Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

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509

It also works against the protest the Japanese government is lodging against the treatment of us internees through mutual nations and the U.S. Red Cross, and betrays its effort to voice objections to the inhumane approach made by the U.S. government. It does not matter if we save the face of our representatives or not. This is a matter at the national level. It is obvious that they will use the gift to their advantage. We definitely should resolve such a leader committee full of stupid fellows with no brain. It is extremely dangerous to have them as they are not even able to recognize such significant problems. There are quite a few educated people among us, I expect some of the internees will voice their objections.

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Moreover, he is offered a payment of five dollars every time he works as an interpreter. It is also reported a position in the military with a monthly salary of 250 dollars is waiting for him after the war is over. It is said that he himself said this according to a trusted source. A lot of people think it is understandable that he is surrounded by fellows who are looking for opportunities to get close to him.

Dr. Tanaka is extremely unkind, and it is a nuisance as he has his favorites and unfavorites. Some formed an anti-Tanaka group, and are working hard behind the scene to convince him to give up his position as the hospital director and threatening they will hold a public meeting, launch a campaign against him and force him to resign. Mr. Horagami secretly told me that the group is recruiting members in the J and H areas. Mr. Horagami and I asked Mr. Tanaka to meet with us behind the barracks, told him about what is taking place and urged him to resign. Dr. Tanaka told us that he is ready to resign any time. I think it would be best to let him voluntarily resign as soon as possible and avoid any damages inflicted on him. Stronger opposition will be voiced if he insists on holding the position, and it will not be comfortable for us from Portland.

Dr. Sekiyana drew some fluid from my testicles twice after being discharged from the hospital, and they are smaller now. However, I need to see the doctor again as they are still significantly larger than usual, and it seems they still have some fluid accumulated in them.

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I still have fatigue, and Dr. Takahashi from Hawaii (imperial university graduate) diagnosed that fluid is still remaining when Japanese doctors were sent to conduct check-ups in each barracks the other day. I was categorized as the “Class 3”, who are not required to work, but I would like to contribute as much as I can.

Telegram came to let us know that Mr. Usuda’s eldest daughter May had a wedding in Denver on the 11th, and he delivered the news to us. It is such a happy occasion to celebrate. I would have gone to the ceremony to offer banzai cheers in peaceful times, but there is nothing I could offer during this wartime.

I went to the J Area and listened to a talk about Buddhism by master Okawa (Zen monk from Hawaii). It is about the Heart Sutra, and this is the fifth or sixth session this evening. He did not talk about the Sutra itself as our blackboard was taken away but gave us a lecture about the source of the sutra and the origin of southern and northern Buddhism. I am planning to read the sutra in advance before the next lecture.