Emotional Return to Children’s Village
By GWEN MURANAKA
RAFU ENGLISH EDITOR IN CHIEF
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007

Lillian Matsumoto and her former wards recall time spent at Manzanar home for orphans.

GWEN MURANAKA/Rafu Shimpo
Seated, from left, Annie Sakamoto, Elizabeth Matsuno, Lillian Matsumoto, Susie Watamura,
Mary Matsuno Miya, Lillian Yoshiko Bonner, and Dennis Tojo; standing, from left, Sharon
Kodama (Shizuko Okazaki), Akira Isozaki, Tamotsu Isozaki, Karyl Matsumoto, Celeste Loi
Teodor, Tak Matsuno and Ken (Yoshikura) Bergren.

Lillian Matsumoto, a social worker at Shonien, worked as assistant superintendent at Children’s Village. Matsumoto, 93, was accompanied by her daughter Karyl, who was adopted from Children’s Village.

Speaking to the gathering, Matsumoto recalled visiting Manzanar in March 1942 with her husband Harry as the camp was still under construction.

“The hospital was already built, we suggested building (Children’s Village) there near the hospital. It was isolated from the blocks, but still nearby,” Matsumoto recalled.

Children’s Village opened in June 1942 with 40 children. She paid tribute to the young women who worked tirelessly to care for the children. Matsumoto and her staff traveled with the children on three buses from Los Angeles.

“The little ones we tried to make like it was a picnic. One little girl who was four years old, said, ‘I will get up and sing’ and she sang ‘God Bless America,’” Matsumoto said. “This young soldier shed tears to hear this young four year old sing ‘God Bless America.’”

The facility consisted of three solidly constructed barracks and included a nursery, kitchen and dining facility and separate halls for boys and girls.

Among the items Matsumoto recalled bringing from Shonien were 10 cribs and a piano.

“That was the most wonderful thing we had for the children. It seems like oh, it’s just a piano, but it was a wonderful thing,” said Matsumoto.

When the war ended and the camp closed, the children either returned to their parents or were adopted or placed in foster homes.

Lillian Yoshiko Bonner, who was a baby at Children’s Village, said she made her first visit to Manzanar last year. Adopted by the Ogata family, she lives in Texas with her family and  she feels very lucky.

“I’m honored to be here with Mrs. Matsumoto who more than likely held me in her arms in Children’s Village,” Bonner said. “The hospital was already built, we suggested building (Children’s Village) there near the hospital. It was isolated from the blocks, but still nearby,” Matsumoto recalled.

Children’s Village opened in June 1942 with 40 children. She paid tribute to the young women who worked tirelessly to care for the children. Matsumoto and her staff traveled with the children on three buses from Los Angeles.

“The little ones we tried to make like it was a picnic. One little girl who was four years old, said, ‘I will get up and sing’ and she sang ‘God Bless America,’” Matsumoto said. “This young soldier shed tears to hear this young four year old sing ‘God Bless America.’”

The facility consisted of three barracks and included a nursery, kitchen and dining facility and separate halls for boys and girls. Among the items Matsumoto recalled bringing from Shonien were 10 cribs and a piano.

“That was the most wonderful thing we had for the children. It seems like oh, it’s just a piano, but it was a wonderful thing,” said Matsumoto.

When the war ended and the camp closed, the children either returned to their parents or were adopted or placed in foster homes.

Lillian Yoshiko Bonner, who was a baby at Children’s Village, made her first visit to Manzanar last year. Adopted by the Ogata family after the war, she now lives in Texas with her family. Looking back on the experience, she said she feels very fortunate.

“I’m honored to be here with Mrs. Matsumoto who more than likely held me in her arms in Children’s Village,” Bonner said.