The Kikuchi Diary
Charles Kikuchi, edited by John Modell, 1993.
This is based on a diary kept by one of the Japanese Americans sent to the Tanforan Assembly Center. The editor starts off with a brief overview of the history of Asian immigration to the U.S. and the problems that resulted. He then goes into Charles Kikuchi's family life and upbringing. After that he talks about the pre-evacuation period and then the evacuation activity itself.
The editor also points out that Kikuchi kept writing in diaries up through 1945, but the particular book only deals with the diary he kept during his time at Tanforan.
Kikuchi starts his diary on Dec. 7, recording the events of that day. He writes about the violence against the Japanese American and how people were being moved to the Santa Anita Assembly Center. He had hoped to get his social work degree but was removed to Tanforan before he could do that.
Since this is a diary of daily events I'll only point out a few things that I think stand out.
Restrooms at the racetrack labeled "Gents" and a separate one labeled "Colored Gents".
There are numerous entries relating to Issei/Nisei differences.
There's an entry for May 23, 1942 about gunshots and three boys being shot while supposedly trying to escape.
His work on the local camp newspaper was subject to censorship.
He makes an interesting entry about how bad the camp high school is, how the students aren't paying attention and how the teachers aren't very good.
He writes about the Korematsu case and how he discussed it with Korematsu's brother.
Kikuchi is one of those who is ultra-American in his attitudes. This comes through quite plain in his writing, and he disparages a lot of things Japanese. There was a problem where some Issei believed there was a ghost or spirit in came. When it was shown to have a natural cause (moonlight), Kikuchi writes, in relation to the Issei, "They must be extraordinarily limited in intelligence."
The diary goes on to describe the excitement and concern about the upcoming closing of the assembly centers and the people being transferred to one of the ten internment camps.
This is a very interesting book in that it deals with a lot of the little things that make up anyone's daily life, much less life in an assembly center. It's got a lot of good insight on the Issei vs. Nisei cultural problems, and definitely shows that many Nisei were not anywhere near as oriented towards things Japanese as the people making the decisions for evacuation thought.
An interesting book in many ways.
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