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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston's memoir, "Farewell to Manzanar," demonstrates the 1950s Japanese-American cultures, and this can be compared to the traditions outside of the camp, and in Japan itself at the time. With 5,981 Japanese-American babies born in interment camps, a new culture arose that was a culmination of Japanese traditions and American life. The cultural difference between America and Japan in the 1950s were substantial.

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During the 1950s, Japanese representation in American media was low, and what was shown was often racist and was used as propaganda. Many notable Japanese and Asian men and women were portrayed as villains or someone who needed an American to save them. In an article, Jenny Richards gives examples of media during the 50s, with some being movies. She gives credit to "A series of six propaganda films made for the US Army... A product of its time, it includes misinformation and racist portrayals of heroic Chinese and the Japanese enemies," (Ithaca College Library). Richards sources these films to show how the Japanese were portrayed to many Americans and how they were used as a reason to fight in the war. Many of the Japanese camps during WWII became small communities, with things commonly found in average 1950s American towns like town concerts, baseball games, and movies starring famous Americans. "Those parks and gardens lent it an Asian character, but in most ways it was a totally equipped American small town, complete with schools, churches, Boy Scouts, beauty parlors, neighborhood gossip, fire and police departments, glee clubs, softball leagues, Abbott Costello movies, tennis courts, and traveling shows," (Wakatsuki Houston 90). In Farewell to Manzanar, Jeanne Wakatsuki describes how traditional Japanese culture was taken over by American culture in the camps, with traditional Japanese relics and objects removed from the camps.

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Japanese and American clothes in the 1950s were very similar, with few differences. According to Aesthetics from Japan, "Only men could wear Western-style clothes, while women were expected to wear soft-coloured kimono and abandon makeup… After seven years of Occupation, the U.S. customs and habits spread, and Japan could not help but embrace them into its own culture… Among the many Hollywood actors, the postwar generation saw in Audrey Hepburn the symbol for the new Japanese ideal beauty. In the first place, her delicate features and 'next door-girl' look were qualities appreciated by the Japanese sensitivities at that time." During the 1950s in Japan, it was average for the men to wear western inspired clothing such as three-piece suits and narrow ties, which is what American men wore. Meanwhile, women typically wore kimonos, a traditional Japanese garment, during the early 50s. In the late 50s, women started to transition into wearing western clothing as well. The Fashion History Timeline website states, "Fashion in the 1950s saw a clear gender divide. While men and boy’s fashion moved towards a more casual day-to-day style, women and girl’s fashion prioritized elegance, formality, and perfectly matched accessories." Men of both countries freely wore suits while slowly becoming more casual, women however, were expected to keep a clean, sharp, and fashionable style of clothes. American and Japanese fashion were similar in the fact that the women would wear more refined and graceful clothing. American women throughout this time kept their stylish, colorful, eye-catching dresses, while Japanese women started out with kimonos, converting to the American style. In conclusion, the Japanese and American styles were very similar to each other.

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In the 1950s, the differences in food and meals between America and Japan, especially in the Japanese Internment Camps, were substantial. For the Japanese-Americans in the internment camps, their meals consisted of mostly what was needed to survive, with an occasional dessert offered, though not many were fond of it. According to a survivor of the camps, "The Caucasian servers were thinking that the fruit poured over rice would make a good dessert. Among the Japanese, of course, rice is never eaten with sweet foods, only with salty or savory foods... But at this point no one dared protest... I was horrified when I saw the apricot syrup seeping through my little mound of rice" which is why the foods offered were not all high quality. (Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston, 18) In the Internment camps, food was not made to satisfy the Japanese-Americans, but rather just keep them alive, and even with that, for some, it just kept them one step away from malnourishment. Some of the servers in the camps were not Japanese, and some of what they thought might have been good for food in that time period, the Japanese-Americans found not satisfying. However, during the years following the war and internment camps, in America, the 1950s were a time of discovering new foods. According to an American citizen in the 1950s "Supper time and or lunch time might be Fried Chicken or ham, meatloaf, fried fish or pork chops. Vegetables such as peas, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, butter beans, turnip greens, mustard greens or most any vegetable that was in season" was what the average American family ate for a home cooked meal in the 1950s. (Meals in the) In this time period, people were learning some of the different foods they could make and experimenting with more flavors and seasonings. Something to keep in mind is that most of the survivors of the Great Depression were those who were cooking these family meals in the 1950s, so nothing was put to waste. In that time period, most women were the ones cooking the meals, and they would make lots of different varieties of foods, but less than considered normal for today, because food portions were smaller after the war.

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Japanese traditions on White day are different than American traditions on Valentine's day. According to the New York Time writers, "...White Day is meant to be a day for lovers (typically men) to give gifts (typically chocolates or sweets) to their partners (typically women) who previously gave them gifts on Valentine’s Day, as a gesture of reciprocation” (March 14 is). Japan is not very strict on gender roles and tries to make it seem more equal so men aren't expected to get women gifts. This holiday gives both men and women in Japan a day to show each other how much they love each other by buying or making one another gifts. Sarah Kettler from The History Channel states, "Offering a bouquet of red roses to your beloved. Purchasing a card with a heartfelt message. Sharing a candlelit meal with your partner. Giving a heart-shaped box of delicious chocolates" (7 Unique Valentines). These are all good examples of things that Americans tend to do on Valentines day, but many people in the 1950s used to make their gifts. Going out to eat with a significant other can be fun, but many people to this day still prefer a homemade meal and a movie night. All of these are good examples of how Japanese and American traditions differ.

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Throughout Farewell to Manzanar, cultural differences between Japan and America are constantly illustrated by the lives of those in the interment camps. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston recounts how the combination of traditional Japanese life was overpowered by American customs and how it came together to become Japanese-American.