1943 U.S. government-produced film "Japanese Relocation" addresses relocation camps

Summary

This script recounts the mass relocation of over a hundred thousand Japanese Americans during World War II, prompted by fears of invasion and sabotage. It details the process from voluntary evacuation to forced relocation to assembly centers and eventual resettlement in internment camps. The narrative highlights the cooperation of the Japanese Americans, their efforts to maintain a semblance of normalcy, and the government's role in facilitating the transition. It underscores the hope for a future where these citizens can regain their freedom and contribute to society, reflecting on the balance between national security and the principles of Christian decency.

Takeaways

• 🏳️‍🌈 The script discusses the forced relocation of over a hundred thousand Japanese-Americans and Japanese aliens from the West Coast during World War II due to concerns about potential sabotage and espionage.
• 🛑 The military and the War Relocation Authority were responsible for the mass migration, which was carried out with consideration for the people involved, despite the challenges it posed.
• 🔍 Initial steps included the evacuation of Japanese people from critical areas such as Los Angeles, where they were in close proximity to military installations and vital industries.
• 📜 A registration process was implemented, requiring all persons of Japanese descent to register, facilitated by the Japanese community itself.
• 🏥 Civilian physicians conducted preliminary medical examinations, and government agencies provided support in various ways, including helping with property management and leases.
• 🚐 The army provided transportation for the evacuees, moving both people and their household belongings to assembly centers at race tracks and fairgrounds.
• 🏘️ At the assembly centers, the army provided housing and food, and the evacuees began to establish a semblance of community life, including religious services and educational activities.
• 📚 Efforts were made to maintain education and Americanization classes, with college students teaching other groups and contributing to the community's development.
• 🏞️ The script mentions the construction of new communities on federally owned lands in the interior, where the evacuees would have more space and opportunities to work.
• 👷‍♂️ The Japanese-Americans were encouraged to work and contribute to the war effort, with some building houses and others working in agriculture to increase the rubber supply.
• 🌳 The script concludes with a reflection on the treatment of these individuals, emphasizing the balance between national security and maintaining principles of Christian decency, and the hope that this approach would influence Axis powers.
• 🌐 The narrative sets a standard for the treatment of people with potential enemy loyalties, aiming to protect the nation without compromising fundamental human decency.

Q & A

Why was there a concern about the Japanese population on the West Coast during the attack on Pearl Harbor?

There was a concern because the West Coast was considered a potential combat zone. With over a hundred thousand persons of Japanese descent living there, including American citizens and aliens, there was a fear that some could be potentially dangerous in the event of a Japanese invasion.

What was the initial step taken by the military to address the concerns about the Japanese population near critical areas?

The initial step was to require all Japanese, both citizens and aliens, to move from critical areas such as Los Angeles, where there were concentrations of Japanese near naval airbases, shipyards, and vital aircraft plants.

Why was the voluntary evacuation program quickly changed to a planned and protected basis?

The voluntary evacuation program was changed because the evacuees faced trouble in their new locations, and it was deemed necessary to have a more organized approach to ensure the safety and well-being of the evacuees.

How did the process of registration and migration for the Japanese population work?

All persons of Japanese descent were required to register. Notices were posted, and they gathered in their own churches and schools to handle the paperwork. Civilian physicians conducted preliminary medical examinations, and government agencies assisted in various ways, including helping with the leasing, selling, or storing of property.

What facilities did the army provide for the evacuees at the assembly centers?

The army provided fleets of vans for transporting household belongings, buses for moving people to assembly centers, and built housing almost overnight at places like race tracks and fairgrounds. They also provided nourishing food for all residents.

What activities did the Japanese community engage in at the assembly centers to establish a sense of normalcy?

The community held church services, organized nursery schools, and some even made camouflage nets for the U.S. Army. They also set up their own newspaper and tried to develop a way of life as normal as possible under the circumstances.

What was the purpose of building new pioneer communities on federally owned lands in the interior?

The purpose was to provide a more permanent and suitable living environment for the evacuees, where they could have an opportunity to work and live in more spacious conditions, away from the immediate coastal areas.

How did the Japanese population contribute to the war effort while in the relocation centers?

They contributed by building lath houses for drying cuttings that would add to the rubber supply, undertaking irrigation of desert lands, and participating in Americanization classes to educate themselves and others.

What measures were taken to ensure the health and well-being of the children of Japanese descent in the relocation centers?

Special emphasis was put on the health and care of these children. Their parents, most of whom were American citizens, and grandparents, who were aliens, were encouraged to work and participate in community life, and their physicians took precautions to guard against epidemics.

What was the broader message or goal of the U.S. government's treatment of the Japanese population during this period, as portrayed in the script?

The broader message was to protect the nation without violating the principles of Christian decency. The U.S. aimed to set a standard for the rest of the world in the treatment of people who may have loyalties to an enemy nation, hoping that their example would influence the Axis powers in their treatment of American citizens.

What was the long-term vision for the Japanese population as described in the script?

The long-term vision was for the Japanese population to eventually return to enjoying the freedom cherished in the U.S., with the hope that the disloyal would leave the country for good. In the meantime, they were to build a life in the relocation centers, contributing to the war effort and establishing a sense of community.