by Ruth Sasaki
“From your letter the thing I would object to most is the lack of privacy….“
Imagine what it must have been like to be a San Franciscan in 1942 who suddenly had friends and acquaintances rounded up en masse and removed to prison camps.
My mother grew up in San Francisco and had Caucasian friends from school days. When her family was incarcerated in Tanforan and later Topaz, she was 23 years old. Through letters, she tried to stay in touch, and the responses she received and saved as treasures reflect her pursuit of normalcy in abnormal times.
May 24, 1942
To Tomiko Takahashi, Bldg. 80 – Apt. 3, Tanforan Assembly Center
From Margaret, Oak Street, San Francisco
I was so glad to hear from you and hope conditions are improved…
I can appreciate your anxiety over your (diabetic) mother’s diet…
From your letter the thing I would object to most is the lack of privacy…
Was your brother able to complete his college term? It seems that the University could make some provision to take care of this kind of a situation…
Perhaps when some of the confusion is ironed out at Tanforan I can come down to see you…
Margaret did come to Tanforan for a visit. My mother was never to forget the sight of her friend in her cardigan sweater, gloves, and heels, carefully navigating her way over train tracks to visit through the fence…
May 22, 1942
To Tomiko Takahashi, Bldg. 80 – Apt. 3, Tanforan Assembly Center
From Mandena, another school friend, 48th Ave., San Francisco
My dear Tomiko, your letter was very welcome and I was really happy to hear from you…
I received a letter from Kiyono; she sent her address, which I include for your information… (Kiyono is in Pomona Assembly Center)
Your letter expressed quite a courageous attitude about your new life there…
It is very wonderful of you doing your part to organize a nursery for the children…
Mandena was working at the Emporium department store downtown and offered to do any shopping if my mother or her family needed anything.
By the fall of 1942, the family’s transfer to Topaz was imminent. My mother had sent Mandena a check and asked her to buy some wool jersey fabric (to go with an enclosed fabric swatch); a blue cardigan sweater for her sister, Kiyo; a suit; some scarves; and needles. Mandena gave a careful accounting of her purchases.
September 2, 1942
To Tomiko
From Mandena
Altogether, I spent $37.39 so you have $2.61 coming to you in change. I do hope that my selections are what you wanted. The store is sending the purchases, probably in two packages. You will, no doubt receive them the latter part of this week…
I do hope the day will not be far off when we will all meet again for a continued life of peace…
In the meantime, let me know when you get settled in Utah, and I am glad, always, to be of help to you…
About the contributor: Ruth Sasaki was born and raised in San Francisco after the War. Her mother’s family, the Takahashis, were incarcerated in Tanforan and Topaz. A graduate of UC Berkeley (BA) and SF State (MA), she has lived in England and Japan. Her short story “The Loom” won the American Japanese National Literary Award, and her collection, The Loom and Other Stories, was published in 1991 by Graywolf Press. She shares her more recent writing via her website: www.rasasaki.com
Copyright 2017, R. A. Sasaki. All rights reserved.