Tanforan Assembly Center

Tanforan Assembly Center is the first place that Ernestina and her family are taken during their internment during World War II. It is also where Kiku spends the beginning of her time in her displacements. The center is in the desert and was hastily erected. The people are forced to live in old horse stalls that still smell of manure. Despite the dehumanizing conditions, the internees do their best to clean out their stalls and make them as hospitable as possible. They also work to form communities and live life to the best of their ability. They even form schools for the children although the schools lack necessary supplies. While in Tanforan, Kiku lives with Aiko next door to her grandmother and great grandparents.

Topaz Internment Camp

Kiku and her family are sent to Topaz Internment Camp after they are forced to leave Tanforan. While Tanforan...