Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

Transcript

July 27 (Monday)

I played golf this morning as Mr. Usuda, Matsuura and Kanegae asked me to. Some volunteers recently created a nine hole golf course.

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Of course, it is all approachable with a putter with greens occupying spaces between weed and pine trees, but it is not bad. It was fun to hold golf clubs for the first time in the last eight months.

53 fellow citizens arrived from Wisconsin State this afternoon. Mr. Sadaji Shioki from Portland was among them, and we were reunited after we were in the community jail seven months ago. We were wondering how he was doing as we did not know his whereabouts but are so glad to see him gaining some weight and looking healthy. He however is still suffering from his clonic heart problem and taking medication for that. The group was moved to North Dakota after the Hawaii group was moved out, left there last Saturday in the middle of night and arrived here today. I heard that a large troop of Hawaii people was moved to Fort McCoy on duty.

It poured at night, and cool air momentarily came back.

Mr. Sakimura reported that a representative from the Red Cross or the consul general of Spain is expected to visit in the near future.

The labor requirements outside of the fence created some turmoils, and Mr. Sakimura and Mr. Shinonome had an argument over it. The initial arrangement guaranteed that we meet the requirements if it takes place in the morning when it is still cool, but we were forced to work in the heat without drinking water today, bringing up lots of complaints. It is unacceptable that Mr. Sakimura does not pay any consideration to the welfare of his fellow citizens and simply obeys orders by the administration.

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He should stay assertive and demand them to accept our request on behalf of us. He said we “had a pleasure to have lieutenant colonel Dunn” and the Consul General of Spain “is scheduled to come” during his report session today. His terms of respect are all mixed up, clearly revealing his pro-America attitude. It is extremely unpleasant and unacceptable. Someone like him wearing a Japanese mask should dye his hair brown and die. He ignores the Geneva Conventions while Mr. Takeoka is frequently presenting his strong opposition against the authorities based on the conventions. Mr. Sakimura even hints his opposition against the convention, but he of course has to as a pro-American figure. According to Mr. Shioki, the administration accepted various demands presented by the internees including himself, and it is because they negotiate without compromises based on the Geneva Conventions.