Pages appear to be misnumbered. There is no page 2.
Camp Harmony News-Letter
Vol. 1 No. 7 — Puyallup, Wash. — June 17, 1942
Page 1
PACT BARS ISSEI FROM WAR WORK
Enemy aliens cannot be conscripted for work in the war industries due to certain provisions of the Geneva conference and due to this legal technicality issei residents of Manzanar are ineligible for employment at Manzanar’s camouflage netting plants which began production last week.
The Manzanar Free Press, in an editorial in its June 6 issue, expressed hope that “this legal technicality can be surmounted because we do not think the conscription of non-citizens who are loyal and faithful…..would violate the spirit of the Geneva conference.”
The Geneva provision immobilizes approximately one-third of the available man power of the Manzanar community, the Free Press stated.
Meanwhile, more than 400 citizens of both sexes 16 years of age and older have been recruited for garnishing of camouflage netting.
The Free Press asserted that production would be accelerated if the Geneva provisions were waived because many of the Manzanar residents have been fisher folk.
LANDSLIDE MAJORITY VOTES TO RETAIN JAPANESE STAFF…
Camp Harmony residents gave a landslide vote of approval to the incumbent Japanese administration staff through the plebiscite held last night and indicated thereby they were willing to leave the working of the camp in the hands of present headquarters and area administrators.
Returns tabulated this morning showed that out of 5,545 persons who voted 4,064 indicated their desire to retain the present set-up while 1,119 were against the retention. Three hundred and sixty two persons did not vote.
RESULTS OF PLEBISCITE
Area Yes No Not Voting
—- — — ———-
A 1272 551 245
B 719 146 13
C 595 19 20
D 1478 403 86*
_______________________
———————–
4064 1119 362*
*plus 46 unaccounted for.
Balloting was restricted to those over 16 years of age.
“The vote of confidence given us by residents of Camp Harmony will pave the way toward a smoother functioning at our relocation centers. Camp Harmony is merely a stop at the wayside but the experience here will go a long way toward unity, mutual cooperation and harmony at our future community,” James Sakamoto, Chief Supervisor of the Japanese headquarters staff declared.
The vote of confidence was held to determine whether or not numerous criticisms ostensibly directed against the Japanese camp staff had any basis in fact. The plebiscite was held with the approval of WCCA headquarters.
At area meetings held prior to the distribution of the ballots a few questions were raised asking why no differentiation was made between area Japanese staffs headed by the respective area directors and the headquarters staff
cont’d on pg. 2
This Week’s Angels
As far as we’re concerned, the angels in camp who have the biggest wings and wear the most luminous halos are the men who man the kitchens. The evacuated life may be a picnic to some of us; to the valiants who sweat that we may eat and live, it’s everything but. And so this week’s lollipop is extra big, and all of it goes to the cooks. If the grub ain’t like it used to be back home, you can’t blame the hash artists. the age of miracles never was.
MAKI TO WASH D.C.
Jack Maki, former instructor of Japanese at the U. of W. and chief information supervisor at Camp Harmony, left last Sunday night for Washington D.C. for a position with the Federal Communications Commission. He is accompanied by his wife.
“HE KEPT THEIR TOES DRY!”
Seven hundred men, women and children are today keeping their toes dry in the shower rooms of Area “A,” because Toyonosuke Fujikado is an artisan of the old school.
When the rains came to Area “A” the laments were many and long. People came into the showers in every-day shoes heavy with the mud of the streets. To come out from a shower with clean, dry feet, you needed wings.
So a few ingenious souls set about hewing “getas” out of spare pieces of lumber to solve the problem for themselves. The question, “What is needed to keep the feet dry?” was now answered. But the question, can we all make good “getas” remained unanswered. Many secured the wood and the tools and went to work — only to trip and curse on their maiden voyages to the showers.
Making “getas,” it turned out, was not just anybody’s job. Anybody can make a pair, yes. But to make a pair which would not endanger life and limb, one needed skill and art and the love of good craftsmanship. And that’s where Toyonosuke Fujikado came into glory.
(continued on page 2)
Page 3 (actually page 2)
YANAGITA, HIGURASHI FIRST TO WED, “A”
Area A’s first wedding ceremony took place Tuesday afternoon as Miss Fumiko Higurashi, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Higurashi of South Park, and Mr. Mitsuyuki Yanagita, son of Mr. and Mrs. Yanagita of Tokyo, Japan, repeated their nuptial vows before the Rev. G. Shoji.
The newly-weds are now occupying a “honeymoon haven” somewhere along Tenth Avenue.
Attending the bride was Miss Sumi Itami of Fife. Best man was Mr. George Inouye of Seattle, while the flower girl was Tatsuko Noritake of South Park.
After the ceremony a brief reception was held with ice cream among the items served. More than 200 were present.
Baishakunin were Mr. and Mrs. M. Uyegaki.
BALLOTS COUNTED
(cont’d from pg. 1)
headed by Sakamoto.
It was pointed out that area staffs were a unit of the headquarters staff.
Voters were asked merely to indicate “yes” or “not” in reply to the query “please signify whether or not you have confidence in the present Japanese Administration.” Ballots were in Japanese as well as English.
As a result of the outcome of the voting the present staff will carry on until such time that the Camp is moved to a relocation center. It was not indicated whether the administration would continue at the relocation center. In all likelihood, however, indications pointed to the dispersal of the Camp Harmony staff at the relocation center.
AMABE’S ALL-BOY REVUE STAGES FIRST SHOW IN “D”
Beefo Amabe’s all-boy ‘haba-haba’ chorus and burlesque show staged its first nighter before a capacity audience in D Monday. Beefo’s muscle-bound version of Minsky’s featured eleven acts of clothed and unclothed talent.
Four star acts in the show were Hiro Nishimoto’s tenor rendition of “My Buddy”; News commentary by Po-po Yorozu, Kenji Okuda, and Henry Gosho; evacuee shibai by Kenji Okuda, Mike Hagiwara, and Henry Gosho.
The strip tease and can-can chorus artistically displayed the ‘bawdy’ beautiful to the balded headed row, and according to M.C. Beefo Amabe, 69 cents worth of coins were thrown on the stage accompanied by cries of, “Take ’em off!”
Koichi Hayashi’s Harmonaires finished the show with Gay Gyser’s Kindergarten of Musical Knowledge.
Members of the production include Pete Fujino, Mud Tsuchikawa, Junks Kurose, Terry Kurimura, Sab Ogishima, George Ishihara, Henry Yorozu, Hank Obata, Mich Shimomura, Mike Hagiwara, Hiro Nishimoto, Tats Ariyasu, Tats Uehara, Dyke Miyagawa, and the Harmonaires. Joanne Oyabe, Atsuko Yano, and Aki Fujino handled the wardrobe and makeup.
The next showing of the Beefo burlesque is scheduled for Area A. The show is waiting for favorable weather so it can be staged in the area’s outdoor theater.
AREA DISPATCHES
AREA A NEWS
Over 500 books are now available to the residents of Area A as Camp Harmony’s branch library opened its door Tuesday. Located next to the canteen, the library is headed by Martha Higeshida. Her assistants are Amy Matsusaka, Jane Mayeda, Bernadette Kamihachic, George Arakawa and Akira Kikuchi.
—–
AREA B NEWS
As a third wedding anniversary token, the area work crew delivered a large load of wood to the doorstep of Mr. and Mrs. Minoru Masuda, but discovered afterwards that it wasn’t the wood anniversary….Under Emi Kamachi, the area library opened its door recently
—–
AREA C NEWS
With the hopes of filling up the youngster’s idle moments, a boy scout movement has been instituted under Mamoru Takashima….along the entertainment line two movies were shown last week.
—–
AREA D NEWS
Activity hour for boys will start this week under Dr. Robert Higashida. They will be taught wrestling, ping pong, carpentry and first aid….a choir party was held last night following their practice. Mariye Morimoto, Hisako Takahashi and Momoye Tada handled the refreshment.
MAKES “GETAS”
(cont’d from pg. 1)
Fujikado was one of the few who had solved the problem for themselves, and solved it successfully. Heeding the pleas of others who had not, he converted part of his room at A-5-36 into a workshop.
We joined a group of fellow Fujikado fans the other day, and watched the great man at his work.
We watched and asked questions and marvelled. He had, he answered, made 700 pairs of “getas” of all sizes and shape and height and people were asking for form. He does not charge for his work. The artisan is surviving the machine age. — D.M.
The Camp Harmony
NEWS * LETTER
Editor…………………Dick Takeuchi
Managing Editor…………Dyke Miyagawa
Ass’t. Managing Editor…..Taka Oka
Sports Editor…………..Kenji Tani
Copy Editor…………….Makiko Takahashi
Reporters………………Ruth Yoshimoto, Gertrude Takayama, Mistuko Yagi, Hanako Okamoto
Circulation Manager……..Daiki Miyagawa
Art Editor……………..Keith Oka
Mimeographers…………..George Minato
Page 4
Sports
INTER-AREA SOFTBALL SLATED
Inter-area sports competition, a subject which has been brewing for the past week or so, will blossom out into a thing of reality.
For as soon as weather permits, a picked softball squad from Area B will invade Area A to play a double header. Led by Area Athletic Officer Tomeo Takayoshi the B team includes the following:
T. Kurimoto, H. Kiga, M. Hayashi, Y. Tsuji, W. Yanagimachi, W. Ihashi, T. Osaka, S. Takeuchi, M. Ozaki, Ed Kiyohara, A. Aratani, B. Kinoshita, G. Kimura, Y. Sagami, S. Sagami, P. Kozu, J. Asahara, K. Okada, M. Uchida, and S. Ogasawara, H. Nishimura, S. Hokari, J. Tachiyama, and T. Takayoshi.
If this inter-area experiment proves successful others may follow, Chick Uno, camp athletic officer announced yesterday. Thus far, softball, judo, basketball and boxing have been OK’d by WCCA officials as approved inter-area sports.
“A” SOFTBALL STANDING
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
W. L. W. L. W. L.
Sec. 5… 2 1 Sec. 6… 2 0 Sec. 3/4… 4 2
Sec. 3… 1 1 Sec. 2… 1 0* Sec. 6….. 3 2
Sec. 2… 1 1 Sec. 1… 1 1 Sec. 1….. 3 3
Sec. 6… 1 1 Sec. 4… 1 1 Sec. 2….. 3 3
Sec. 4… 0 1* Sec. 3… 1 1 Sec. 5….. 1 4
Sec. 1… 0 1* Sec. 5… 0 2*
No games played Results Results
last week. Saturday, June 13 Friday, June 12
Sec. 3…5 Sec. 2 won over Sec. 6
Sec. 5…3 Sec. 3/4…4 Sec. 5…2
Sec. 1 vs. Sec. 2 (post-
poned)
Saturday, June 13
Sec. 2…5 Sec. 1…2
Sec. 6…4 Sec. 1…3
Sec. 3/4.9 Sec. 2…8
SECTION 3 WINS!!!
Unleashing a three run barrage in the sixth frame, Section 3 edged out Section 5 5-3 in the only Class B tilt played in Area A last week.
Going into the sixth inning, Section 3 was trailing 2-3 but hits by Kiyomizu, Kaz Kubo, Jackson Sonoda and Tanemura promptly dispatched the three runs across the platter.
R. H.
Sec. 5…..111 000 0-3 5
Sec. 3…..002 003 X-5 8
Hayakawa and S. Noritake;
G. Kubo and K. Kubo
“LICHTY” COMING
Known to thousands simply as “Lichty,” Broadway High School’s popular Physical Education mentor, Raleigh Lichtenberger will visit Camp Harmony Friday, it was announced today by the camp’s Athletic Officer Chick Uno.
YOSHIDA PACES “A” SOFTBALL ARTISTS!
A quartet of Section 4 sluggers leads the Area A, Class A softball batting parade after three weeks of play have seen only six games played in the circuit.
Pacing the quartet is catcher Johnny Yoshida with .500 followed by first sacker Johnny Kawaguchi, pitcher Mits Kashiwagi and outfielder M. Nakamura.
Following are the averages of those who are batting .250 or over in two games: (Note: the 5-5 tie played between Sec. 1 and Sec. 4 is not counted in the batting averages as the game is to be played over.)
Ab. h. r. Pct.
J. Yoshida(2)….4 2 0 .500
J. Kawaguchi(2)..7 3 1 .429
M. Kashiwagi(2)..5 2 1 .400
M. Nakamura(2)…5 2 0 .400
G. Fukano(3)…..6 2 1 .333
J. Inouye(3)…..6 2 1 .333
K. Yasuda(5)…..6 2 0 .333
F. Fukano(3)…..7 2 0 .286
M. Okazaki(5)….7 2 1 .286
F. Kanemori(5)…7 2 1 .286
K. Suguro(5)…..7 2 0 .286
G. Hayakawa(5)…8 2 2 .250
“B” HORSESHOE CHAMPS
By winning four matches out of six, Sam Hokari and Frank Yamashita were recently crowned Area B’s Horse-shoe titlists. The winning duo gained the diadem by eliminating the Mako Yanagimachi-Henry Kiga and Taxi Kurimoto-Dick Momoda doubles teams.
Akagi Cops Title
Slashing across a field of 22 paddle-wielders, 14 year olds Jimmy Akagi drubbed Jiro Yoshitake in last week’s finals to become Area A’s Class C ping pong champ. The scores were 22-20, 21-19, and 21-14.
“A” GIRLS FROLIC!!
Tourney plays in ping pong started in earnest for the girls in Area A this week. On Monday, the Class “A” players began bolting the pellet around while Wednesday will see Class “B” in action. On Friday, Class “C” will initiate their plays. Meanwhile, girls softball is slated for Wednesday night, basketball for Thursday, badminton for Friday and volleyball for Saturday weather permitting
Page 5
MAP OF TULELAKE COMMUNITY
Available information concerning the physical layout of the Tulelake relocation center indicates, as the map below shows, that Camp Harmony residents, should Tulelake be their ultimate destination, will find it constructed with more conveniences of “home” than their present living quarters.
“Every block (viz., – block 4 shown below) has a mess hall, recreation hall, ironing and laundry rooms” writes Eddie Kanno, formerly Camp Harmony Aea D resident.
Tulelake was originally built to house 10,000 evacuees but latest word from the Western Defense Command in San Francisco states that the center is being enlarged to accommodate 16,000 people.
Kanno, in a letter, asserts construction now under way will eventually take care of 19,000 Japanese.
The relocation center has 60 large warehouses to store evacuee’s personal property which will eventually be transferred from government warehouses in Seattle, according to Kanno’s letter.
A store is already in operation. The center has two fire houses and, apparently, adequate fire fighting equipment.
Self-government is yet to come to Tulelake but plans are being drawn up for evacuee administration.
The map below, drawn by Keith Oka, staff artist [the poor quality of the map prevented scanning, a recreated version is provided] shows the complete Tulelake layout. The upper half is of the entire camp while the lower portion is a block, broken down to show its component parts.
