ditation of the crime since no clear evidence existed that Kabuo has planned the murder of Carl Heine. In spite of this argument, all but one of the jurors reason that enough evidence exists, which is a fictitious story that Hooks makes up to prove that Kabuo had committed first-degree murder. Luckily for Kabuo, his wife, Hatsue Miyamoto, and the reporter, Ishmael Chambers, discover two very important pieces of evidence on Carl's boat before the jurors can reach a conclusion. This evidence matches along the lines of Kabuo's story and finally proves that Carl had accidentally fallen into the ocean. Throughout this trial, there are also many flashbacks that narrate the story of the lives of the people in San Piedro. The trial, as well as the hardships Japanese-Americans face each day, parallels actual events that have happened during this same time period.

Furthermore, Guterson accurately portrays the hatred and the fear of Japanese-Americans during and after World War II. The testimony of Sergeant Victor Maples shows the unfair assumptions made about Kabuo and the fear caused from his demonstration of his kendo skills. "No it would not surprise Sergeant Victor Maples to hear that Kabuo Miyamoto had killed a man with a fishing gaff. He is highly capable of such a deed" (Guterson 285). Judging whether a person can kill another man is impossible and not right; there are too many variables to accurately predict if a man is capable of killing another man. Maples overtly reveals his hatred for Kabuo because he has classified Kabuo as subhuman and not worthy of any respect. Unfortunately, Maples is not the only person who acts discriminatorily in the book or in reality. "Racist stereotypes labeled the Japanese as 'heathens' who could not become assimilate...People believed them to be 'sneaky,' 'untrustworthy,' and 'degenerate' " (Davis 15). These are typical views of a white racist who feels superior to all the subordinates. Sergeant Maples and other characters such as Etta Heine, Carl's mother, share the same views and contempt of Kabuo. Stereotypes of groups of people occurred frequently then and still happen all the time in today's society.

Foster, David. "Racism Remained After Internment Camps Closed." (8 May 2000).

Guterson shows the unfairness of the trials during this time with pristine accuracy. Even Hatsue, who has no legal background or education, can even see how much prejudice saturates the trial. " 'Did you hear the things that man was saying? How Kabuo had it in his heart to kill? How horrible he is, a killer? Put it in your paper, about the man's testimony, how all of it was unfair. How the whole trial is unfair' " (Guterson 325). Consequently, Hatsue becomes very disturbed by how much of a disadvantage Kabuo recieves from the United States court system. Not only Hatsue, but anyone can see that the judicial system can not produce a fair trial for Kabuo. This is historically accurate because in other cases such as the Korematsu case, Justice Murphy has also stated the cold, hard facts about the trial. "No reliable evidence is cited to show that such individuals were generally disloyal, or had generally so conducted themselves in this area as to constitute a special menace to defense installations or war industries, or had otherwise by their behavior furnished reasonable ground for their exclusion as a group" ("Korematsu v. United States"). In this case, Justice Murphy realized a

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Approximate Word count = 2391
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)