Did they lose their divinity?

In the novel, "When The Emperor was Divine," there is little reference to the relevance of the title. As discussed in class and from prior knowledge of Japanese culture, the Japanese believe their Emperor's or leader's to actually be divine deities, in a metaphoric manner. I believe Otsuka uses the title to make reference to a period before the novel takes place, a time in which the Japanese people in America were still proud of their heritage. The boy has an episode in a California street where he claims to be a "chink" rather than a "jap" to avoid being mistreated due to his ethnicity. I believe this is one of Otsuka's references to a time before when the Japanese people (characterized by aforementioned Emperor) were "divine" or at least not considered lesser class citizens on their way to detainment camps. The loss of  "divinity" is personified by the father and especially his questionable confession at the end of the novel where he admits the wrongdoings he did because was indeed, Japanese.

The question soon arises of did the Japanese really lose their pride and can another group of people take someone's pride? Otsuka ends the novel in an ambiguous tone, perhaps leaving us to think about the answer. More than 50 years later, the Japanese have restored status and the detainment camps are (unfortunately) rarely mentioned, as if they were never thought less of. The roller-coaster like ride the Japanese took with their status has certainly strengthened as a people and should not be forgotten. I believe Otsuka wishes to tackle that issue with her novel and especially resonates in her title personifying the Japanese as a whole.