The Teahouse of the August Moon Themes

The Teahouse of the August Moon Themes

Democratization

This play is set during the Allied Occupation of Japan following World War n. During that period, from 1945 to 1952, the United States instituted a policy of democratization, according to which the military was to oversee the establishment of some form of democratic or representational government. In the play, Captain Fisby is sent to the tiny village of Tobiki, on Okinawa Island, to carry out the process of democratization In his opening monologue, the character of SaMni, an Okinawan interpreter for the U S. military, explains, "We tell little story to demonstrate splendid example of benevolent assimilation of democracy by Okinawa." Colonel Purdy explains to Fisby that "my job is to teach these natives the meaning of democracy, and they're going to learn democracy if I have to shoot every one of them."

Among other things, Purdy instructs Fisby that "your first job when you get there will...
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