Kazuko Toji Kato

KAZUKO TOJI KATO
Family # 3692
Camp: Manzanar, CA
Address: 22-11-4

In June of 1924, my mother met my dad for the first time, married him, and came to America in search of a better life. They arrived in Los Angeles on the Fourth of July. My mom saw the fireworks and thought this was a beautiful place to start a new life. They settled in Glendale. I was the fourth of five children. My mom was a laundress and my dad was a gardener. We attended Chevy Chase Gram­mar School in Glendale. I believe I was in the third grade.

On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. I do not remember too much about how the bombing affected us. I just remember my brothers saying they called us “Japs” at school. My parents did not lose their jobs. A few days after turning nine in May 1942, we were sent to Manzanar. My dad was diagnosed with tuber­culosis. He was sent to Olive View Sanitarium. My mother, alone with five children under the ages of 12, went to camp without her husband.

We had a very short time to get ready for camp. We did not have any luggage in which to take our possessions nor did we have long pants to wear. Girls just did not wear pants. I remember my mom staying up very late to sew blankets, duffle bags, and long pants for my sister and I. My mom heard it was going to be very cold and there were a lot of snakes. My dad had to sell his truck that he used for gardening and we sold our piano for $10. Our landlord let us store some of our belongings in the garage, but when we returned to get them after the war, everything of value was gone.

We boarded a bus and arrived at Manzanar. It was very dusty and I was very tired. I walked to school daily and it was either very hot or very windy and cold. During the three years that I attended school, I went from third grade to seventh grade. Of course I missed my old school but I adjusted to the new school. Actually I had a lot of fun. I joined a group of girls and we called ourselves the Jolliets. We ordered batons from the Sears catalog and had lots of fun high stepping and twirling the throwing our batons in the air.

I was not aware of any of the politics that took place. My sister and brothers were too young and they did not have to fill out any questionnaires. I do not recall being sick. Although, one day, they took me to the hospital and removed my tonsils. I was told they routinely removed the tonsils of many children. I still do not know the reason.

We left camp in August of 1945 with very little money. My mother did not have a job, my father was still at Olive View, and the four of us were still in school. My brothers went to work in a home to earn their keep and go to school. In those days, they were called “schoolboys and girls.” My brother and I stayed with our mom while she cooked and cleaned.

When I turned 13, I also went to be a schoolgirl. Another reason for doing this is because we did not have enough money and many people would not rent to Japanese anyway. This was the most difficult period of my life.

I never talked about the experiences in camp until recently. My sons ask why I do not tell them anything while they were growing up. In a way, I feel like a rape victim. I was ashamed to tell people that I was in camp, so I did not want to talk about it. I just put all thoughts about it out of my mind.

I would say to students now, “Remember who you are and where you came from.”

Wind and Dust
This wind and dust I have to bear
How hard it blows I do not care.
But when the wind begins to blow –­
My morale is pretty low.
I know that I can see it through
Because others have to bear it too.
So I will bear it with the rest
And hope the outcome is the best.
– George Nishimura, age 16 (Manzanar, 1943)

Read this to learn more about the demographics of each of the ten facilities administered by the War Relocation Authority.

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