Under the Blood Red Sun

The theme of The Role of Friends and Family in Creating Character takes center stage in this section, where the characters undergo significant growth. Tomi, in particular, experiences heightened empathy, especially regarding his family. Billy, too, evolves in his understanding and acceptance of other cultures. Throughout their journeys, the characters lean heavily on their friends and family support network.

While Tomi worries about Kimi, who refuses to leave the house after the Pearl Harbor attack, he fails to realize that he is also isolating himself. Although Kimi’s seclusion is more apparent than Tomi’s, Tomi also ceases to engage with the outside world. Tomi is in constant motion in the story’s early stages, freely navigating Honolulu. However, post-Pearl Harbor—particularly after a tense visit to the grocery store and the death of the pigeons—he confines himself near the house, avoiding visits to Billy’s place. This is partly a matter of self-preservation, as the local islanders feel resentful toward those of Japanese descent. However, even Charlie believes Tomi should be safe. Despite this, Tomi self-isolates, but Mose and Rico help Tomi overcome this fear. He walks with them to the police station, viewing the damage from the attack and the anti-aircraft missiles for the first time. Though Tomi fears leaving his house, his family and friends make him braver. Tomi struggles to function after his father’s arrest and is desperate for any news of Taro’s welfare, which pushes him to go beyond his self-imposed boundaries. His friends support him in this growth through their unwavering support of Tomi and admiration for his family.

After the successful police interaction, Tomi’s concern for his father propels him further out of his comfort zone. Walking four miles to the harbor to catch a glimpse of Taro, despite Grampa’s warnings and the intimidating barbed wire and soldiers, Tomi must ensure his father’s well-being for himself and his family. The desperate need for news about Taro compels him to make the brave yet foolhardy decision to swim to the prison camp. Tomi’s fixation on his father’s welfare parallels his desire to confront Keet physically: Tomi feels compelled to act for all the times he has been unable to do so. However, upon seeing his father, Tomi realizes the recklessness of his actions. Though he was motivated by love and loyalty, Tomi’s family would bet at an even greater disadvantage without Tomi, who speaks and reads English and interacts with white people. Upon returning home, Tomi begins to cultivate empathy for his family.

After returning home, Tomi’s family’s initial joy turns to anger, and Mama, after calming down, gently explains her concerns to Tomi. For the first time, Tomi’s regrets stem from his guilt, not his father’s words. Recognizing the immense strain on his mother—job loss, husband’s incarceration, incapacitated father-in-law, terrified daughter, and a son making perilous decisions—Tomi realizes Mama’s unmatched bravery. In an attempt to assist his mother, Tomi tempers his risky bravery. Initially reluctant to join the baseball game when Billy picks him up, Tomi eventually complies. Although Mama worries about him leaving after the Sand Island incident, she encourages him to go, displaying bravery for her family and trust in Tomi and the friends he surrounds himself with. Concerned for his family, Tomi tries to steer the Rats away from the Coral Street gang, but Mose and Rico, using Tomi and Billy as bait, draw them out. Supported by his friends and family, Tomi can be brave, supportive of his family, and vocal about his identity.

Billy, too, undergoes significant growth in empathy, demonstrating a confrontation of the theme of The Barriers of Prejudice and Discrimination. Billy was previously dismissive of Tomi’s culture, insulting the emperor’s picture and refusing to eat Mama’s eggs. However, giving Sanji’s daughter his binoculars marks a transformative moment. The binoculars symbolize the bond between Sanji and Billy, and Mari’s reaction, mirroring her late father’s, deeply affects Billy. Despite Reiko’s attempt to pay him, Billy refuses, believing he is doing the family a kindness. Tomi insists that Billy accept something for the binoculars, and this time, Billy understands. He receives a bunch of bananas not for their cost but as a gesture of reciprocity from Sanji’s family. This exchange offers a moment of humanity, giving faces to two sides affected by the conflict following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Though Japanese Americans and white Americans have every reason to resent each other because of discriminating rhetoric, this moment between a young white boy, a little Japanese girl, and a Japanese widow represents hope that, against the odds, the goodness in common people will prevail over hatred.

In the initial visit to the Nakaji house, Billy unintentionally disrespected traditional Japanese artifacts. However, when Tomi shows Billy his room during the second visit, the latter offers genuine compliments. Billy’s character growth is evident as he learns to filter his comments to ensure Tomi’s comfort—a substantial change from the story’s beginning. Tomi’s friendship proves instrumental in cultivating empathy in Billy.

In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, the characters grapple with accepting the changes in their lives. Despite the struggle, Tomi’s family and friends provide unwavering support, fostering Tomi’s growth and character development. Similarly, Billy finds support in his friends, helping him develop empathy and embrace the differences in others.