how the Army is ruthless in its treatment of the internees.

Many of the men who have menial jobs at the camp, like dishwashers or janitors, had had important jobs before the war. Some had supervised large companies or had even owned their own companies. Others who had menial jobs before the war find the camp life easy. Once, the boy's mother encounters her former housekeeper when she carries a bucket of water. Mrs. Ueno, the former housekeeper, takes away the bucket and carries it for the boy's mother despite his mother's protests. Mrs. Ueno says she is afraid the boy's mother will hurt her back. Many men like the protaginist's father are simply taken away.