“Yellow peril” refers to the white Western fear that Asian immigrants will take over Western nations. Emily works to challenge this prejudice by proving that white Canadians have nothing to fear from Japanese Canadians. Meanwhile, she continues to assert her own Canadian identity. While Emily sees living in Canada as her right as a citizen, Obasan and Uncle see it as a privilege, and they don’t understand Emily’s endeavors. Naomi also pushes against Emily’s work, since it dredges up traumatic memories, but Emily believes that failing to address the past will cause it to repeat itself.