and he was sent to another country. My grandmother stayed in Japan for two years until my grandfather could return to get her and my uncle. In order for my grandmother to come, they had to have an "American" style wedding also, so they were married twice. My grandfather, who was from Pennsylvania, had been stationed in North Carolina and really loved the weather compared to "Philly's" weather, so he bought a house in North Carolina. They had three more children, including my mother. Here is a picture of her when she was a teenager.

Due to racial tension after World War II, my grandfather did not allow my grandmother to teach my mother or her siblings Japanese because he did not want them to experience bullying if they talked with an accent or mixed the languages up. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away before I was even born from kidney failure. I do not know a lot about my Japanese heritage, but it has always intrigued me. Here is a photo of my mother and myself.

Another cool picture to see how features can be passed down, is the photo below of my niece (the girl with red hair). Even with 1/8 Japanese blood, my red headed niece still inherited my grandmother's cheek bones and eye shape!