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Take a minute to imagine your life with different circumstances. You are in Japan, the daughter of a loving mother and father. Yet all the love in the world cannot buy enough food to feed you and your four siblings nor can it ensure work for you. You are eighteen and you still haven’t found a husband yet. There is no future for you in Japan. Yet there is hope, a family friend tells your parents about a handsome young Japanese man in America who is looking for a wife. Your parents and the mysterious man’s parents discuss the arrangements and before you know it your picture is being taken and you are about to become a shashin-kekkon (picture bride). You are elated because America is the answer to all of your problems.
From your groom’s picture you can see that he’s young, quite handsome, and he is dressed in what looks like an expensive suit. He owns his own home and he is an independent worker. To think, you are going to be the wife of a prominent Japanese man. You pack your bags, kiss your family good-bye and travel thousands of miles away to a man you have never met before. Granted, you have no family in America but that’s okay because you are positive your husband is going to be a wonderful man. Finally, after what seems like an eternity the boat that carries you to your future has finally docked. You get off, smell the fresh air and with nervous excitement you get off the boat with about a dozen other picture brides. You search the crowd of a sea of Japanese faces to find your husband. An older man touches you and you see your future.
 
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