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 Koto and shamisen performance (ddr-fom-1-50)

Two women playing koto and two women playing shamisen.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-50/

img High school students cleaning up for gardens (ddr-fom-1-726)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-726/

img Christmas decorations in a mess hall (ddr-fom-1-62)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-62/

img Christmas decorations in an activity hall (ddr-fom-1-54)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-54/

img Group photograph of a New Year Grand Recital (ddr-fom-1-48)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-48/

img Japanese garden in Minidoka (ddr-fom-1-371)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-371/

img Constructing a swimming pool (ddr-fom-1-830)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-830/

img Attendees at a Sweetheart Dance (ddr-fom-1-65)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-65/

img 4th of July dance (ddr-fom-1-448)

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

img Family gardens at Block 35 (ddr-fom-1-724)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-724/

img Christmas decorations in an activity hall (ddr-fom-1-58)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-58/

img Two boys with a snow ball (ddr-fom-1-840)

WRA caption on reverse: "These two boys are rapidly developing a love for a sport which is entirely new to them-sledding." Left to right: Toshio Boi, Henry Kumasaka from Seattle, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-840/

img Two children in a performance (ddr-fom-1-49)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-49/

img Two boys sledding (ddr-fom-1-839)

WRA caption on reverse: "These two boys are rapidly developing a love for a sport which is entirely new to them-sledding." Left to right: Toshio Boi, Henry Kumasaka from Seattle, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-839/

img Group photograph of people involved in a performance (ddr-fom-1-70)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-70/

img A dance at Minidoka (ddr-fom-1-409)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-409/

img Two boys sledding (ddr-fom-1-838)

WRA caption on reverse: "These two boys are rapidly developing a love for a sport which is entirely new to them-sledding." Left to right: Toshio Boi, Henry Kumasaka from Seattle, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-838/