My great-grandparents were interned at Tule Lake in California from 1942 to early 1946. My Ojichan (great-grandfather) was an Issei, a Japanese immigrant. As a result of the National Origins Act of 1924 that banned Japanese-American immigration, my Ojichan had to immigrate illegally across the Mexican border. Meanwhile, my Obachan (great-grandmother) was a Nisei, an American citizen. My Ojichan and Obachan met and married at Tule Lake. Their daughter, Sherian, was born in camp.
While I was exploring the Densho online encyclopedia, a leading source of information about Japanese internment, to look for images of family members, I was shocked to find images of a jazz band composed of all Japanese internees. I found it incredibly interesting that despite being physically separated from mainstream American society, Japanese internees preserved something fundamentally American--the big band of the 1940s.
Below is a short investigation of the Tule Lake jazz band, known as the "Downbeats."
While I was exploring the Densho online encyclopedia, a leading source of information about Japanese internment, to look for images of family members, I was shocked to find images of a jazz band composed of all Japanese internees. I found it incredibly interesting that despite being physically separated from mainstream American society, Japanese internees preserved something fundamentally American--the big band of the 1940s.
Below is a short investigation of the Tule Lake jazz band, known as the "Downbeats."
The Downbeats of Tule Lake were immensely popular. Since Tule Lake was composed mainly of people who said "no; no" on the Loyalty Oath, many of the Downbeats' players were not United States citizens.
In general, popular sentiment in internment camps could be separated into two hemispheres. In one, bitterness, resentment, and anger developed toward the American government and culture. Conversely, the other represented an attempt to create a facsimile of the outside world. This involved patronizing American products and celebrating its culture. The United States also actively encouraged assimilation and adoption of American customs, and promoted the formation of jazz bands, orchestras, and dance groups.
The Downbeats, led by Woody Ichihashi, played music from Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, and other jazz greats of the time. Ichihashi's band was tremendously popular in camp, and would circulate around the wards with a cabaret-style performance. The Downbeats were one of the notable Japanese jazz groups and were paid relatively well for their playing. Each member earned $14 month, in addition to $5 for every evening gig. This money came from the Tule Lake Recreation Department. Other jazz bands received similar compensation. The Heart Mountain Recreation Department paid George Igawa's "Dance Band" $12 a month for their playing. In contrast, a Japanese-American camp doctor would typically receive $19 a month.
Oftentimes, ballroom dance would accompany a big band performance. Ballroom dances and jazz bands would cap the evenings of national holidays and celebrate the completion of large construction projects at the camp. It would be common to see young Japanese boys dancing in Levi jeans, striped t-shirts, and shiny black heels. Most girls would wear skirts and a sweater. Clothing worn to dances frequently represented the little colorful clothing internees owned. Beacause uprooted families could take literally only what they could carry, colorful outfits were highly valued. Typically, dances and other special occasions warranted a break from the monotonous garb of camp life.
The Downbeats, led by Woody Ichihashi, played music from Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, and other jazz greats of the time. Ichihashi's band was tremendously popular in camp, and would circulate around the wards with a cabaret-style performance. The Downbeats were one of the notable Japanese jazz groups and were paid relatively well for their playing. Each member earned $14 month, in addition to $5 for every evening gig. This money came from the Tule Lake Recreation Department. Other jazz bands received similar compensation. The Heart Mountain Recreation Department paid George Igawa's "Dance Band" $12 a month for their playing. In contrast, a Japanese-American camp doctor would typically receive $19 a month.
Oftentimes, ballroom dance would accompany a big band performance. Ballroom dances and jazz bands would cap the evenings of national holidays and celebrate the completion of large construction projects at the camp. It would be common to see young Japanese boys dancing in Levi jeans, striped t-shirts, and shiny black heels. Most girls would wear skirts and a sweater. Clothing worn to dances frequently represented the little colorful clothing internees owned. Beacause uprooted families could take literally only what they could carry, colorful outfits were highly valued. Typically, dances and other special occasions warranted a break from the monotonous garb of camp life.
