Strawberry Rain

In 1965, Hisa Ishii emigrates from Japan to the Pomona Valley in search of a new life. He quickly finds work on Frank Machida's large farm, a Nisei who had been interned in World War II. The transition is brutal—the heat, isolation, and hard labor test his resolve from day one.

Hisa endures grueling days of farming under punishing conditions. The intense heat and language barriers magnify his isolation as he tries to fit into a new community. He clings to the dream of a better future despite the costs.

Hisa forms a marriage, hoping for companionship, but his American wife cannot bear life on the farm and leaves. The departure deepens his loneliness and reinforces the strain of adapting to a new country. He continues to work toward his farm ambitions alone.

Seeking family support, Hisa calls his younger brother Akira and asks him to come to the United States. Akira accepts the invitation, signaling the start of a new chapter for both brothers. The plan moves from talk to actual migration, with Akira preparing to join Hisa on the farm.

Akira obtains a green card for his status, though it remains nebulous in practice. He arrives in America with hopes of better opportunities. The brothers begin navigating a new life together in the Pomona Valley.

Upon arrival, Akira intends to attend a local high school to improve his English and eventually go to college. He also works on the farm to contribute and earn his keep. His path mirrors a dual goal of education and labor.

Years of toil pay off as Hisa saves enough money to acquire his own plot of land. He begins developing it with a dream of turning it into a thriving strawberry farm. The aspiration signals a turning point in his American journey.

Akira faces difficulties with the demanding farm work and the precarious immigrant life. He worries about becoming like the local homeless 'blanket man,' a figure who wanders in search of work. The tension between ambition and hardship colors his experience.

The lonely 'blanket man' among emigrants unexpectedly reunites with his long-lost younger brother, who speaks only broken Japanese. The reunion highlights the ongoing search for family and belonging in a new land. The brothers face the choice between living together or continuing to seek work apart.

Hisa is visited by Akiko from their hometown and Jill, an Italian-American woman. During this time, a romance blossoms between Hisa and Jill, adding a new emotional dimension to his American life. Family blessings and memories of racism frame their union.

Akira meets Naoko, an older married Japanese woman, and he falls in love. The relationship teaches him about longing, boundaries, and the complexities of life in a new country. His experiences with love begin to shape his coming-of-age journey.

Hisa nurtures a large strawberry harvest, overcoming opposition from the immigration bureau and fickle weather. The success cements his identity as a determined American farmer. His perseverance strengthens his resolve to build a future with Jill.

In time, Akira grows into adulthood and is accepted to an American university, marking a milestone in his education and integration. He learns about love and heartbreak along the way, adding depth to his personal growth. The university acceptance signals a broader future in the United States.

Four years after emigrating, Hisa proposes to Jill, and she accepts. With blessings from family members who remember racism and war, they wed. They walk together down a sunlit strawberry road, embodying their shared dream realized.