Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

February 28 (Sunday)

It was reported today that 21 people will be released from this camp. We were told that the names will be publicly announced tomorrow. It is reported that Colonel Dunn who received a transfer order left the list as a farewell gift when he resigned from his position, and they say this information is correct. It is also said that the majority of us will be released or paroled except for about 10 percent of the body, and one can assume that this release will be expanded to a large extent in the future.

It is understandable that the atmosphere in the camp has been restless among us since the report of the release, but it is interesting that I don’t hear a lot of complaints as I used to.

524

What I find surprising is the acts and remarks made by Mr. Shigeo Okazaki. He used to be the head of the calm and quiet group and had a fairly subjective view and understanding of the war between Japan and the U.S. I considered being an internee sas honor we need to accept as a sacrifice as a Japanese citizen, and despise a thought of redress or longing for the family, maintaining his stable attitudes. However, it seems that he recently went through some major shifts in his mental state. When a soldier was walking around, calling out names in a loud voice and delivering mail the other day, he rushed from his bed to the window on the south end of the barracks a lot faster than usual, and intensely watched in the direction the voice was coming from looking worried. He looked so tense that I was worried about him, patted his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. It is not for you.” He said, “I thought it was a release notice for me,” and went back to his bed on the north end with a look I cannot describe, either feeling relieved or depressed. Mr. Kosaku Sasaki casually spread a false rumor saying, “Those who are to be released are lined up and waiting in front of the office,” shortly after the above mentioned report was released. Mr. Okazaki went to the window to watch, looking worried, but said, “Ah, it is a lie,” and sheepishly went back. He still seemed worried and ended up putting his wooden clogs on and went out. We cannot help feeling worried when we witness such behaviors.

525

He is suffering from high blood pressure and has some health issues, and maybe he developed a stronger desire to be with his family. It is obvious that he is nervous about news regarding being released these days. I think he and his family are sure to be united in the family center, but he might be anxious about what will happen with so much information flooding in about all the changes. He is religiously educated and has a high level of confidence. but he is mentally weakened due to his medical issues. I think he deserves our sympathy. A rumor goes that shintoism priests are almost impossible to be released, and I have to imagine how he feels. I advised everyone against talking about release in front of Mr. Okazaki.

Spring rain started to fall in the afternoon, moistening everything.