Summary: Pages 59–91

When the truck arrived at Block 6 and was unloaded, Daddy went to find their room. Standing with Mama, George and Henry looked at the barbed wire fence and into the woods. They heard something caw, and an older boy tried to convince them it was a dinosaur. The fence, he explained, kept the dinosaurs caged.

Daddy returned with some men to help carry their things. One offered to carry a bag that Mama always carried, but she wouldn’t let anyone—even Daddy—take it. They arrived at Unit F and noticed the heat. Daddy opened the windows, but even after airing out the cabin, it was still boiling hot. They could hear neighbors talking about the heat through the wall, and Mama worried that they would have no privacy. Daddy headed off to collect some Army cots to sleep on. 

Mama opened her secret bag, and George and Henry excitedly wondered what surprise could be inside. In it was her sewing machine, which was not allowed. She told Daddy that the children would need new clothes. He told her it was forbidden but after a minute began to laugh. Henry and George couldn’t understand what was so funny.

The Takeis took care to set up their new home. Mama sewed curtains and braided fabric into rugs. Nancy took her first steps. Mama had all her usual responsibilities except cooking, but this upset her because it was another way she wasn’t allowed to care for her family. George thought maybe all of Mama’s actions were an act of defiance. Daddy, meanwhile, left behind his anguish from the train ride and began efforts to build community in Block 6, learning about the families there. Mrs. Takahashi’s husband had been arrested for being a Buddhist minister. Mrs. Yasuda’s husband had been arrested for teaching Japanese to children.

The people in the camp were from all over California and Hawaii. Immigrants from Japan were called Issei. Second-generation immigrants were called Nisei. Children of Nisei were called Sansei. And though they came from all backgrounds and professions and were different, they were all the same, too. Daddy felt that they must build a community together.

The land Camp Rohwer was built on used to be a swamp, and when it rained, the camp was covered in mud. Men worked together to build a boardwalk above the mud. Other issues included lack of privacy in the latrines and inedible meals. The camp needed a representative. Though he didn’t think of himself as a leader, Daddy knew he was qualified to be this representative—he knew both Japanese and English, he could relate to both old and young, and he had experience. So, Daddy agreed to be the block manager, completing forms and attending meetings. He was so busy in this role that he had to acquire a secretary. 

George and Henry explored the camp, catching butterflies and watching older boys play war. They noticed that boys always wanted to be the Americans in this game and never the Japanese. One day two older boys named Ford and Chevy taught George “magic” words— “sakana beach”—that they said would cause the guards to give him anything he wanted. This didn’t make any sense to George, since sakana means “fish.” George followed the boys’ directions, shouting what he wanted at the guard tower then saying the magic words. A guard in the tower threw a rock at him. He and Henry ran away as the older boys laughed. At home, George asked Mama and Daddy to help him figure out the magic words. Daddy explained that the words sound like a bad word in English and told his boys to avoid Ford and Chevy, who are bad. Later, George came to understand that “sakana beach” sounds like the English “son of a bitch.”

Analysis: Pages 59–91

George and Henry’s “adventure” continues in this section of the memoir. From possible dinosaurs to catching butterflies, the camp offers something new each day. Mama makes their bunk as nice as possible, and the young boys have little reason to believe anything in the world is wrong. This continues the narrative Takei established in the previous section of two separate experiences—one of the children and the other of the adults.

Mama’s secret sewing machine is a symbol of her defiance. Mama’s identity is wrapped up in caring for her family, and this is a very small way she can protest what is happening to her. George reflects that even though Mama doesn’t have to cook, this is not welcome or helpful. Instead, it is almost like taking a right from her. He wonders if everything she does to care for her family is a form of protest. She clings to her humanity in the face of dehumanization by the American government.

In this section, Takei also presents the idea of community as a driving force for change. Daddy realizes in the camp that the internees need to work together. They do this in tangible ways, like combating the rain and mud, but Daddy sees the possibility for more meaningful community—one in which they can work together to fight for their rights as citizens.