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
Men in Barracks (ddr-hmwf-1-459)
img Men in Barracks (ddr-hmwf-1-459)
Two men resting on couch in barracks room
Birthday Party (ddr-hmwf-1-299)
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'
Girls Posing (ddr-hmwf-1-422)
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
Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-509)
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
Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-442)
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)
Piano Lesson (ddr-hmwf-1-517)
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
Birthday Party (ddr-hmwf-1-288)
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
Girl Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-477)
img Girl Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-477)
Girl ice skating with barracks in background
Ice Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-495)
img Ice Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-495)
Men, women, and children ice skating with barracks in background
Piano Class (ddr-hmwf-1-29)
img Piano Class (ddr-hmwf-1-29)
"Mrs. Kuwahara Piano Class Party 23-25N Y.W.C.A June 24th 1944 2-5pm" as described on back f5.6 1/5 superpan Press D76-40'
Women in circle (ddr-hmwf-1-54)
img Women in circle (ddr-hmwf-1-54)
"Women in traditional dress joined in a circle"
Ice Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-479)
img Ice Skating (ddr-hmwf-1-479)
Children ice skating together with barracks in background
Lunch in Mess Hall (ddr-hmwf-1-134)
img Lunch in Mess Hall (ddr-hmwf-1-134)
"Mess Hall - lunch, 29-27 Jan 16 1944" as described on back" Men eating lunch, Speed Graphic-Flash, f11 1/100
Piano Class (ddr-hmwf-1-30)
img Piano Class (ddr-hmwf-1-30)
"Mrs. Julia Kuwahara's Piano Class Party June 24, 1944 2-5pm 23-25N YWCA" as described on back, flash f11 1/100 plus x super Ikonta B DK20-35 D76-10
Vocation Depot (ddr-hmwf-1-103)
img Vocation Depot (ddr-hmwf-1-103)
"Vocation Depot, Nov 6-1944" as described on back
Girls Dancing (ddr-hmwf-1-269)
img Girls Dancing (ddr-hmwf-1-269)
"Emi Matsumoto, Banto Mikaru Odori 21-30 Mess, Aug 27 1944" as described on back, SuperXX SuperIkontaB-Flash f12 1/100
Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-538)
img Group Picture (ddr-hmwf-1-538)
"June 24-1944" as described on back, group of women and children sitting around having snacks and drinks
API