Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

Transcript

432

July 20 (Monday)

It has been unbearably hot for the last several days. It is especially hard to describe how muggy it is in the evening. I am wondering what the U.S. government’s intentions are to drag us Japanese living in the U.S. all over starting at a military prison and one place to another, ending up bringing us to a place where a temperature over 100 degrees. The only intention I can think of is to torture us.

Mr. Shunji Sasaki slipped and fell while taking a bath, and hit his right arm and suffered a fracture. He was seen by a doctor and is taking it easy, but he does not need to be hospitalized and is doing well.

According to letters to people in the camp from assembly centers, U.S. religious people are promoting movements to release family members of the internees, and it is reported that rehearings are being held. This is the only and biggest concern for the internees, and if this takes place, we could no doubt endure the current situation even if this becomes a long term arrangement. It is assumed that life in the Portland Assembly Center is extremely unsatisfactory for the family members who were well-to-do. The facility is not complete, it is chaotic, countless numbers of flies are flying in the units, the odor is unbearable and rain water leaks through. Everyone is complaining.

Another form to express yes or not regarding repatriation is to be submitted today. Such paperwork has been submitted several times in the past, but some people changed their answers every time.

Transcript

433

This is the final and definite one. I assume the departure date is approaching.

All the military aluminum dishware was replaced with stoneware today. We get to have meals like humans now.

Main items at the event report are as follows.

Milk is served three times a week. One light bulb out of three will be replaced with a 75 watt bulb. fish is served twice a week. Representative of Spain sent a note that he is visiting in the near future.