Ichiro’s imagined dialogue with his mother speaks the frustrations of a second generation immigrant conflicted with his duty to family and the expectations of young American men. Ichiro questions his decision to side with his parental nation rather than the one in which he grew up. In a broader context, the story speaks of a generational clash seen uniquely in immigrant youth. Okada’s modernist approach to the issue highlights the conflict in immigrant communities at home. Ichiro lacks the self-confidence and maturity to answer the two questions with how he actually feels. Ichiro expresses his wish to serve in the United States military but suppresses these wants to satisfy his mother. This prevent him from developing his own identity separate