Japanese Internment in The Jade Peony

In the later stages of The Jade Peony, the relations with the Japanese Canadians becomes very important. The children at school are constantly fighting with the Japanese students, and while the adults in the novel are more civilized, the hatred is also prevalent. The problems arise because Japan is fighting both Canada and China in World War II.

These problems in the novel are a direct reference to the situation in Vancouver during that time, a situation that eventually led to the Japanese Internment.

The Japanese Internment during World War II is looked at as a dark moment in Canadian history. During the War, all Japanese Canadians were interned to worker camps in the interior of British Columbia.