Living conditions

All of the camps were constructed according to the War Department's specifications, which included barbed-wire fences, guard towers, and armed guards around the perimeter. The camps were organized in "blocks" consisting of twelve to fourteen barracks, a mess hall, communal showers and toilets, laundry facilities, and a recreation hall. Each barracks was divided into four or six rooms with each room housing one family, no matter how large, and there was no running water. The furnishings that Japanese Americans found on their arrival were canvas cots, a potbellied stove, and a single bare light bulb. The thin walls offered little protection from the harsh weather, which ranged from 110 degrees in the summer to 25 degrees below zero on winter nights. The flimsy construction allowed no privacy and made normal family life difficult. Camp inmates improved their own living conditions by creating interior walls and partitions, constructing furniture from scrap lumber, and planting gardens.

World War II (277)
Concentration camps (1771)
Living conditions (1870)

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1870 items

vh Constance Yamashiro Interview Segment 2 (ddr-chi-1-18-2)

Childhood memories of camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-chi-1-18-2/

vh Kenneth Narahara Interview Segment 5 (ddr-ajah-1-2-5)

The train ride to Topaz and first impressions of camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-1-2-5/

vh Judy Furuichi Interview Segment 7 (ddr-ajah-1-8-7)

Hearing family's stories about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Topaz concentration camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-1-8-7/

vh Kiyoko Masuda Interview Segment 3 (ddr-ajah-1-1-3)

Family's camp experience

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-1-1-3/

vh Jun Dairiki Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1021-6-6)

Memories of life in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1021-6-6/

vh Nori Masuda Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1010-10-17)

Coping with living conditions 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-densho-1010-10-17/

vh Mitsue Matsui Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1008-3-12)

Living conditions in Topaz concentration camp: lacking privacy

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-1008-3-12/

vh Nancy Iwami Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1015-5-15)

First impressions of Poston concentration camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1015-5-15/

vh Chiyoko Yagi Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1015-1-14)

Arrival at Poston concentration camp: "it was very barren"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1015-1-14/

vh Chiyoko Yagi Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1015-1-15)

The differences between Poston camps 1, 2 and 3

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1015-1-15/

vh Fred Oda Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1015-9-19)

Moving to the Poston concentration camp; coping with difficult conditions

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1015-9-19/

vh Helen Tanigawa Tsuchiya Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1014-2-10)

Difficult living conditions in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1014-2-10/

vh Lucy Kirihara Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1014-18-10)

First impressions of Minidoka

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1014-18-10/

vh Grace F. Oshita Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1013-4-11)

Conditions in Topaz: dust, barracks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-4-11/

vh Ted Nagata Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1013-3-6)

First impressions of Topaz concentration camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-3-6/

vh Bob Utsumi Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1013-8-12)

First impressions of the Topaz concentration camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-8-12/

vh Norman I. Hirose Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1013-7-18)

Description of camp layout

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-7-18/

vh Norman I. Hirose Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1013-7-17)

Arrival at Topaz: "it's just all flat"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-7-17/

vh Helen Harano Christ Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1013-6-12)

Dealing with a dust storm on first day in Topaz

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1013-6-12/

vh Chizuko Iyama - Ernie Iyama Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1012-5-7)

Passing time in camp, making furniture out of scrap lumber (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 conclusions or …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1012-5-7/

vh Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview I Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1005-1-1)

Snowy conditions in camp

Eiichi Edward Sakauye shot footage of the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming, from 1943-1945, on 8 mm film. This interview is of Mr. Sakauye providing voice-over descriptions for his original footage.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1005-1-1/

vh Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview I Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1005-1-5)

Daily activities in camp: lessons, USO, community store

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1005-1-5/