14-12-4
Manzanar, Calif.

March 20, 1943

Dear Joe,

Well, here it is my usual friday spending an hour or so with you. We have not had any news regarding moving or draft lately. There is a rumor going around that the Army officials voted on whether nisei should be drafted and voted against it. How true this is I don't know, but many issei parents are hoping it is true so they won't have their sons taken away from them. We are all in good physical condition and please don't send the candy or confections. "Moscow" probably asked you for this, but mama, papa and I feel that we have asked enough of you so please don't send them. I'm sure glad you found a soldering iron. I was kind of giving up hope because guys back home tell me you can't get any kind of an iron. We sent you up a sum of $30. at which I hope you received and keep you going for a

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while. I'll send some dough later on. That extra extension cord will come in handy too. George Izumi, Charly and Karl Nakamura went beet working in Idaho and were presented a farewell party. I furnished the music and mike and made $1.10. You may think this rather cheap, but considering Manzanar, its okay. I'm going to have a $2.00 job pretty soon and if the jobs keep up steady, I might have a sizeable income. Mr. Wetzel has sent all the junk he was keeping for me, so I'm pretty well equipted now. You know, most of the guayule guys are going out for better jobs now so they want to train some high school guys for the jobs. They will be paid and work done during spare time. I saw Dr. Nozaki and applied the job but I don't know if I'll get it or not because there were quite a few guys ahead of me. They will probably give us a test or something and the guy who comes out the best gets the job. I hope I get it though, cause it will not interfere with school and I can get a lot of lab in which I didn't get in high school.

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The days are much longer out here now. The sun comes up about 7:15 AM and sets about 6:30 P.M. We can full around the basketball court for about a hour and half now. It seems just like summer. The girls usually playing volly ball, while the boys play basketball, horseshoes, and the acting bar. The recreation hall is no longer a art center and every one can play ping-pong now which adds a lot of fun. Tomorrow they are going to celebrate the first aniversery of Manzanar and the stage is set up right along side of 14-15. I think most of the program is "shibai" stuff so I don't think I'll go. Boy, the barbers in Chicago must make quite a bit of dough at 75cents/cut. I bet it seems kind of silly when you think that papa use to give you a haircut for nothing. And man! Those cords have sure gone up! I use to get those things for 35¢ each. Heres one, in Manzanar, the guys use too much toilet paper so now they are rationing it. Do you remember how the residents of Blk # 14

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use to crowd those toilets in the morning? Well, if you want to now there are always four or five seats open, which shows that it has taken a real effect on people. Seems kind of funny though, sometimes you forget your toilet paper and have to run home and get some. You are sure getting some swell grades up there; keep up the good work. I got the highest grade in the physics class in a "toughie" test. What makes me really feel good, is the fact that I was only in that class two days before the test because of program change. The teacher praised me for it, but he didn't know I fulled around with radio. Incidently, have you received your blankets yet? We sent them about two months ago so if they haven't reached yet, something is wrong. Well Joe, space as well as time is growing short, so I guess I'll be signing off. Keep in good health and don't study too much.

Your Loving brother,

Towru Nagano.

P.S I am enclosing a free press which you might be interested in.