1. Topics

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
Helen Harano Christ Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1013-6-9)
vh Helen Harano Christ Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1013-6-9)
Living conditions in Tanforan
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-6-9/
Chizuko Iyama - Ernie Iyama Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1012-5-2)
vh Chizuko Iyama - Ernie Iyama Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1012-5-2)
First impressions of camp: "the camps were certainly not good for families" (audio only)

This interview is audio-only. It contains raw footage used by Steven Okazaki in his 1985 film Unfinished Business.

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1012-5-2/
Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1016-4-2)
vh Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1016-4-2)
Preparing for mass removal

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1016-4-2/
Yoshiko Kanazawa Segment 4 (ddr-jamsj-2-15-4)
vh Yoshiko Kanazawa Segment 4 (ddr-jamsj-2-15-4)
Frightening camp experiences as a child: vaccinations and a long train ride
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-jamsj-2-15-4/
Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview Segment 19 (ddr-jamsj-2-7-19)
vh Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview Segment 19 (ddr-jamsj-2-7-19)
Journey to Santa Anita Assembly Center, California; description of conditions
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-jamsj-2-7-19/
Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview Segment 20 (ddr-jamsj-2-7-20)
vh Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview Segment 20 (ddr-jamsj-2-7-20)
Working in an assembly center as a custodian of camp inmates'' property
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-jamsj-2-7-20/
George Hanada Interview Segment 5 (ddr-jamsj-2-5-5)
vh George Hanada Interview Segment 5 (ddr-jamsj-2-5-5)
Witnessing the so-called Santa Anita "riot"

This interview was conducted by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and is part of a project entitled "Lasting Stories: The Resettlement of San Jose Japantown," a collaborative project between the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-jamsj-2-5-5/
George Nakata Interview Segment 13 (ddr-one-7-29-13)
vh George Nakata Interview Segment 13 (ddr-one-7-29-13)
First impressions of the Portland Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-29-13/
Mika Hiuga Interview Segment 9 (ddr-one-7-37-9)
vh Mika Hiuga Interview Segment 9 (ddr-one-7-37-9)
First impressions of the Pinedale Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-37-9/
Lilly Kobayashi Irinaga Interview Segment 13 (ddr-one-7-47-13)
vh Lilly Kobayashi Irinaga Interview Segment 13 (ddr-one-7-47-13)
Living conditions in Portland: a medical emergency

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-47-13/
Alice Matsumoto Ando Interview Segment 4 (ddr-one-7-73-4)
vh Alice Matsumoto Ando Interview Segment 4 (ddr-one-7-73-4)
A child's memories of the assembly center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-73-4/
Shizuko
vh Shizuko "Suzie" Sakai Interview Segment 5 (ddr-one-7-4-5)
Memories of the Portland Assembly Center: "Life there was just a noisy terrible confusion"

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-4-5/
Taylor Tomita Interview Segment 11 (ddr-one-7-61-11)
vh Taylor Tomita Interview Segment 11 (ddr-one-7-61-11)
Living conditions at the Pinedale Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-61-11/
Taylor Tomita Interview Segment 12 (ddr-one-7-61-12)
vh Taylor Tomita Interview Segment 12 (ddr-one-7-61-12)
Building furniture out of scrap lumber

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-61-12/
Jim Tsugawa Interview Segment 10 (ddr-one-7-55-10)
vh Jim Tsugawa Interview Segment 10 (ddr-one-7-55-10)
Coping with living conditions in the assembly center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-55-10/
George Azumano Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-32-16)
vh George Azumano Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-32-16)
Living conditions at the Portland Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-32-16/
Henry Sakamoto Interview Segment 5 (ddr-one-7-33-5)
vh Henry Sakamoto Interview Segment 5 (ddr-one-7-33-5)
Adjusting to lack of privacy in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-33-5/
Yoichi
vh Yoichi "Cannon" Kitayama Interview Segment 13 (ddr-one-7-46-13)
Living conditions at the Portland Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-46-13/
Kenji Onishi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-62-16)
vh Kenji Onishi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-62-16)
First impressions of the Portland Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-62-16/
Hisaye Yamamoto Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1002-10-6)
vh Hisaye Yamamoto Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1002-10-6)
Memories of mass removal; first impressions of Parker Dam Assembly Center, Arizona

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1002-10-6/
Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1002-6-3)
vh Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1002-6-3)
Memories of Santa Anita Assembly Center: feeling "confused and dumbfounded"

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1002-6-3/
Jim Hirabayashi Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1002-5-9)
vh Jim Hirabayashi Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1002-5-9)
Memories of Pinedale Assembly Center: playing sports, attending school

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1002-5-9/
Tatsukichi Moritani Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1001-2-9)
vh Tatsukichi Moritani Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1001-2-9)
First sight of Manzanar concentration camp: "sure is a desolate-looking place"
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1001-2-9/
George Morihiro Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-182-18)
vh George Morihiro Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-182-18)
Life in Puyallup Assembly Center: talking with the guards, being warned away from the fence
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-182-18/
George Morihiro Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-182-16)
vh George Morihiro Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-182-16)
Entering Puyallup Assembly Center: "the day you walked through that gate, you know you lost something"
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-182-16/
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