Concentration camps

The War Relocation Authority (WRA) oversaw construction of ten concentration camps in sparsely populated and isolated areas. Between June and October 1942, Japanese Americans were transferred from the "assembly centers" to the larger camps. Housing approximately 120,000 people, the camps were designed to be self-contained communities, complete with hospitals, post offices, schools, warehouses, and residential areas. The WRA attempted to establish normalcy by setting up newspapers, a degree of self-government, sports leagues, and social events. But confinement, monotony, and harsh conditions exacerbated tensions between pro- and anti-camp administration residents and between the disempowered Issei and their U.S.-born Nisei children. At several centers, conflicts erupted into violence and at the Manzanar concentration camp the unrest resulted in fatal shootings. The WRA gradually granted work and school leave to those they considered "loyal." The last camp closed in March 1946.

World War II (283)
Concentration camps (2384)

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2384 items

doc Memorandum to Loni Ding from Aiko and Jack Herzig (ddr-densho-1007-1836)

Compilation of archival and other research materials at the University of Washington, University of California, Los Angeles, NARA, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania related to Japanese American life before the war, incarceration, resistance, and other wartime experience.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1836/

av Interview with Arthur (Art) Morimitsu, part 2 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1750)

Morimitsu discusses his father's reaction to him volunteering for the military, support from Jewish community members, leaving Tule Lake for Fort Douglas, his education at Camp Savage, and his time in the Military Intelligence Service. Video starts at 0:18. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions in the background. Original title: 59B, II VFW #2, VFW …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1750/

av Interview with John Burden and Shig Kihara, part 2 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1789)

Burden discusses an operation attempting to get Japanese soldiers in a cave to surrender, translating captured documents, how his superiors reacted to translated information, serving in Fiji, the attitudes of Nisei whose parents were interned, his time serving with a soldier named Miyazaki, and some close calls he and his soldiers had. Loni Ding can be …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1789/

img Camp buildings (ddr-densho-1007-684)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-684/

av Interview with Clarence Matsumura, part 2 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1609)

Matsumura discusses growing up in Wyoming, his mother's cooking, moving to Los Angeles in 1936, getting his radio license, Pearl Harbor, evacuation to Pomona and Heart Mountain, his attempts to join the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines, being drafted, his basic training in Fort Hood, TX, his deployment in Europe, and the Hollywood store …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1609/

doc Letter to Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki from James Rowe (ddr-densho-1007-1854)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1854/

av Interview with Sho Nomura, part 2 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1611)

Nomura discusses his family's internment at Gila River, volunteering and testing for the MIS language school, and the difficulty his family faced in camp after he volunteered. Video starts at 0:22. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 94, II LA #41, 7-25-85, Sho Nomura Interview II. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1612/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1611/

av Interview with George Nakamura, part 1 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1679)

Nakamura discusses moving to Japan in 1955, growing up in Arroyo Grande, CA, evacuation, his time at Tulare and Gila River, volunteering for the military from camp, and camp attitudes toward volunteering. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II JA #13, George Nakamura, Fri. Jan. 31. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1680/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1679/

av Interview with Yukio Kawamoto, part 4 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1548)

Kawamoto reads through a letter he wrote from the south Pacific to a camp newspaper in Topaz, talks about his service, and tells a few war stories. Also mentions the atomic bombs. Video starts at 0:59. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 49, II NY #32, 6-85, Kawamoto. Interview continues …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1548/

doc Excerpt: Testimony of Karl R. Bendetsen (ddr-densho-1007-1834)

Karl R. Bendetsen's statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians defending the argument that incarceration of Japanese Americans was a national security matter which he believed was supported by wartime intelligence, known as MAGIC. He also disputes claims of harm and prison-like living conditions in the camps.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1834/

img Minidoka buildings (ddr-densho-1007-698)

Slide, created in September 1984. Case reads "T. Matsui"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-698/

av Interview with Hugh Nozawa, part 3 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1715)

Nozawa discusses being court-martialed for refusing to serve in the military while the internment camps were operating, the long fight for honorable discharge after the fact, and his reasons for trying to hard to reverse the dishonorable discharge given to Nisei who refused to serve. Original title: 222, II JA #54, Hugh Nozawa, Sun. Feb. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1715/

av Interview with Clarence Matsumura, part 3 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1771)

Continued from ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1609/. Matsumura discusses the impact of growing up in a small town in Wyoming (particularly the lack of discrimination), the discrimination he faced in Heart Mountain, the movie theaters he ran at Heart Mountain, the extracurricular programs he helped run in camp, going to school, volunteering for the military from school, his time …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1771/

doc Repay U.S. Japanese (ddr-densho-1007-1866)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1866/

img Concentration camp (ddr-densho-1007-680)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown. Case reads "T. Matsui"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-680/

av Interview with Chris Ishii, part 3 of 7 (ddr-densho-1007-1557)

Ishii discusses his parents (who immigrated from Shikoku), their internment in Rohwer, his father's death in camp, and his difficulty communicating with his parents. Video starts at 0:53. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 56, II NY #41, 6-85, Ishii. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1558/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1557/

img Camp mess hall (ddr-densho-1007-685)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-685/

av Interview with Jim Ariyasu, part 5 of 5; interview with Harry Akune, part 1 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1600)

Ariyasu discusses saving a peer from a court martial, his real estate work, and racial solidarity. At 15:10, interview with Ariyasu ends and interview with Harry Akune begins. Akune discusses his time at Merced and Amache, volunteering for the army from camp, and his community's reaction to his decision to volunteer. Loni Ding can be heard …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1600/

av Yukio Kawamoto b-roll part 2 of 2 (ddr-densho-1007-1554)

B-roll of various wartime pictures, including Kawamoto's parents in camp. Also includes Kawamoto's dog tags from his service. No sound, video starts at 0:49. Original title: 54, II NY #38, 6-85, Yukio's photos, dog tag, etc.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1554/

av Interview with John Kaneko, part 2 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1760)

Kaneko discusses arriving at Tule Lake, his first impressions of camp, his difficulty meeting people in camp, draft registration/the loyalty questionnaire and the conflict it caused, his father encouraging him to register for the draft, his refusal to register, his arrest and interrogation, and being sent to a CCC camp and forced to work. Interview starts …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1760/

doc Relocation Center Diary (ddr-fom-2-1)

From September 26, 1942, until February 9, 1946, War Relocation Authority (WRA) employee Arthur Kleinkopf recorded his day-to-day experience at the Minidoka concentration camp in Southern Idaho. His diary begins with his first day at Minidoka and the challenges of establishing a school system. Kleinkopf discusses social tension between Japanese American incarcerees and WRA staff, racist …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-2-1/

img Woman behind barbed wire at Amache (ddr-densho-545-57)

Included annotation: Loneliest Days, Me at Birmingham Hospital & She in Amache Colorado.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-545-57/

av Densho (ddr-densho-1024-123)

Electronic artist Shigeto explores his family’s history and the lasting effects of WWII internment, weaving together personal reflections, archival footage, and music. Through conversations with his mother and grandmother, he uncovers how their shared past and cultural heritage have shaped his identity, resilience, and artistry.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-123/

img Gila River monument with American flag (ddr-densho-37-1464)

Included annotation: S-501, 5/25.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1464/

img Boy holds a doll while waiting for the bus (ddr-densho-37-894)

Included annotation:G-1, Segregants leaving dining rooms for the buss [sic], Canal.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-894/