Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

Transcript

August 7 (Friday)

The weather was comfortable all day.

Armed guard for the group of people that arrived yesterday was a lot lighter compared to what we had as the first one. The number of armed soldiers was largely reduced, and at the same time, I did not see any light machine guns.

A Movie showing took place in the J area at night. Both Mr. Matushima and Mr. Kuranishi came. I got to see my Oregon friends and rekindle our friendship. Following is what both of them told me.

There are only 40 or 50 people left at Fort Missoula after this group with Mr. Matsushima was transferred. Rumour goes that those who remain are to be released or paroled. It is estimated with a certain level of probability, and they are expected to be released to an evacuation center.

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Treatment toward Japanese at Fort Missoula changed dramatically after the first group of people was transferred, and everything was loosened up including the attitude of the guards. It is rather surprising that they became more tolerant. Inspection of care packages from families is extremely loose, and they were all handed to the receivers without any food items confiscated as they used to be. Mail delivery is nothing more than swift and satisfactory. It has become popular among fellow citizens to create a variety of art pieces or souvenirs by polishing stones. Such activity helps to wipe off depression, develop curiosity and encourage great interest in art, and pretty decent pieces have been created as a result. The administration had become supportive to provide all sorts of tools needed for the creation, and now it is possible to mail those pieces out.

It is a phenomenon that required our highest attention that the administration alerted the mayor’s office (of the Japanese autonomous body) to refer to the Geneva Conventions internee clause.

Two immigration officers who self-claimed that they were appointed by the federal government in Washington D.C. and Korean interpreters had been physically abusing our fellow citizens with the most horrible violence, but the central government appointed investigation committee members as soon as they heard about their inhumane behaviors.

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They held a hearing about the immigration officers and the interpreters at the Missoula Japanese internee camp and summoned Japanese internees as witnesses. They testified, and one Japanese and an interpreter were asked to show them exactly how he was punched. It was quite a thorough investigation. However, the Japanese internee could not really punch the interpreter there and refused to do it even though the investigator begged him to feel free to do it. As a result of various investigation conducted, the above mentioned two officers and the interpreters were fired, and the supervising officer Caria was also removed from the position. The atmosphere in the camp has been greatly changed after that with more tolerant treatment for our fellow citizens, and the guards have a friendlier attitude toward the Japanese internees as a result.

Five Months in the Military Hospital