ABSTRACT
The fears of Americans concerning the loyalties of the Japanese immigrants were also affected by several developments early in the twentieth century. The chief impetus for the chauvinistic stereotype was Pearl Harbor and the entry of Japan into World War II as America's enemy. While it is clear that the stereotype existed long before then, the war greatly reinforced and confirmed earlier apprehensions. Japan's tremendous economic growth in itself supports the truth of this overachiever stereotype, for it is only through hard work and ambition that such a relatively small country could have become one of the industrial giants of the world. Ancient Japan was actually a matriarchal society. Religion was centered on the sun goddess Amaterasu and the country was often ruled by empresses. In Japan respect for authority and a sense of honor are still strong components of the culture.
