Manager of Block 30, Chokichi Nakano is shown asking Project Director Ralph Merritt a pertinent question at a block managers' meeting held at Town Hall.

Job of Assistant Manager Tough! My name is 'Jo San' and I'm the assistant to the block manager. My job is interesting but sometimes it gets boring and dull. It starts off with a general room cleaning of the office, and ends with a report to Town Hall on the daily happenings and complaints of the residents of our block. During the day I check out block equipment, try to give advice with the best of my ability to those with personal anxieties and worries, and also become a "quiz kid" in answering inqueries such as "Is Manzanar a permanent relocation center?" or "Got any new mop heads?" or "Where does so-and-so live?" etc. I pass out those inevitable T.P.'s, sell the morning papers and occasionally write a letter for the isseis. I also translate Japanese letters into English or vice-versa. A thrill I get is when I inform a resident that he drew the lucky number to buy that coveted Japanese goods. Time and time again I have to listen to Mrs. So-and-so complain about her neighbor staying up too late and making too much noise, etc.

Night Checkers Combination diplomats, census-takers, advisors, and complaint expediters are the 35 night-checkers of this community who each evening visit each apartment checking to see that all residents are accounted for. They gather complaints and suggestions from the people in their blocks. Plumbing, housing, and roofing problems are sometimes brought to him so that he may have them repaired by various maintenance departments. Personal and domestic problems are sometimes brought to the night checker. When this happens, as one night-checker puts it, "It's a headache." Here he must employ all his skill as a diplomat, advising them and still trying to satisfy all parties concerned. One of the jobs being accomplished now is that of settling the movement of partitions in each barrack. This job requires tact on the part of the night-checkers. Night-checkers also have served as a medium of getting news of block activities to the residents. In this way they help to bring about greater unity among the residents.

First row, left to right: Minoru Minami, (Blk. 22); Tatsuzo Makita, (Blk. 15); Ichiro Aramaki, (Blk. 12); Kazuo Shoji, (Blk. 29); Hakaru Sonoda, (Blk. 11); Yoshio Kubonaga, (Blk. 8). Second row, loft to right: Tokuichi Sakata, (Blk. 36): Chokichi Nakano, (Blk. 30); Eizo Masuyama, (Blk. 25); Harry Nakamura, (Blk. 10); Henry Nakamura, (Blk. 21); Chusaburo Yamada, (Blk. 13); Takashi Furuya, (Blk. 35); Kuranobu Ohono, (Blk. 27); Joe Shikami, (Blk. 17); Kanematsu Osawa. (Blk. 26). Third row, left to right: Tetsuo Tomonaga, (Blk. 2): Kaoru Takahashi, (Blk. 3); Robert Throckmorton, (Project Attorney); Takeji Higashi, (Blk. 4); Arao Hasegawa, (Blk. 32): Yukio Furuto, (Blk. 23); George Ikari, (Blk. 24); Hirokichi Sano, (Blk. 20); Shoichi Kume, (Blk. 18); Ted Igasaki, (Blk. 19); Yutaka Nakamura, (Blk. 5). Fourth row, loft to right: Keiko Kitahara, (Blk. 16); Ned Uematsu, (Blk. 9); Kay Hankawa, (Blk. 33); Pete Mitsui, (Coordinator Town Hall): Kiyoharu Anzai, (Chairman Block Managers' Assembly); Ralph P. Merritt, (Project Director); Mrs. Lucy Adams, (Community Service): Arthur Milier, (Employment Division); Takashi Kuse, (Blk. 31); Yoshifumi Sakuma, (Blk. 8); Francis Yonemitsu, (Blk. 34).

Responsibilities of Block Managers Heavy Burden

To a great many people who see the block manager or the assistant sitting in the block office, the impression is that theirs is a veritable dream job.

They do not see him performing any specific work, but his duties are numerous, ranging from that of an errand boy to counselor. At times, he is called in to settle family disputes.

Requests for repairs are brought to him. He is continually attending various Town Hall, Co-op Congress, and committee meetings. He figuratively is on duty 24 hours as it is not uncommon for him to be awakened at two or three in the morning by a request for an ambulance.

It is his responsibility to see that residents are informed of policies and instructions from the project director and likewise the administration staff is kept informed of the wants and views of the residents through him. It is this part of the cog in the wheel of the organization of the WRA project that unites the people with the administration and helps maintain harmony throughout the center. Yet, when residents see the block managers put up a notice or make a short announcement, they think, "What a dream job he has."

Block manager's job has an indefinite term. He remains on the job until he decides to resign, becomes unfit for the office, or because of an unforseen accident. His underlying qualification is that he be a clear and broadminded thinker and that he have sufficient personality and tact to get along with others.

Work Of Managers Requires Patience

With Arthur H. Miller acting as their advisor, the block managers' assembly, which is an intermediary between the administration and the residents, officially formed on October 1, 1942.

Block managers' duties consist of promoting housing harmony and recreational activities, dispensing useful information, obtaining needed repairs, cooperating with other departments in maintaining law and order and other detailed duties.

Each manager is provided with an office and an assistant who acts as his information clerk and who is charged with the task of writing daily reports. These reports are assembled at Town Hall, digested by the Office of Reports, and sent to the project director, enabling him to direct administrative policies for the residents in the light of their suggestions, opinions and criticisms.

Being the forerunner to the Block Offices these information offices were scattered throughout the camp during the early days of construction in Manzanar They have had to iron out difficulties brought about by the residents.

TOWN HALL LINKS ADMINISTRATION WITH RESIDENTS

Serving as the "city hall" of the center, Town Hall is the connecting link between the administration and the residents. With Kiyoharu Anzai as chairman of the group, the block managers' assembly is comprised of the town hall staff and the respective block managers. The assembly convenes in town hall once a week to discuss problems confronting the people. At these meetings the managers receive first hand information from the various departments, and latest developments from Washington are also related to them by the project director. Afterward they return to their respective blocks and inform residents of the proceedings.

Town hall staff is the executive body of the assembly. The staff is composed of a coordinator, secretary, stenographer, senior clerk, and two messengers.

Coordinator Pete Mitsui, is in charge of town hall and acts as supervisor of the staff. He renders information concerning town hall and also answers all inquiries. He secures information desired by the block leaders and acts as their time keeper. He lists all social happenings in the center and keeps a record of all meetings.

Principal work of Senior Clerk Tsukasa Kamiya is to make the rounds of all the blocks every day to gather and distribute daily reports, memos and bulletins. He tabulates daily reports and keeps a daily record of blocks which send in reports. He also contacts various departments in regard to block problems and questions.

When special events or undertakings arise in the assembly, such as the opening of Manzanar Park, or the hospital appreciation party, the town hall staff is asked to shoulder much of the preparatory work. Although unheralded and working "quietly behind the scene," staff members delight in working to the best of their ability, inasmuch as they are working for the general welfare of the residents. Dick Izuno is executive secretary.

Town Hall Chairman

Born in Japan in 1879, and completing his college education at Sendai, Japan, Kiyoharu Anzai, present block managers' assembly chairman, sailed for the United States as a student.

Entering the University of California at Berkeley in 1908, Mr. Anzai took a course in liberal arts. Afflicted with an illness, he moved to Los Angeles hoping to improve his health. After a year of rest, he partially regained his health and entered the University of Southern California to finish his study in philosophy and sociology.

He then moved to San Gabriel Valley where he opened an English language school for Japanese farmers. There he spent many years as a teacher, friend and servant of the Japanese community.

He evacuated to Manzanar on April 2 with the second family contingent and worked as a sanitary inspector until March 15, when he officially became block managers' assembly chairman.