Sugamo Prison Drawings, 1946 - 1948

This folder contains graphite drawings depicting interiors, daily activities, and prisoners at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo, Japan, during the Allied occupation following World War II. The drawings were created by Fumio Fujiki, Tokio Tobito, and unidentified individuals, several of which are on American Red Cross stationery. Subjects depicted include prison corridors, cell blocks, individual prison cells, the gallows and its interior, portraits of individuals, including James Heindel, and caricature scenes of prison life. The caricatures portray activities such as bathing, hair cutting, food distribution, church services, movie screenings, visiting hours, sleeping, and prisoners scrubbing prison floors under the supervision of jailers. Several drawings are accompanied on the reverse by letters from James Heindel to his family discussing daily life in Sugamo Prison, including reading, bathing, meals, religious services, recreation, and anticipation of returning home.