Takeharu Inouye Collection

ddr-densho-365

At the age of thirteen, Takeharu Inouye and his immediate family experienced forced relocation to the Sacramento Assembly Center (Walerga), and were subsequently moved to the Tule Lake concentration camp. They remained at Tule Lake for the duration of WWII due to their "disloyal" sentiments. Takeharu recorded his experiences at Tule Lake in three diaries, which describe his struggles with the American and Japanese schools, the difficult farm work, the emotional fallout from the Tule Lake labor strikes, and the limited recreational options available to young Japanese Americans in the camp. He provides details on the movies he watched, the effects of the weather each day, and the tension caused by escalating military presence. This bulk of this collection is composed of Takeharu Inouye's three diaries, dated from 1942-1944. Also included are four items pertaining to Takeharu Inouye's employment during and after WWII: one W.R.A. nametag, one Civil Service Commission Notice of Rating, and two War Department Notifications of Personnel Action. An envelope containing various programs and itineraries for the 1994 Tule Lake Pilgrimage accompanies photographs of Takeharu's trips to Oregon and California with his wife, Setsuko. A clipping of Takeharu Inouye's obituary in an Idaho newspaper provides a conclusion for this collection.

1942-2018

1942-1945

Densho

Courtesy of the Takeharu Inouye Collection, Densho

17 Objects

Takeharu Inouye Diary (ddr-densho-365-1)
doc Takeharu Inouye Diary (ddr-densho-365-1)
Takeharu Inouye's first diary documents his family's forced move to the Sacramento Assembly Center, followed by their move to the Tule Lake concentration camp. Since his mother, Miyoe Inouye, was a teacher, thirteen-year-old Takeharu's diary focuses on his classes in the Japanese and American schools at Tule Lake. His struggles with his schoolwork, as well as …
Takeharu Inouye Diary (ddr-densho-365-2)
doc Takeharu Inouye Diary (ddr-densho-365-2)
In the second diary he kept in the camp at Tule Lake, Takeharu Inouye recounts his struggles with education and the boredom resulting from few recreational opportunities. Though he participated in several baseball games with his classmates, Takeharu spent the majority of his free time attending the movie showings that occurred daily or weekly throughout the …
Takeharu Inouye Diary (ddr-densho-365-3)
doc Takeharu Inouye Diary (ddr-densho-365-3)
In the final diary that Takeharu Inouye kept during his internment at Tule Lake, he includes descriptions of the movies he went to see daily, which served as his primary form of recreation. Takeharu also describes his feelings over succeeding and failing in his high school classes, since his friends would cheat off of his work, …
Civil Service Commission Notice of Rating (ddr-densho-365-4)
doc Civil Service Commission Notice of Rating (ddr-densho-365-4)
Takeharu Inouye received this Notice of Rating from the United States Civil Service Commission, indicating that he was deemed eligible in his application for a position as a laborer. This was not an appointment to a position, merely a calculated rating of his writing skills and education. Takeharu hoped to find work when he moved with …
War Department Notification of Personnel Action (ddr-densho-365-5)
doc War Department Notification of Personnel Action (ddr-densho-365-5)
This Notification of Personnel Action from the War Department granted Takeharu Inouye a temporary appointment as a warehouse laborer in Ogden, Utah. Takeharu hoped to find work when he moved with his family to Utah after their internment in Tule Lake during WWII.
War Department Notification of Personnel Action (ddr-densho-365-6)
doc War Department Notification of Personnel Action (ddr-densho-365-6)
This Notification of Personnel Action from the War Department granted Takeharu Inouye a probational appointment as a warehouse laborer in Ogden, Utah. Takeharu hoped to find work when he moved with his family to Utah after their internment in Tule Lake during WWII.
Through the Windows at Tule Lake (ddr-densho-365-7)
doc Through the Windows at Tule Lake (ddr-densho-365-7)
Through the Windows at Tule Lake was an event consisting of performances and readings during the 1994 Tule Lake Pilgrimage. Performers included Barbara Muramoto, the Shizen Youth Dance Theatre, Bill Marutani, Aya Ogawa, and David Hirota. The event focused on experiences at Tule Lake across generations, including for young people interned in the camp. The program …
Tule Lake Pilgrimage (ddr-densho-365-8)
doc Tule Lake Pilgrimage (ddr-densho-365-8)
This pamphlet briefly describes the circumstances leading to the creation of the Tule Lake Relocation and Segregation Center, and follows up with a statement concerning the importance of the Tule Lake Pilgrimage in the healing process for Japanese Americans. The right-hand fold out includes an itinerary for the 1994 Tule Lake Pilgrimage.
Tule Lake Pilgrimage sign up form (ddr-densho-365-9)
doc Tule Lake Pilgrimage sign up form (ddr-densho-365-9)
This blank sign up form for the 1994 Tule Lake Pilgrimage lays out the price tiers for the trip, including handwritten notes on prices excluding the bus portion of the trip.
Kinenhi: Reflections on Tule Lake (ddr-densho-365-10)
doc Kinenhi: Reflections on Tule Lake (ddr-densho-365-10)
This advertisement with an attached order form features the book entitled Kinenhi: Reflections on Tule Lake. The book was inspired by pilgrimages to Tule Lake and features interviews with internees.

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