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
An oral history with Atsufumi Archie Miyatake - Segment 1 (ddr-csujad-29-65-1)
vh An oral history with Atsufumi Archie Miyatake - Segment 1 (ddr-csujad-29-65-1)
An oral interview with Archie Miyatake, the son of Toyo Miyatake. Like his father, he was a photographer who took pictures of incarcerated Japanese Americans who were forced into camps during World War II. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Audio is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0161. …
An oral history with Celeste Teodor - Segment 1 (ddr-csujad-30-19-1)
vh An oral history with Celeste Teodor - Segment 1 (ddr-csujad-30-19-1)
An oral interview with Celeste Teodor, an incarceree at the Children's Village orphanage. The interview was conducted for the Children's Village at the Manzanar Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Audio is found in item: csufccop_cvm_0137. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 3776_F01
An oral history with Dennis Tojo Bambauer - Segment 1 (ddr-csujad-30-17-1)
vh An oral history with Dennis Tojo Bambauer - Segment 1 (ddr-csujad-30-17-1)
An oral interview with Dennis Tojo Bambauer, an incarceree at the Children's Village. The interview was conducted for the Children's Village at Manzanar Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. The audio file is found in item: csufccop_cvm_0105. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2335_F01
Mollie Nakasaki Interview Segment 14 (ddr-jamsj-2-4-14)
vh Mollie Nakasaki Interview Segment 14 (ddr-jamsj-2-4-14)
Recreational activities in concentration camp: attending school

This interview was conducted by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and is part of a project entitled "Lasting Stories: The Resettlement of San Jose Japantown," a collaborative project between the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and Densho.

Perry Dobashi Interview Segment 9 (ddr-jamsj-2-3-9)
vh Perry Dobashi Interview Segment 9 (ddr-jamsj-2-3-9)
Memories of being a child in camp

This interview was conducted by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and is part of a project entitled "Lasting Stories: The Resettlement of San Jose Japantown," a collaborative project between the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and Densho.

Dave Tatsuno Interview Segment 12 (ddr-jamsj-2-6-12)
vh Dave Tatsuno Interview Segment 12 (ddr-jamsj-2-6-12)
Forming a YMCA chapter in camp

This interview was conducted by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and is part of a project entitled "Lasting Stories: The Resettlement of San Jose Japantown," a collaborative project between the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and Densho.

George Nakata Interview Segment 26 (ddr-one-7-29-26)
vh George Nakata Interview Segment 26 (ddr-one-7-29-26)
Music and drama in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

George Nakata Interview Segment 24 (ddr-one-7-29-24)
vh George Nakata Interview Segment 24 (ddr-one-7-29-24)
Taking excursions out of camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

George Nakata Interview Segment 17 (ddr-one-7-29-17)
vh George Nakata Interview Segment 17 (ddr-one-7-29-17)
Exploring the area just outside the camp's fences

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Alice Matsumoto Ando Interview Segment 6 (ddr-one-7-73-6)
vh Alice Matsumoto Ando Interview Segment 6 (ddr-one-7-73-6)
Recreational activities in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

George Azumano Interview Segment 19 (ddr-one-7-32-19)
vh George Azumano Interview Segment 19 (ddr-one-7-32-19)
Passing the time in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Kenji J. Yaguchi Interview Segment 10 (ddr-one-7-63-10)
vh Kenji J. Yaguchi Interview Segment 10 (ddr-one-7-63-10)
Organizing a Boy Scout troop in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Mas Okui Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1003-13-19)
vh Mas Okui Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1003-13-19)
Leaving camp to go fishing

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1002-4-12)
vh Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1002-4-12)
An opportunity to leave camp for a day to perform onstage for a local high school and Lions Club

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the …

Eiko Shibayama Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1001-14-11)
vh Eiko Shibayama Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1001-14-11)
Recreational activities in camp: swimming, movies, birthday parties
Michiko Amatatsu Noritake Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1001-4-7)
vh Michiko Amatatsu Noritake Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1001-4-7)
Memories of Manzanar: working in the nursery, recreational activities
Bill Hiroshi Shishima Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-393-14)
vh Bill Hiroshi Shishima Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-393-14)
Participating in a stamp club in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Bill Hiroshi Shishima Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-393-13)
vh Bill Hiroshi Shishima Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-393-13)
Going on hikes out the camp with the Boy Scouts

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of …

Bill Hiroshi Shishima Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-393-12)
vh Bill Hiroshi Shishima Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-393-12)
Joining the Boy Scouts in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

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