Social and recreational activities

Japanese Americans found ways to fill the long days created by the enforced idleness of camp life. They made jewelry from shells found in the desert, built furniture for their rooms using scrap lumber and renovated the exteriors of their barracks. People also played cards, chess, checkers, mahjongg, and the Japanese games 'go' and 'shogi.' Camp inmates held dances, concerts, plays, and arts and crafts exhibitions. In Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho, they even held a beauty contest to select the "Sweetheart of Minidoka."

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
Social and recreational activities (1155)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Arts and crafts in camp, Music in camp

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1155 items

vh An Oral History with Norman Y. Mineta (ddr-csujad-29-55)

Japanese American congressman, representing the Thirteenth Congressional District of California, born and raised in San Jose, California, discusses his early life, graduation from the University of California, Berkeley, and receiving a commission and serving in the armed forces from 1953-1956. Recalls the removal, "relocation," and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II at the Heart …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-55/

vh An Oral History with Sumiye Takeno, Part I (ddr-csujad-29-59)

An oral history with Sumiye Takeno, a current resident of Denver, Colorado. This interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. The purpose of this interview was to gather information regarding Takeno's incarceration and resettlement experience during World War II. Specifically, the interview covers her childhood in Florin, California, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-59/

av An oral history with Kin'ichi Kimbo Yoshitomi (ddr-csujad-29-30)

An oral interview with Kinichi Kimbo Yoshitomi, an incarceree at the Tanforan Assembly Center and the Topaz incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcription is found in the item: csufccop_jaoh_0112. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1645.3_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-30/

av Oral history with Elso Kanawaga (ddr-csujad-29-82)

An oral interview with Elso Kanawaga, incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0200. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2379_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-82/

av Oral history with Michael Ishikawa (ddr-csujad-29-376)

An oral interview with Michael Ishikawa, child born at the Granada incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0932. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1324_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-376/

av Oral history with Henry Yoshitake (ddr-csujad-29-77)

An oral interview with Henry Yoshitake, incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0190. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2373.2_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-77/

av An oral history with Kin'ichi Kimbo Yoshitomi (ddr-csujad-29-29)

An oral interview with Kinichi Kimbo Yoshitomi, an incarceree at the Tanforan Assembly Center and the Topaz incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcription is found in the item: csufccop_jaoh_0110. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1645.2_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-29/

av Oral history with Susie O. Shimada (ddr-csujad-29-367)

An oral interview with Susie O. Shimada, incarceree at the Poston camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0914. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2258_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-367/

av An oral history with Fred Tomiyoshi (ddr-csujad-29-51)

An oral interview with Fred Tomiyoshi, incarceree at the Pinedale Assembly Center and the Tule Lake incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0158. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2986_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-51/

av Oral history with Shonin Yamashita (ddr-csujad-29-385)

An oral interview with Shonin Yamashita, an Issei and incarceree at the Poston War Relocation Center. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0950. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1519_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-385/

av An oral history with Margaret Yamamoto (ddr-csujad-29-32)

An oral interview with Margaret Yamamoto, an incarceree at the Santa Anita Assembly Center and the Rohwer incarceration camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcription is found in the item: csufccop_jaoh_0116. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2237_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-32/

img Young woman and man in uniform eating in front of Christmas tree (ddr-densho-122-732)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-732/

img Young women and young men in uniform seated (ddr-densho-122-731)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-731/

doc Document with photos of carvings done by Takano Yasutaro while at Amache (ddr-ajah-9-1)

Includes biographical data for Yasutaro and story of carvings, with photo

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-9-1/

img Carved wood panel of tree with birds (ddr-ajah-9-3)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-9-3/

img Carved wood panel of fish (ddr-ajah-9-2)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-9-2/

img Manzanar queen and her court (ddr-manz-10-18)

Original caption: "Her Majesty Haru Ogawa. Attendants: Kiyo Nishi, Riyo Yano, Virgie Kikuta, Yuri Yamazaki." Handwritten note on front: "Dearest Gracie, With love, Yuri."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-18/

img Modernaires Club (ddr-manz-10-137)

Back row: Junko Hatae, Alice Araki, Shizuko Uno, Mary Kageyama, Chicki Hiraoka, Fumi Matsuzawa, Teruko Kuwata. Row Two: Reiko Ando, Yuki Inohara, Grace Maruki, Akiko Sakamoto (Advisors), Kazie Nishimoto, Michiko Kamachi. Row One: Yoshiko Kusunoki, Rosie Maruki, Kiyo Tanioka, Toshiko Morishita, Itoyo Hashimoto.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-137/

img Three men on stage (ddr-manz-10-52)

Original caption: "Auctioneer Kow Maruki pays Joseph Yonai man with heaviest beard."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-52/

img Calico Cats club photograph (ddr-manz-10-15)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-15/

img Calico Cats club photograph (ddr-manz-10-14)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-14/

img Couple dancing (ddr-manz-10-51)

Original caption: "Rosie Maruki, George Shiba, waltz contest winners."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-51/

img Couple standing in a firebreak (ddr-manz-10-11)

Original caption: "Nancy & Roy Takeda."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-11/

img Modernaires (ddr-manz-10-61)

Original caption: "Standing: Rosie Maruki, Reiko Ando, Tosh Morishita, Terry Arita, Tak Ando, Kaz Nishimoto, Tosh Nakadaira, Kiyo Tanuki, Lucy Aoki, Suzanne Anzai, Iris Akiyama. Seated: Chickie Hiraoka, Fumi Matsuzawa, Duchess Takeuchi, Advisor Misuko Nakamura, Mary Kageyama, Irene Kusayanagi."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-61/

img Group of women in front of a car (ddr-manz-10-1)

Original caption: "Gazelles 1942. Teruko Kuwata, Kimi Okubo, Pee Wee Kusunoki, Fujiko Takahashi, Grace. Front - Nellie Lujan, Florence Nemoto, Rosie Maruki, Heme Hashimoto."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-10-1/