The Japanese Lover

In March, the Fukuda family is forced to gather their possessions for relocation to a concentration camp. First, they are sent to the Tanforan racetrack, and Isaac and Alma come to say goodbye to Takao and Ichi. At the racetrack, Heideko takes a leading role in organizing the detained people, and the community tries to adjust to inhumane conditions by organizing schools, clubs, and activities for everyone. Food is limited, and there are no doors on bathroom stalls. The American guards are disorganized, having set up makeshift barracks on short notice. Speaking Japanese is prohibited, making it difficult for many issei to communicate. In September, the residents of Tanforan are relocated to the Topaz concentration camp in Utah at an elevation of 4,000 feet in the desert. At Topaz, they face inhumane conditions, such as constant sand and dust and limited protection against the extreme heat and cold of the desert. Again, the residents organize themselves to form newspapers, theater companies, and schools, but they quickly become bored. The limited rations, which are high in sugar and fat, cause widespread digestive issues. Family structures begin to break down, as adults lose authority over their nisei, or second-generation Japanese children. Alma’s letters to Ichi make it to Topaz unscathed, but Ichi’s responses are heavily censored.