Manzanar, Calif.

June 19, 1943

Dear Joe,

Yesterday we received your letter and was very happy to hear that you are getting along well and the job is okay but if that thing doesn't come from washington we think you had be looking for another job but don't worry about it tooooooooooo much because there are plenty of jobs that are open for you. Towru will tell you all about the ideas of relocating.

Lastnight we went to the show to see "swing it soldier" and it was lousy and besides that, that film or camera is a 16 millimeter and it is bad on the eyes and it is hard to see it from a distance. You can really wreck your eyes.

We got a letter from the Boulton's and it was quite nice to hear from them, after we did not hear from them every since you had left. They told us all about the busy times they were at, like the victory gardens and farm. They told us that Mr. Allfoulter had something wrong with his lung and that was pretty surprising to us. But it's a good thing that the affoulters are taking good care of our place as the Boulton's said in their letter.

We also got a letter from the Clavelot's and Mrs. Clavelot is getting better and is feeling much better. They said that the old guys living in our old house are raising lots of good crops and it seems that they are making a big profit on the fresh vegetables. The lot between the varin's old place and the courts is just filled with weeds two feet high and the lots around there are all that way and they said that there was nobody there to clean up the vacant lots.

The weather has been quite warmout here and the full moon has been out three nights in a row and it sure is beautiful. The heat isn't so bad as its going to be in the summer time.

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Gee, it's that dust again and boy if it is going to blow I could ring the neck of the weather mans. It's a slight breeze so I guess it isn't going to blow after all. How is the weather out there? The sun has been going down pretty late every day and can you guess what time it goes down?????? Well, I better tell you. The sun goes down at 8:30 and still at that it isn't dark till 8:45. That shows really start at 9:00 and many of the people are waiting from 7:00pm.

Towru and I bought a new pair of shoes with our shoe ration tickets. My shoes are a little too big for me but I'm going to save them about till a long time. We are trying to save our shoes by repairing them. Right now mom is going to take my shoes to the shoe shop and they are three easters old. Can you imagine us being so thrifty?

Tonight is the senior prom and my gosh Towru is very happy about the whole situation. It is going to be in our mess hall and the senior colors are powder blue and white. The mess hall is decorated with the two colors.

The other day there was a dance practice at school for the a9's but I don't care to dance anymore so I didn't go but they said it was good. We have a publicity chairman and that's yasuko kitagawa and I think shes good for that job. That stuff she writes is going to go in the school paper and it will be the first time the a9's will get some publicity in the school paper. The name of the school paper is the campus pepper and boy it's the worst paper I've read yet. All its about is the seniors and that's pretty stale. (Dances only) Catch?

This is just a short letter that I am writing to let you know we still are writing as usual.

I got letters from pals of mine and they tell me all about the a9 party and what nots. Boy am I really missing something.

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Here's the mail man. Gee, it's a letter from you. Gee I'm happy. Oh! It's a card For papa. Thank you so much. Papa will be so happy to think and know that you are always thinking of him by sending the nice card. Thankyou very much and also the one you sent mama on mothers day. Gee, what is you becoming? Oya no koko mono eh?

Well, I guess I better answer all of your questions first. Yes WE'll tell Mac thank you for your letter. There aren't any more things to be answered but you have answered many of the questions which I have asked in this letter.

Gee, it must be a lot of trouble to buy all of these and those kinds of foods. We don't know any thing about the ration points so we cant under stand the parts of shopping you have to go into. But the way you go up to these things it must be darn hard on you. Wow, gee the fish is really high isn't it? Boy money must really be spent wisely about the food situation. Well, don't be too sad about it but do the best you can. Gee, you sure come home late from work don't you? Are't you tired when you reach home? Is your job a night shift? Why don't you come home earlier than 1:am? That chinese stuff can be ignored so I wouldn't be bothered about it too much and besides they are queer things.

Gee, there must be quite a lot of people in Chicago that are Japanese huh? Do you have a lot of visitors come to your place? Is your place something like the fraturnity house they had on the corner of purdue and nebraska? You never did descride it so detail like so I got inquisitive.

Here's Mama and shes got Ice cream for me and boy am I lucky. Every time it comes in theres a mad rush and it is all gone by the time you get there. Yum, yum its really good and its really rare for a person here in camp to even to see it.

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Gee, sweets are the most delicious things that are'nt ever seen and this week its been like paradise to get a taste of gum.

I'm running out of words and things to say so I'll tell you some corny moron jokes again.

Why was the moron standing on the corner with a loaf of bread?
He was waiting for the traffic jam.

Why did the moron cut off his fingers?
He wanted to write shorthand.

Why did the moron sew his fingers back on?
He wanted to wear gloves.

Why didn't the moron open the screen door?
He didn't want to strain himself.

Why did the moron cut his arms off?
He wanted to wear a short sleeve sweater.

Before it gets stale I better close this letter.

Thank you again for the postcard and the nice fathers day card.

Good Bye

Your only sister,

Masako

P.S. Don't forget to keep writing.

Mama gives all of her love and papa gives all of his love.

Gee, we had to put the wash in because the old dust came again.

Wow, 157 lbs. is a lot of pounds. (Keep it up boysan.)

Kimiko Takenaka is getting married. Isn't that nice?