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
Happy New Year from Poston (ddr-csujad-35-27)
doc Happy New Year from Poston (ddr-csujad-35-27)
A New Year's card created in the Poston camp in Arizona. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: kuw_01_23_001
Poston camp (ddr-csujad-35-8)
doc Poston camp (ddr-csujad-35-8)
A a travel journal written by Kenji Kawabe of his time away from the Poston camp, Arizona from May 9 through June 2, 1944. He visited the Granada camp in Colorado and Salt Lake and the Topaz camp in Utah, meeting his friends and going sightseeing and shopping. See this object in the California State Universities …
Poston bird carving class (ddr-csujad-35-11)
img Poston bird carving class (ddr-csujad-35-11)
A group photograph of participants in a bird carving class in the Poston camp in Arizona. They are most likely Issei. A water tank is seen in the background. The handwritten note on the back side reads: April 1945, Poston bird carving class taken in front of barracks, Poston, Arizona. See this object in the California …
Man in half moon street (ddr-csujad-38-396)
doc Man in half moon street (ddr-csujad-38-396)
An announcement card for a movie, "Man in Half Moon street," presented by Campus Echoes at the Poston camp in Arizona on June 23. The caption reads: The movie which was stale till the end. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 27. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …
It comes up love (ddr-csujad-38-398)
doc It comes up love (ddr-csujad-38-398)
An announcement card for a movie, "It comes up love," presented by Girl Scouts at the Poston camp in Arizona at 6:30 PM on December 3, 1944. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 27. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_28_003
Picnic in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-96)
img Picnic in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-96)
A photograph of incarcerees probably in the Jerome camp in Arkansas, setting up a picnic. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 22. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_22_001
Poston camp activities (ddr-csujad-38-340)
doc Poston camp activities (ddr-csujad-38-340)
Clippings from a publication published at the Poston incarceration camp in Parker, Arizona. Describes activities in the camp. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 23. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_23_001
Sumi's farewell party announced Tsukie's engagement to Ray (ddr-csujad-38-348)
doc Sumi's farewell party announced Tsukie's engagement to Ray (ddr-csujad-38-348)
A note from Sanaye and ___ H___, inviting to Sumi's farewell party held at Block 318-11C in the Poston camp at 7:30 on November 15. The caption reads: Sumi's farewell party announced Tsukie's engagement to Ray. Title from caption. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 3. See this object in the California State Universities …
Table 5 (ddr-csujad-38-370)
doc Table 5 (ddr-csujad-38-370)
An item used at a party for teachers held at the Adobe High School at the Poston camp in Arizona. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 13. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_14_004
Sigma XI (ddr-csujad-38-205)
img Sigma XI (ddr-csujad-38-205)
Photographed are members of Sigma XI, a Nisei men's basketball team at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Sigma XI. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_07_001
Tug of war in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-91)
img Tug of war in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-91)
Photographed are children incarcerated in the Jerome camp in Arkansas, playing tug of war. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 21. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_21_006
Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (ddr-csujad-38-341)
img Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (ddr-csujad-38-341)
A scrapbook compiled by Mitzi Masukawa Naohara. Contained are items collected by Mitzi Masukawa during her incarceration at the Poston camp in Arizona, which include postcards, greeting cards, birthday cards, and invitation cards to events, such as, weddings, farewell parties, and dance events. She was a preschool teacher at the Poston camp and the collected items …
Card from Sigma Debs to Mrs. Masukawa, May 12 1944 (ddr-csujad-38-365)
doc Card from Sigma Debs to Mrs. Masukawa, May 12 1944 (ddr-csujad-38-365)
An invitation card to the Mothers' Day Party held on Friday May 12, 1944 at the Dining Hall at the Poston camp in Arizona. The party was coordinated by Sigma Debs, young Nisei women's club in the camp, and the card was sent to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara's mother, Koyuta Masukawa. The caption reads: In honor of …
Card from 307 YBA to Mitzi Naohara, March 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-369)
doc Card from 307 YBA to Mitzi Naohara, March 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-369)
An invitation card to farewell social for Hideko Mayeda and Frank G. Tanaka sponsored by 307 Young Buddhist Association (YBA) held at 307 Mess Hall in the Poston camp in Arizona at 7:30 PM on March 24, 1945. It was sent to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara incarcerated at the Poston camp. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook …
Card to Miss Mitzi Masukawa, May 25, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-415)
doc Card to Miss Mitzi Masukawa, May 25, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-415)
An invitation card to the farewell party, "Sayonara party," held in honor of the teachers and staff of Poston III camp in Arizona, on May 25, 1945. It was sent to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara who was a preschool teacher at the camp. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 36. See this object in the …
Sack race in Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-88)
img Sack race in Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-88)
A photograph of a sack race in progress in the Jerome incarceration camp in Arkansas. It captures participants and barracks at the camp. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 21. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_21_003
Starmaker (ddr-csujad-38-397)
doc Starmaker (ddr-csujad-38-397)
An announcement card for a movie, "Starmaker," presented by Associated Student Body at the Poston camp in Arizona at 6:30 PM on December 30, 1944. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 27. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_28_002
Block R's of Block 318 (ddr-csujad-38-189)
img Block R's of Block 318 (ddr-csujad-38-189)
Photographed are Todd, Tosh, Ben, and John, who are members of "Block R's of Block 318," a Nisei men's club of the high school, at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Block R's of Block 318, 1943, Poston, Ariz. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 4. See this …
318 Sigma Debs (ddr-csujad-38-212)
img 318 Sigma Debs (ddr-csujad-38-212)
Photographed are members of a Nisei women's club, 318 Sigma Debs, at the Poston camp in Arizona. They were also baseball players. The caption reads: 318 Sigma Debs. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_07_008
Poston III Christmas Bazzar (ddr-csujad-38-350)
doc Poston III Christmas Bazzar (ddr-csujad-38-350)
A drawing ticket at "Poston III Christmas Bazzar [Bazaar]" which was held at the Poston camp in Arizona, December 3-5, 1943. The caption reads: The ticket that did not win. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 3. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_04_003
Basketball team Sigma XI (ddr-csujad-38-208)
img Basketball team Sigma XI (ddr-csujad-38-208)
Photographed are members of a Nisei men's basketball team, Sigma XI, at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Basketball team Sigma XI. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_07_004
Three-legged race in Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-97)
img Three-legged race in Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-97)
Photographed are incarcerees playing three-legged race in the Jerome incarceration camp in Arkansas. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 22. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_22_002
318 Sigma Debs (ddr-csujad-38-215)
img 318 Sigma Debs (ddr-csujad-38-215)
Photographed are members of a Nisei women's club, 318 Sigma Debs, at the Poston camp in Arizona. They were also baseball players. The caption reads: 318 Sigma Debs. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_07_011
Card to Mitzi Naohara, January 3, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-367)
doc Card to Mitzi Naohara, January 3, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-367)
An invitation card to Block 325 party at Cafe Pendelphie in the Poston camp in Arizona on January 3, 1944. It was sent to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara incarcerated in the Poston camp. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 13. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_14_001
Block R's of Block 318 baseball team (ddr-csujad-38-190)
img Block R's of Block 318 baseball team (ddr-csujad-38-190)
Photographed are members of Block R's of Block 318 baseball team of the high school at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Blk R baseball team. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 4. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_04_009
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