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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 (240)
Temporary Assembly Centers (234)
Living conditions (406)

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406 items

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/