Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

Transcript

April 8th (Wednesday)

It is beautiful weather and a pleasant spring day. Early summer is everywhere in the air, and chirping little birds are waking up detainees from their dreams. According to the diagram of all military facility locations in the entire U.S. recently carried in The Oregonian, I would imagine Fort Sill in Oklahoma is for a brigade or a division of 5,000 soldiers or more including the ones stationed there.

Everyone finished packing by noon and brought the luggages to the administration. We ordered army bags, but they are hard to get. We received a large shipment of laundry bags. We bought them for 65 cents per bag and stuffed our blankets, shoes, bathrobes and others in them. The other items were put in hand grip carrying bags and suitcases.

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Mr. Akio Matsushita made a small drawstring bag out of pieces from old overalls to carry personal items for the train ride. It is not a good-looking one but sure is perfect memorabilia.

Small Buddha birth service was held in the 19th barracks in the afternoon.

Arrays of Japanese food were served for dinner prepared with items gifted by Ambassador Nomura. Rice cakes sent by the ambassador through the Consul General of Spain were also distributed to each barrack. Each of us has been busy sending telegrams to the family to let them know we are being transferred.

It seems that no one could sleep at all the night before last as people got up to go to the latrine one after another. It was a bit calmer last night, but the place looks empty after all the items are gone, and everyone carries sadness on their face. Letters to those who are relocating are being prioritized by the inspectors and processed with unusual efforts to deliver to the people earlier than the other.

People from the other barracks come for signatures on their memory books one after another, and it is quite bothersome.

I heard Mr. Ito was suddenly exempted from the transfer, designated to remain and ordered to work at the laundry facility. It did not happen to the other people working at the laundry facility, and everyone finds it odd that he is the only one who was ordered not to transfer. Even Mr. Muto (Los Angeles) who had been a chef to feed about 1,000 people until today is listed to be transferred.

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Everyone is saying it is hard to understand how the policies are formed by the authorities.

I wonder if his self control is how Mr. Takeoka is keeping his cool under this chaotic circumstance. Him working hard on income tax reports is the most bizarre image.