Living conditions

The "assembly centers" were hastily erected quarters located throughout the West Coast at fairgrounds, racetracks and other similar facilities. Conditions at these locations were appalling. People were housed in animal stalls and barracks with communal bathrooms and mess halls. Privacy was next to nonexistent. Most families lived in a 20-by-20-foot room separated from the next "apartment" by wood partitions that did not reach the ceiling. Shortages of food and deplorable sanitation were common. Overcrowding, uncertainty, and stress created tension in the "assembly centers," even as the demoralized camp inmates tried to improve living conditions.

World War II (231)
Temporary Assembly Centers (231)
Living conditions (389)

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389 items

vh Akiko Okuno Interview Segment 20 (ddr-manz-1-133-20)

First impressions of camp: typhoid inoculation, lack of privacy

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-133-20/

vh Victor Ikeda Interview Segment 30 (ddr-manz-1-23-30)

First impressions of Puyallup: living under the roller coaster

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-23-30/

vh Victor Ikeda Interview Segment 31 (ddr-manz-1-23-31)

Passing the time in camp: volunteering for the dishwashing crew

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-23-31/

vh Jean Matsumoto Interview Segment 8 (ddr-manz-1-130-8)

First impressions of the Portland Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-130-8/

vh Irene Yamauchi Tatsuta Interview Segment 11 (ddr-manz-1-158-11)

Memories of Puyallup: father's stroke, living quarters, guards

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-158-11/

vh Alfred "Al" Miyagishima Interview Segment 16 (ddr-manz-1-27-16)

Making new friends in the Stockton Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-27-16/

vh Bob Fuchigami Interview Segment 15 (ddr-manz-1-28-15)

Adjusting to confinement as a child: contemplating sneaking out of camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-28-15/

vh Midori Suzuki - Sanzui A. Takaha Interview Segment 14 (ddr-manz-1-173-14)

First impressions of Tanforan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-173-14/

vh Taketora Jim Tanaka Interview Segment 10 (ddr-manz-1-50-10)

Memories of the Marysville assembly center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-50-10/

vh June T. Watanabe Interview Segment 6 (ddr-manz-1-160-6)

Daily life in Santa Anita

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-160-6/

vh Sadako Nimura Kashiwagi Interview Segment 7 (ddr-manz-1-172-7)

First impressions of the Marysville assembly center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-172-7/

vh Hope Omachi Kawashima Interview Segment 12 (ddr-manz-1-154-12)

Memories of the Marysville Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-154-12/

vh Sumiko Yamauchi Interview Segment 9 (ddr-manz-1-135-9)

First day and night in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-135-9/

vh Richard M. Murakami Interview Segment 5 (ddr-manz-1-161-5)

Memories of "evacuation day," arriving at the Marysville Assembly Center, California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-161-5/

vh Lois Shikami Interview Segment 5 (ddr-chi-1-8-5)

Arrival at the Puyallup Assembly Center: "It was a shock"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-chi-1-8-5/

vh Joe Takehara Interview Segment 7 (ddr-chi-1-15-7)

Living in former horse stalls in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-chi-1-15-7/

vh Mas Takano Interview Segment 6 (ddr-ajah-1-5-6)

Memories of the Merced Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-1-5-6/

vh Toyoko Okumura Interview Segment 10 (ddr-janm-13-6-10)

Terrible conditions upon arrival at Santa Anita Assembly Center: "I thought we were coming to an end"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-13-6-10/

vh George S. Matsui Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1008-2-6)

Impressions of Santa Anita Assembly Center

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-2-6/

vh George S. Matsui Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1008-2-7)

Bad food in camp

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-2-7/

vh Mas Hashimoto Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1015-7-16)

Living conditions at the Salinas Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1015-7-16/

vh Grace F. Oshita Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1013-4-10)

Arrival in Tanforan, fears father might be sent to Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-4-10/

vh Ted Nagata Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1013-3-5)

Memories of Tanforan assembly center as a seven-year-old

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-3-5/

vh Bob Utsumi Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1013-8-11)

Arrival in the Tanforan Assembly Center: recalling mother's display of emotion

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-8-11/

vh Norman I. Hirose Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1013-7-14)

Arriving at Tanforan: description of barracks, facilities

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-7-14/