“Portland Assembly Center: Diary of Saku Tomita,” courtesy of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library, Saku Tomita collection, MSS 1482, translated by Zuigaku Kodachi and Jan Heikkala, edited by Janet Cormack. Reproduced in part from Oregon Historical Quarterly, Summer, 1980, 149-171.
May 5, 1942. The Evacuation Order was announced on the 28th of April. In a great hurry, we packed up all our household goods and finally, in the three days from May 2 (Saturday) to May 5, everyone in the Portland area, to Montavilla and 120th was evacuated. One-fifth of the people had left on Saturday.
We met Mrs. Hodge and Miss Gates and left at 10:30 a.m., arriving here in two separate cars. A soldier was standing guard at the entrance. It was cloudy as we made our way to the stockyard, but though the weather was not favorable, it also did not rain.
On arriving, I found the facilities better than I had expected and to my surprise, the beds and mattresses were new and comfortable. It was after two o’clock in the afternoon when the inspector came to check our luggage. The signal for mealtime was a whistle. Lunch was served in a large dinning hall and consisted of bread, jelly and coffee, with spinach, hashbrowns and pudding on the side.
To add a more “homey” atmosphere to our room, I made a shelf and hung a mirror up on the wall.
I met many people today, including Mrs. Konno, whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. The Tsutsumi family lived a room away from ours, right next to the Suzuki family. Our room was located in Section 2-B, Room Number 32. I was so happy to find that the Shimizu family was living right across from us. The Kiyomura family lived in the room on the south side of us. Across from them was the Somekawa family, and in the furthest end of the next section lived Toyomaru Saito. The Onishi family lived on this side of them.
The children are all very happy. It was an exhausting day and at 8:30 Papa took a showeer.
There was very little to eat for dinner; mashed sweet potatoes and a piece of boiled ham, with carrots and peas. After I finish writing in this diary, I am going to go to bed. Nanako and her friends are quite excited and will be up late. Lights out is at 11:00 p.m.
People frequently come by and check in on us. When I looked outside, I saw a soldier standing on top of the bank, carrying a rifle. I felt so sorry for him; I did not know who was the happier one-the guard or me.
The sound of radios could be heard from every room and, for a while, the evening was quite lively.
May 6, (5) Tuesday. Very cold in the morning, warming in the afternoon. 80 deg. at 6:00 p.m.
Nanko got up at 5:30 this morning to go to work in the pantry.
Last night, I did not get a bit of sleep because the Kurihara children next door were coughing alternatingly all night with whooping cough. I can imagine the trouble and anxiety this must cause their parents Mr. and Mrs. Kurihara, and I truly sympathize with them.
After 10:00 this morning many more newcomers arrived, including the Rev. Nakajo, and the Rev. Terakawa, the Rev. Sugimoto, the Rev. Hayashi and their families.
For breakfast there was toast, coffee, and milk for the children. Lunch consisted of cooked salmon, bean salad, canned peaches and canned corn. Dinner was coffee and bread. The knives and spoons smelt fishy.
In the evening I plugged in the radio to listen to it, but it doesn’t work until the electricity comes on at 7:00 p.m. I played off and on with Norio and Hideko.
In the evening, I decided to take a shower, but when I turned on the “cold water” knob, by some mistake I got hot water instead, and as a result, I burnt my arm. I applied medicine and some oils to my burn and wrapped it with a bandage. I went to bed before 10:00 p.m.
May 7 (Wednesday). Temperature, warm in the morning. I woke up at 6:20 a.m. Again today, Nanako left at 5:30 to work in the pantry. She works so hard.
To be brought together like this with old friends and acquaintances and also with people we never expected to meet is an unusual experience for us Japanese. I have no time to write to Miss Gates. People come to visit us one after another, and I had a talk with Mrs. Ando.
In the morning I took Norio and Hideko outside to play. I discovered that the hospital and the laundry were located at the food of the hill.
After lunch I was surprised to meet Mrs. Kitayama who told me that she arrived on Saturday.
For breakfast we had grapenuts and milk, coffee, bread and jelly, fried potatoes and sausage. There was rice pudding, string beans, navy beans, and corn beef for lunch.
Lights out at 10:30.
May 8 (Thursday). I did some laundry after lunch.
Miss Gates, Mrs. Hodge, and Mrs. Walker came to visit (2:30 p.m.). We spoke to each other from opposite sides of the fence, and they were glad to see we were all well and happy. Someone who looked like a minister from somewhere came into the wire enclosure, which struck me as unusual. A soldier stood by, watching. It was so nice of them to come to see us. The promised to do everything they could for us. Mrs. Hodge said she was leaving on the 18th to attend a conference in Pennsylvania.
May 9 (Friday). (Saturday) Chilly. Nanko got up early as usual and left for work in the kitchen. Today I talked and played with Hideko and Norio. Norio is so well liked by everyone.
This evening our dinner seat was permanently assigned to families of Mr. and Mrs. Onishi and Mr. and Mrs. Shimizu, Mrs. Onishi, and Mr. and Mrs. Oka, Mr. and Mrs. Shimizu, Mrs. Toshi Shimizu, and Mrs. Abe, Mrs. Ito, Mr. and Mrs. Saito and Mr. and Mrs. Tsutsumi. Also the Nakamuras, and other people I didn’t know.
Today we did not have any bread for lunch or for dinner either. I did not have enough to eat. I did not take a shower tonight because apparently it’s not good for my burn.
I heard that in the south section, Mrs. Sasaki’s handbag was stolen with $35 in it. A suitcase was secretly taken from a room somewhere, too. Which reminds me, a bundle of ten to fifteen hangers that was in our room had disappeared….This evening we all had a talk with Mr. Oba in Mrs. Shimizu’s room.
I can not sleep well because of the children coughing noisily in the next room with their whooping cough.
May 10 (Saturday). Temperature 59 deg. (1:30 p.m.). The sound of rain in the morning. It is so very cold because we do not have any heaters.
Now that the seats have been assigned, we are able to eat in more peace.
I had a long chat with Mrs. Toyomaru Saito, and babysat Norio. For lunch we had one piece of bread, lima beans, parsnips, cabbage salad, one sausage and hot tea.
I received a Morther’s Day letter from Harry Sakata. he wrote that he will be moving to Newark (?) this afternoon.
May 10. Mother’s Day. Today was our first Sunday service. It is also Mother’s day, so many people were wearing flowers which were given to them by their daughters. Nanako gave me a violet plant. She is a very bright girl.
There was a missionary sermon from eight to nine o’clock this evening.
May 11 (Monday). Clear. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. more people arrived from Gresham, Troutdale and Milwaukie. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Teruzaki and also Mr. and Mrs. Tanabe.
There is so very little to eat.
May 12 (Tuesday). Clear. Today, like yesterday, many new people arrived and with all the newcomers, this place has suddenly become quite lively. Chiyo and her family arrived too.
At 11:30 a.m., we all took the typhoid vaccination test. Three hours after taking the test, some people showing a reaction. The test upset Mrs. Shimizu’s stomach, causing her to vomit.
May 17 (Sunday). Clear. After 6 o’clock in the evening, we practiced our fire drill.
A beautiful Sunday. Last night there was a dance. I saw a little bit of it, but it was boring. Once I begin to worry about Nanako, there’s just no end.
The whole day was just beautiful; so pleasant to play out in the sun with Hideko.
May 18 (Monday). Cloudy. We had pancakes, mush and coffee for breakfast. Nanako had the day of from work. Mrs. Ochaia, Mrs. Funatake, and Mrs. Arai are working.
Kindergarten class began today at 9:30 a.m. English class began, too. The English class is divided into three levels; the beginning class is taught by Mr. Namba; the intermediate class by Mr. Tanbara; and Mr. Okajima teaches the advanced level.
The first hour was spent on the spoken language-mostly basic conversation-which involves very little writing. I was told by Mr. Okajima that Mr. Namba taught primarily grammar, and that is too difficult for beginners. We talked with three Kibei Nisei.
In the afternoon I went to visit the Hiratas in their room.
May 18 (20) (Wednesday). Cloudy and rainy. Beginning at two o’clock this afternoon more evacuees arrived from Gaston and five other counties. We had our second typhoid vaccination shot after one o’clock.
The Kinjo (Sato) family came, and Mrs. Kinjo arrived safely carrying her baby, Allen Morris. I couldn’t bear to see her standing and waiting so long in line, so I asked the officer if he couold make an exception so she could get a mattress before her turn. That was all OK, but then while I was helping I began to feel feverish. She had mad a lot of sushi and shared it with all of us.
I got a terrible case of diarrhea tonight and was in an awful mess. Papa left to work as a “night guard” from 6 p.m. until 12 a.m.
I donated some money to a fund drive.
Some candy and cigarettes arrived from Longview. The Monday, Wednesday, and Friday English class was changed to just Monday and Friday.
(On) Tuesday, May 17, evening, the wedding ceremony of Milton Maeda and Mariko Kageyama was held at Section 6. The audience was so rude, it was very disturbing.
May 22. Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Maeda brought their son’s new bride around and introduced her to everyone.
Five people became sick today. This evening, 15 people left for Eastern Oregon. The newspaper arrived.
May 23. Papa finished taking care of the social security procedures.
Mr. Maeda had such severe throat congestion that he was unable to speak. He got some soda and tried gargling. On the way to the laundry I stopped by the doctor’s office and got him some medicine. Now he can speak a little, but he’s begun to cough.
I bought some crackers and raisins from Mr. (Mrs.?) Nagasawa.
This evening Nanako was invited to May Abe’s birthday party. We had a fire drill at 8:00 tonight. Right after that, a discussion about girls’ education was held in Section 6.
I received a letter from Mrs. Suda saying that they were moved to a place called Tanforan. She said that there were more than ten thousand evacuees there and that Toyo and Reverend Gato were among them.
There was a rumor that someone had a thousand dollars stolen.
Papa had the night off from work.
The Imais were among the people evacuated to Tule Lake.
May 26. At 8:00 this evening, some 70 families left for Tule Lake by train from behind the center. There was a lecture on anti-air raid information.
May 27. After taking a shower this morning for the first time in a week, I was in the boiler room chatting as I warmed up when suddenly there was a shooting incident in which a watchman shot the white cook in the stomach. He was taken to the city hospital accompanied by Dr. Shiomi.
We had more typhoid vaccinations all day long. This was the third one for me. During lunch, Yoriko suddenly started shivering incesantly. I gave her a hot water bottle and covered her with many futon (quilts) and tried to hold her still. She recovered in thirty minutes. Two people fainted and there were many who developed fevers, but nausea was the most common reaction.
Some people left for the sugar beet farm in Ontario, Oregon this evening at 7:30. The Fukuhira Saito family left with them.
This evening a children’s movie was shown at 8:00 and a movie for the adults from 9:15.
Mrs. Uesugi told me that my son, Hideto will be coming to this assembly center soon.
May 29. I was able to sleep very soundly last night. Our English class began at 9:30 this morning. Mr. Nakashima lectured on the “Nation.”
Toyomaru Satio was troubled by a toothache.
According o the rumor, more than six inches of snow fell at Tule Lake. They say that there isn’t any electricity and hardly any provisions there.
I sent a letter to Mrs. Suda.
(note in margin) For English, lesson on proper nouns. June 8. For History, American Indian period. European state of affairs, and the discovery of America (Mr. Nakajo, June 9). Oregon history, the Salem government office and administration (Matsui).
June 5. Fine weather. This morning, before six o’clock, five hundred people arrived from Yakima, Wapato, and Kennewick, filling ten train cars. We went out to the rear yard to meet them. The atmosphere became quite lively. They say that the other half of the group will arrive tomorrow. I felt sorry for the people who were placed in the bottom of the [sakkake].
The young people in their broad cowboy hats are already quite popular.
June 6 (Saturday). Hot. The second half of the group form Yakima arrived at 7:30 this morning. Papa went to help as a night guard. Everyone was beautifully tanned by the sun. Such a boisterous crowd! The sound of everyone’s footsteps, young and old, was like a great flood.
The departure for the Ontario farm is tomorrow night.
June 7 (Sunday). Chiyo is very worried because Ben [her son] insists on going to the Ontario farm. At 7:00 p.m., a group of 99 people left. There were many young men around the age of twenty in good spirits on the train.
Mr. Hara will be on duty in the office from now on.
June 9 (Tuesday). Cloudy and rainy. 57 deg. (at 3:00 p.m.).
There were some activities this evening. We saw a movie called “Charley’s Aunt” and Geroge Nakashima talked about India.
June 10 (Wednesday). Rain shower. This continuous cold weather is really bothering me. My cold has not gotten any better.
There were more vaccinations but we didn’t take them. Nanako left for work early this morning. The newspaper reported that Japan had announced the destruction of Dutch Harbor and the occupation of Midway Islands.
We heard that an American tanker was sunk at sea near Seattle and we were not allowed to leave our rooms after 8:45 p.m. this evening. There was no English class. Women and children, and those without jobs were asked to take their showers before 4:00 p.m.
June 12 (Friday). Fair. Cool. This morning in our English class Mr. Nakashima lectured on the American system. The weather is extremely nice.
I received a letter from Sachiko [Yukiko?] Saito in Longview. This evening I did some laundry with Mrs. Airaku, and Mrs. Aima.
June 13 (Saturday). Fair. It became quite hot today. Papa’s night job is really taking its toll on me. Maxim and Mrs. Oliver came to see Hideto.
The last group of fifty people left for Ontario at 7:30 p.m. Among them were Mr. Moteki, Mrs. Sato, Mr. Airaku and other people from Yakima. George Takeoka went, too.
In order not to disturb Papa’s nap, I have to stay out of the room because if I don’t my friends will be over to talk, and then he can’t get any sleep. I stay out of the room all day long, and it’s so uncomfortable I can hardly stand it. I was just barely able to stay up all day long today.
This evening there was a dance party for the older children. It was over by 10:00 p.m. Every night someone brings around a chart to note the number of people. It must be a tiresome job.
My cold has gotten much better, but my chest is still very painful.
June 14 (Sunday). Light rain. I could not sleep well again last night. I got up before 6:00 this morning. Papa hurt his hip and he thinks that his little toe is causing the problem.
June 23 (Tuesday). Partly clear. At 8:30 this morning 130 people returned from two weeks at the sugar beet farm in Ontario. Rev. Terakawa and everyone were very tanned from the sun. They all said it was much better than they’d expected. George Takeoka returned with them, but Kaye has not come back yet. Grant Inuzuka said that he will go back there again.
At 2:00, I spoke in the speech contest as I promised I would day before yesterday. The topic of my speech was “The Assembly Center Mother.” Mrs. Usuda’s speech was on “The Assembly Center and People’s Personality,” and Mrs. Gukuda from Yakima spoke on “How I Interpret the Nisei in my Emboridery.”
June 24. Rain. Cold. Mrs. Tanida came to chat with me and told me that my speech yesterday was very good. I received a letter from Mrs. Nakao.
June 26 (Friday). Friday. Rather cold. I did not go to the English class this morning, but babysat baby Allen instead. I am progressing in my knitting. This afternoon I received a letter from Mrs. Tsuji.
I went to do some laundry this afternoon, but because there was no hot water, it did not work very well. I went back after washing only two shirts and three sweaters.
The children’s playground is gradually taking shape. Four seesaws have been made, and the children were playing enthusiastically on them. Apparently Mrs. Tanida was looking after them.
There was a prayer meeting this evening. I understand that the children’s school is in the room next door to some people from Yakima. We were asked to pray for Mrs. Honda from Yakima who is hospitalized with an illness. I heard that Mrs. Nakajo safely gave birth to a baby boy. Rev. Nakajo gave a lecture tonight and there was also some entertainment in Section 6, but I did not go.
From tonight, a placard with our name and number on it will be posted out front on the door. There was an order that we were not to leave our rooms after 9:30 this evening. Everyone was surprised because most people want to use the bathrooms after lights out at 10:00.
June 27 (Saturday). Cloudy and warm.
June 30 (Tuesday). Warm and fair. The temperature suddenly rose to 96 deg. I did some knitting under the shade of a tree near the baseball field.
July 1 (Wednesday). Extremely hot. The temperature outside has grown so hot…
July 9 (Thursday). A bit cooler. We began song rehearsals yesterday. I didn’t attend the prayer meeting, but just got my ticket to the upcoming party. The dance rehearsal was in the hall outside Section 2.
July 13 (Monday). Clear-pleasant weather. Akira Shimura’s funeral was at 2:00 today. Papa was the only one who attended from our family. Akira died from complications from the measles. He was just a little over six years old.
I did some ironing. I didn’t know that there was a song rehearsal tonight. At 7:30 p.m. there was a song rehearsal accompanied by a band at the [sakkake].
July 14. Nanako’s birthday. Partly clear; misty. Mrs. Kinjo Sato gave Nanako a white bathrobe for her birthday. The shoes that I ordered for her were too small, so I’ll have to exchange them. Edward Usugi gave a plant to Nanako. The flowers, placed in the bowl, are so pretty.
At 10 o’clock this morning we had a dress rehearsal for our singing and dancing performance. The performance was at 8 o’clock tonight. We used the carpenters’ room for the dressing room. The women were all so enthusiastic. The singing group consisted of two people from Yakima, two people from Gresham, three people from Montavilla and two from Portland. Because there were so many Kibei songs, we sang only “Nozaki Mairi.”
July 16. Three days of cloudy weather. Rain. Drizzle. The lonely days continue. I feel so exhausted and weak. The after affects of all that singing were swift. I have done nothing for days on end.
Mr. Oliver came to tell Hideto that he had found a financial sponsor to help him to continue his college education. I was surprised to receive a beautiful and delicious cake and pie from Miss Lansfield. We heard that Mitsue was sick in bed with a cold. I wrote a letter to Miss Gates and asked Mrs. Haynes to deliver it for me.
August 17 (Monday). Clear and warm. I am gradually recovering from the operation I had on August 11. I was surprised to hear that Hideto suddenly had his tonsils taken out on August 16 without consent. He is still in the hospital today but should be out tomorrow.
Miss Gates came to see me, and Nanako met with her. She has worried so much about me.
This evening when I was outside. Mrs. Arai told me about Miss Gates’ kind thoughtfulness. Nanako did some of the laundry.
Today I borrowed $100 from Mrs. Kinjo Sato to use for Hideto’s college expenses.
We received letters from May Abe, Hisako Tomita and others on August 16. There was no mail today. Last night was awfully chilly, and I felt quite cold.
An art class has begun and Mrs. Iwata is attending.
Five or six days ago there was an announcement on the news of the evacuation of Idaho. However, although there has been no official order from the military, I hear that people from the Puyallup Assembly Center have already been sending letters from the relocation center.
At this point, Mrs. Tomita discontinued her diary notes. In the early part of September 1942 she and her family were sent with other Japanese to the relocation center at Minidoka, Idaho, where they spent four years. The Tomitas returned to Portland after their release in 1946.
