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 (1454)
Social and recreational activities (1166)

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

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1166 items

img Girls Posing (ddr-hmwf-1-426)

"Kiku, June 25-1944, l20 f19 1/50 G3 Superpan Press" as described on back, girl sitting with Heart Mountain in background

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-426/

img Men in Barracks (ddr-hmwf-1-459)

Two men resting on couch in barracks room

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-459/

img Birthday Party (ddr-hmwf-1-299)

"Ono Birthday Party 29-21-D, Aug 9 1944" as described on back, Flash f11 1/100, PlusX DK 20-30' D76-10'

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-299/

img Girls Posing (ddr-hmwf-1-422)

"Furuidi, Jan 31, 1944; left Heart Mt. Feb. 2-1944" as described on back, group of four girls posing together

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-422/

img Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-509)

"June 24-1944" as described on back, group of women and children sitting around having snacks and drinks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-509/

img Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-442)

"June 28-1944, f16 1/50 G3 Superpan Press D76-46' G3" as described on back, group posing together (Kuwahara, Kumamoto, Suski)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-442/

img Men on stage (ddr-hmwf-1-26)

"Men on stage, one giving speech"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-26/

img Piano Lesson (ddr-hmwf-1-517)

"Piano Lessons, 29-25 N, Jan 12 1944, l9 f6.3 1/10, PlusX DK 20 50' D76 20'" as described on back" Julia Kuwahara, Nagata

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-517/

img Birthday Party (ddr-hmwf-1-288)

"Isao Nakaishi Birthday Party 29-24-D, Aug 31 1944" as described on back, f12.7 1/50 K, Verichrome

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-288/

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/