Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation

Yuki wakes to the sound of hammering and thinks it must be Ken, but it is the neighbors. She has slept through breakfast. Mrs. Sakane has gone to do laundry, but there is already a long queue and no hot water. The neighbors—an old woman and a young girl—talk to them through the wall. Yuki rushes out to meet the girl. The girl’s name is Emiko “Emi” Kurihara, and she is around Yuki’s age. She lives with her grandparents because her parents are dead. Mrs. Kurihara invites Yuki inside. She and Mr. Kurihara used to run a Japanese food shop. When Yuki mentions how hungry she is, Mrs. Kurihara toasts some rice cakes for her and makes her feel at home; she wants Yuki and Emi to be friends. Yuki is delighted with the idea of having a friend next door.

One of the men in the camp, Jim, finds lumber to use to construct shelves. He and Mr. Kurihara go to the discarded woodpile to fetch more while Yuki and Emi explore the camp. They find Mr. Toda playing a game of Go with another man, who believes that Japan will win the war. Yuki protests that America will win because the country is fighting for what is right, and Mr. Toda comes to her defense. Yuki and Emi leave. Yuki does not like the sour old man, and she feels bad for Mr. Toda. She is grateful that she has pleasant neighbors.

As the days pass, the schools still do not open, so Yuki and Emi look for other ways to pass the time. One day, they attend a wedding at the camp church and fantasize about the food that would be served at a normal wedding. Mrs. Nelson sends them cookies, crackers, and cheese, and at the first opportunity, Mimi, Mrs. Nelson, and Mrs. Jamieson visit the Sakanes. It is a joyful reunion. Ken is absent; he has taken a job at the hospital for $8 a month. Yuki sees him across the hall, speaking with some college classmates and white men and women. Yuki wants to bring him over, but she gets distracted. When she looks back, Ken is gone. When visiting hours are over, Mrs. Nelson, Mimi, and Mrs. Jamieson promise to visit again as soon as possible.

Later, Ken reveals that he had been talking to the dean of men and the dean of women from college, as well as the executive secretary of the YMCA, but he does not say what they discussed. There is going to be an election in camp, with each of its five precincts electing a leader. Mr. Kurihara bitterly reflects on finally being allowed to vote as an Issei. He says that when the war is over, he might go back to Japan, where he will not be considered an “enemy alien.” This angers Emi, who says that she will not go with him and storms off.

Yuki decides that they should have a small party with the food their friends have brought. Ken agrees, hinting that they might actually have something to celebrate. As they prepare for the guests to arrive, Ken reveals that there is an opportunity for him and the other university students to complete their education on the East Coast, where Japanese Americans are still free. Mrs. Sakane encourages him to go, but the thought of Ken leaving horrifies Yuki, ruining the party for her.

The camp institutes a new head-count policy, where an official makes the rounds in the morning, asking for the number of people in each room of the barracks. School begins; classes are held in the mess hall and at the grandstand. They are taught by young Nisei teachers. Yuki finds it strange to be surrounded by Japanese classmates. Yuki worries deeply about Ken’s departure, but Emi assures her that Mr. Kurihara will look after Yuki, and Mrs. Sakane reminds her that they have many friends in camp. Mr. Sakane will soon be given a hearing, and many of his white friends and acquaintances have written affidavits supporting his good character. Despite these reassurances, Yuki cannot help but feel betrayed by Ken.

Yuki leaves her mother to tend to her small garden and then heads to the canteen to buy ice cream with the script that the prisoners are issued, but there is no ice cream left. She runs into Mr. Toda, who asks what is wrong. Yuki tells him how she feels about Ken. Mr. Toda laments that they are forced to choose between Japan and America; he loves both countries. He explains that Ken faces such a choice, for he must choose between his education and his family. He advises Yuki to let him go, and deep down, she knows that he is right. Rumors circulate that the prisoners are to be sent to camps in Idaho or Utah, and Ken confirms that they will be relocating in less than a month. He decides not to leave the camp because he does not want to leave Yuki and Mrs. Sakane to deal with the stress of packing alone. Mrs. Sakane objects at first, but Yuki can tell that she is relieved. Yuki expresses her happiness by giving Ken a chocolate bar that she had been saving.

After four months in Tanforan, the family packs to leave. While writing to Mimi, Yuki recalls the constant searches that the army and the FBI have subjected them to. She begs Mimi to find out how Pepper is doing, but she receives no reply. Finally, Mrs. Jamieson writes to her with the news that Pepper died in his sleep. Yuki runs to a remote corner of the camp and sobs at the foot of a guard tower until she hears voices approaching. In camp, there is nowhere to be alone. The Sakanes and the others make their final preparations for departure. When the day comes, a train arrives to take them to Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah. Mrs. Kurihara has packed everything from wires to wood chips, not knowing what will be useful in Utah. Mrs. Kurihara disappears as they all are ushered onto the train, worrying Emi and the Sakanes, but then reappears at the last minute before departure.

Yuki says a quiet goodbye to California as the train departs. Upon seeing the outside world again for the first time in months, Yuki is filled with longing for the times before the war. The conductor orders all window shades to be drawn as night falls. Ken is increasingly agitated and unresponsive to Yuki, who recalls an exchange between Mrs. Sakane and Mr. Kurihara that morning. Mr. Kurihara said that America was making prisoners of its own people, but Mrs. Sakane responded that they must not let the country’s mistake embitter them against it, or else they will destroy themselves. Yuki calls Ken’s name, but he ignores her. She wants to tell him to apply for the university scholarship when they get to Utah.