The Teahouse of the August Moon (Themes)

Themes

Democratization

This play is set during the Allied Occupation of Japan following World War II. During that period, from 1945 to 1952, the United States instituted a policy of democratization, according to which the military was to oversee the establishment of some form of democratic or representational government. In the play, Captain Fisby is sent to the tiny village of Tobiki, on Okinawa Island, to carry out the process of democratization. In his opening monologue, the character of Sakini, an Okinawan interpreter for the U.S. military, explains,“We tell little story to demonstrate splendid example of benevolent assimilation of democracy by Okinawa.” Colonel Purdy explains to Fisby that “my job is to teach these natives the meaning of democracy, and they’re going to learn democracy if I have to shoot every one of them.”

Among other things, Purdy instructs Fisby that “your first job when you get there will be to establish a municipal government.” Purdy also instructs Fisby to “organize a Ladies’ League for Democratic Action.” Upon arrival in Tobiki, Fisby informs Sakini that “Plan B,” which provides instructions for the process of democratization,“calls for a lecture on the ABC’s of democracy.” He asks Sakini to explain to the villagers “that we intend to lift the yoke of oppression from their shoulders.” When asked by the villagers to explain democracy, Fisby stammers, “Well, it’s a system of self-determination. It’s — it’s the right to make the wrong choice.” Fisby then goes about instructing the villagers to appoint a chief of Agriculture and chief of Police. Fisby at first balks at the seemingly irrational basis on which the men for these jobs are chosen, but comments, somewhat ironically that “no one can say this isn’t self-determination.”

In the second act, Sakini, in addressing the audience, refers to Tobiki as a “seat of democracy.” But Fisby’s efforts to implement “Plan B” seem to go awry when the villagers use the democratic process to vote for “geisha lessons” for all the women and to build a cha ya, or teahouse, for the village. When Fisby attempts to protest, the villagers use the argument that they are exercising democracy in these decisions. Sakini explains to him that the villagers “say they just held meeting in democratic fashion and majority agree on resolution” to build a teahouse. And, when Fisby protests, Sakini reminds him, “But you tell them the will of majority is law.” Thus, the villagers accurately take on the values of “self-determination” represented by democracy although the outcome of this process is much different from that intended by the U.S. military as outlined in “Plan B.”

Industry

In addition to democracy, Fisby is assigned to establish industry in Tobiki to “make them self-supporting.” Fisby learns of the traditional crafts of Tobiki as the villagers each present him with a gift, including a cricket cage and a fine, handcrafted, lacquered cup. This detail is in fact culturally accurate, as lacquer ware is indeed one of the traditional crafts of the Okinawa islands. The notion of industry, however, is at odds with the values of a traditional craft. Mr. Oshira, who has made the lacquered cup, explains to Fisby that it is a skill passed on from father to son, a part of his family heritage. Sakini describes the fine detail involved in the making of the cup, pointing out that it is “thin as paper, carved from one block of wood. Then painted many times with red lacquer,” with a gold fish painted inside. Nonetheless, Fisby suggests that they set up an industry and mass-produce the cups to market as “a lost art.” Fisby suggests that they “set up machines and turn them out by the gross,” but Mr. Oshira explains, ’ I take pride in making one cup at a time.. . . How can I take pride in work of machine?”

This exchange demonstrates the process by which industry, and mass-production, as practiced by American capitalism, undermines the value of traditional skills and traditional works of art. Although they follow Fisby’s intentions, the villagers fail to market any of their traditional crafts. Fisby then hits on the idea of mass-producing the locally made, traditional sweet-potato brandy to the nearby military bases. He calls the business The Cooperative Brewing Company of Tobiki. This proves an extremely successful industry by which the village of Tobiki prospers.

Topics for Further Study

• This play takes place during the American Occupation of Japan in the aftermath of World War II. Learn more about the American defeat of Japan and the subsequent Occupation. What were the major battles and events in the conflict between Japan and the United States? What were the conditions of the defeat of Japan? What were the conditions of the Occupation?
• This play concerns the building of a traditional Japanese teahouse, to be serviced by a geisha. Learn more about the Japanese tradition of the tea ceremony. Learn more about the role of the geisha in traditional Japanese society. (Americans tend to equate geishas with prostitutes, but they play, in fact, very different societal roles.) What is the role of the geisha in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony?
• The play takes place on the Island of Okinawa, the largest of a cluster of islands in the East China Sea, called the Ryukyu Islands. Learn more about the history and culture of the Ryukyu Islands. Learn more about the Ryukyu Islands today. How have they changed since the 1950s?
• This play lists many offensive stereotypes of Asian people. What stereotypical representations of Asians and Asian Americans can you find in your own current culture? On TV? In movies? In books? How has the representation of Asian and Asian-American people changed since this play was written in the 1950s?