Essay #4 Rough Draft

Topic: Should Toshio and Kiyoshi be responsible for their family's debt

Toshio and Kiyoshi, both of Japanese decent come from a family that upholds their cultural values to the fullest. From their living environment on a plantation, the foods they eat, to the son values that one most uphold are from their culture. Due to Kiyoshi and Toshio’s grandparents and parents debt, they are expected to pay off this debt due to traditional values. I do not believe that anyone, including blood relatives should be responsible for paying for others debt. The person who made the debt is therefore responsible for this debt, regardless of culture values.

Toshio, unlike Kiyoshi has a more modernized view of his environment and culture. He respects his parents as the other men from his culture but does not agree with the rules of being a good son. He does not believe that in order to be a good son, he is entitled to pay his parents debt. Again, the emphasis is on his parents debt, not his own.

Fortunately, through luck and skill Kiyoshi was able to give his family the money to pay back their debt. He lived up to his family’s relentless culture value and joined the military, in hopes to earn back the money for his family. Kiyoshi is known as a filial, a good son who follows and lives by his parents values. Although Kiyoshi in no way should be responsible to pay his parents debt, but did not want to go against his tradition.

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part III, Dialogue

The Meaning of the title "All I Asking For is my Body"

Tosh, who states All I asking for is my body is not only referring to his family situation in regards to tradition but also to his personal life. Tosh, in his culture is meant to be fulfill the requirements of being a filial, in other words he is to uphold respect for his parents by repaying debt. Tosh's parents are in debt due to his grandfathers debt. Tosh's parents live almost paycheck to paycheck and are barely making ends meet. In order for Tosh to bay pack this debt it will take years. He will be unable to start his own family since he will be spending so much time repaying back the debt that was not his. And, by living on this plantation its almost impossible to pay this money back.

When Tosh says all he wants is his body, I think he is speaking about his youthfulness. He doesnt want to be 40 or 50 years old when he is ready financially to start a family. And, in order to fulfil the filial tradition this is how long it will take.