Both Eyes Open - Synopsis

Act I:

 “The Seed” – 1946
After the war, Jinzo returns to his old land in Stockton California, after having been released from Tule Lake Relocation Center. We learn of the two supernatural figures guiding him: Spectral Catherine (the ghost of his wife), and the Daruma Doll, and of his promise to Catherine, “Fall down seven times, get up eight”. Jinzo is distraught, and lies down on the rail road tracks in front of an oncoming train. The train hits him, and time freezes. The sound of emptiness, or “ma.” The Daruma Doll, based on the thousand-year-old imagery of the Zen monk Bodhidharma, delivers one of three teachings to Jinzo, with the help of four monks. Jinzo learns his old farm has new owners. The Daruma Doll tells the true story of Ushijima Kinji, known as George Shima, who built a farming empire in California in the 1920’s.

“Picture Husband” – 1939
Jinzo and his future wife Catherine have an arranged meeting at a Buddhist Chuch bazaar. Catherine morphs into Spectral Catherine and sings to Jinzo, back at the tracks in 1946, still frozen in time.

“This Big House” – 1946
Jinzo sings of his suffering with This Big House, his country, the United States, which has abandoned him.

“Make a Wish” – 1942
The Daruma Doll comes to life and sings of his origin, and shows his connection to Jinzo as the “bigger mind”, or Buddhist persective. Jinzo gives the doll to Catherine and explains its purpose. The doll gets one eye.

“Dr. Gotanda” – 1942
Catherine and Jinzo have just arrived at the camp in Rohwer, Arkansas. Catherine is pregnant and concerned for her medical progress. The Daruma Doll becomes Dr. Gotanda, and reveals there are inadequate medical facilities in camp.

“The Sun Continues to Rise” – 1939
Jinzo and Catherine are in Jinzo’s corn fields, early in their relationship. Jinzo shows Catherine the sound of the corn growing.  Catherine reveals that her family demanded she used a marriage broker to meet Jinzo.

“Farmer’s Dance” – 1939
Jinzo shows Catherine a playful dance passed down through his family.

“Remember This” – 1939
Catherine and Jinzo wed, with the Daruma Doll as the officiant. Catherine acknowledges the growing resentment towards Japanese Americans.

Act II:

“I Drive My Fist” – 1942
Jinzo and Catherine have built successful farming enterprise with their hard work. Catherine reveals to Jinzo that she is pregnant.

“9066” – 1942
Executive Order 9066 is posted.

“The Fruit” – 1946
Daruma and his Monks deliver the second of his teachings to Jinzo, still frozen in time at the tracks.

“The Crying of the Night Train” – 1942
Jinzo and Catherine pack to board a train to an unknown destination. Jinzo buries the Daruma Doll on their land as a promise to return, and takes some of the soil. They discuss their fears and hopes for their future.  The train stops after three days in Rohwer, Arkansas.

“Rohwer Arkansas” – 1942-1943
Jinzo and Catherine arrive in Rohwer and take in their surroundings. Time passes. An oath is issued, which all adults must sign. It contains Questions 27 & 28 about their commitment to fight in the war, and about their loyalty to the Japanese Emperor. The chorus sings of the confusion this created. Catherine has a problem with her pregnancy.

“Camp Video Montage” – 1943
We see archival footage of life in camp.

“Camp Dance” – 1943/46
Jinzo, still at the tracks in 1946, recounts his memory of dancing with Catherine in Camp. The oath weighs heavily. She urges him to sign “No-No” to the Loyalty Oath. Dr. Gotanda reveals Catherine and the baby have died for lack of medical attention.  Jinzo signs “No, No” on the Loyalty Oath and is taken to the Tule Lake Relocation Center in California. After he is roughed up by officials and thrown into prison, Catherine takes some of the Tule Lake soil and hides it in Jinzo’s boot.

“Family Play” – 1946
In his mind, Jinzo joins a group of supernatural beings who taunt him and demonstrate the betrayal of his country.

“The End is the Beginning” – 1946
The opening scene is replayed. Now in Stockton, Jinzo meets the new owner of his land, a Japanese woman whose late husband fought for the United States in the war. She berates Jinzo for his choice to sign “No, No.” Jinzo moves toward the tracks. Jinzo, Spectral Catherine, the Daruma Doll, and the chorus sing of Jinzo’s confusion and betrayal. Jinzo lies on the tracks. The train runs over Jinzo and kills him. We see an archival photograph of John Yoshida, who committed suicide on the railroad tracks after being released from Camp.

“Burning” – 1946
Time has frozen again. Jinzo rises from the tracks, and Spectral Catherine sings to him about the soil. Jinzo finds the Daruma Doll, and remembers his promise to Catherine. He mixes the Tule Lake soil from his boot with the Stockton soil. He paints in the second eye on the doll, and burns it. The doll delivers his final teaching with his Monks, as his spirit is released.