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

img Girl Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-477)

Girl ice skating with barracks in background

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-477/

img Ice Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-495)

Men, women, and children ice skating with barracks in background

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-495/

img Christmas decorations in a mess hall (ddr-fom-1-57)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-57/

img Family gardens in Minidoka (ddr-fom-1-725)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-725/

img High school students cleaning up for gardens (ddr-fom-1-728)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-728/

img Christmas decorations in a mess hall (ddr-fom-1-59)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-59/

img Christmas decorations in a mess hall (ddr-fom-1-60)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-60/

img Stage photograph of a performance (ddr-fom-1-69)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-69/

img Customer trying on ice skates at the Block 30 Community Store (ddr-fom-1-874)

WRA caption on reverse: "Selling skates in community store in block 30." Left to right: Betty Yasunobu, Nellie Arai.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-874/

img Five women inside a building at Minidoka (ddr-fom-1-63)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-63/

img Vocation Depot (ddr-hmwf-1-106)

"Vocation Depot, Nov 6-1944" as described on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-106/

img Women Posing (ddr-hmwf-1-438)

"Tami, Aki, Kiku, Sumi, June 25 1944, l20 f19 1/50 G3 Superpan Press, D76-40' " as described on back, young women being silly

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-438/

img Bonfire (ddr-hmwf-1-52)

"Men and women at a bonfire, Tasuka (on back)"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-52/

img Snowman (ddr-hmwf-1-489)

"Nov-22 1944" as described on back, young woman standing beside large snowman

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-489/

img Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-448)

Group of women sitting on a rock beside stream

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-448/

img Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-421)

Group gathered at Vocation Station, "Michi Yamada- Vocation Station, Dec 12 1943, 9:30am, l15 f11, 1/25 G3, Superxx DK 20-40', D76-15' " as described on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-421/

img Piano Class (ddr-hmwf-1-34)

"June 24, 1944 2-5pm" as described on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-34/

img Coal Rush (ddr-hmwf-1-469)

"Coal rush, 29-28 Jan 7-1944 2:30pm, f12.7 1/100 SuperIkontaB SuperXX Roll, DK20-50' D76-20' "as described on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-469/

img Christmas Exercise (ddr-hmwf-1-473)

"Christmas Exercise 22-25 Rec Hall, Dec 22-1943" as described on back, children performing

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-473/

img Christmas Exercise (ddr-hmwf-1-461)

"Christmas Exercise 22-25, Rec Hall, Dec 22 1943, Project Photographer- Bud Aoyama" as described on back, group of kids practicing for a Christmas Exercise

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-461/