Excerpt: On Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides Vol. 1

Features The Editors | September 4, 2026 Good evening, TCJ readers. We're pleased to bring you this excerpt of Marina Lisa Komiya's On Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides Vol. 1 courtesy of Fantagraphics. The book is now available at quality booksellers and libraries in your area. From the press release: After Japan lost the War, the country was thrown into devastation. No one felt this devastation as much as Japanese women, who, left with few paths to choose from, took low-wage jobs, fell into sex work, and wed American G.I.s. In their affecting graphic novel debut, Marina Lisa Komiya follows the lives of two Japanese women and theAmerican soldiers they marry in this tumultuous time period.Best friends (and possibly more) before the War, Haru and Yoriko are separated in the evacuation of their town during the air raids. As they search for each otherafterward, Haru gets by as a waitress, while Yoriko sells her body at a brothel. Their fortunes change when they each meet respectful American soldiers, who take their hand. Arthur, a Japanese American, grapples with the inner conflict of his dual identity, while Scott is at once fascinated by Japanese culture and wracked...