During the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, the expression “shikata ga nai” (it cannot be helped) was meant as a sign of stoicism in the face of unimaginable adversity. But some Japanese Americans came to see passive acceptance as unacceptable. They included Frank Emi, who led the Fair Play Committee moving from protest to resistance when he counseled sixty-three men to refuse to be drafted from the concentration camp at Heart Mountain until their rights were restored and their families freed. “No more shikata ga nai” became the slogan of this resistance.
This is a companion to our Instructions t-shirt, serving as a reminder that all people have a voice and there comes a time when passive acceptance turns to active resistance. Warm Grey 100% cotton in adult sizes S, M, L, XL, and 2XL.
Also available:
Instructions to All T-shirt
Spirit Stones-Romaji
