1. Topics

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 (283)
Concentration camps (2078)
Social and recreational activities (1262)

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

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1262 items
Photo and story of informal boys club called the Cherokee Club (ddr-ajah-2-901)
img Photo and story of informal boys club called the Cherokee Club (ddr-ajah-2-901)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-901/
Program for farewell event: Sayonara, Transferees! (ddr-ajah-2-941)
doc Program for farewell event: Sayonara, Transferees! (ddr-ajah-2-941)
Invitation and program for farewell party for incarcerees being transferred to Tule Lake from Topaz, including Susumu and Tomoe Tomine.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-941/
Campsite on hike to Heart Mountain (ddr-ajah-2-919)
img Campsite on hike to Heart Mountain (ddr-ajah-2-919)
Caption below photo: Nisei boys relax at their makeshift campsite while hiking towards Heart Mountain. Note at Left are pots for making their meal, and the lean-to to sleep under. Circa 1943-1944
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-919/
Man hiking at Heart Mountain (ddr-ajah-2-914)
img Man hiking at Heart Mountain (ddr-ajah-2-914)
Caption below photo: A group of young Nisei boys hike their way towards to peak of Heart Mountain, circa 1943-1944
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-914/
Tule Lake Directory and Camp News (ddr-densho-520-1)
doc Tule Lake Directory and Camp News (ddr-densho-520-1)
A book complied by Harry Inukai and published in May 1988. It includes a directory of Tule Lake concentration camp between May 1942 through September 1943 including barrack addresses. The second half of the book includes camp news in the following categories: Shows and Entertainment, Social Highlights, Vital Statistics, Departures, Arrivals and Transfers, Service News, Farm …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-520-1/
Letter from Masako Tada to Marion Blomgren (ddr-densho-540-24)
doc Letter from Masako Tada to Marion Blomgren (ddr-densho-540-24)
Masako Tada discusses her daily life in the Midoka concentration camp.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-540-24/
Boys and girls activities club in camp (ddr-densho-550-321)
img Boys and girls activities club in camp (ddr-densho-550-321)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-550-321/
Young woman and man in uniform eating in front of Christmas tree (ddr-densho-122-732)
img Young woman and man in uniform eating in front of Christmas tree (ddr-densho-122-732)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-732/
Young women and young men in uniform seated (ddr-densho-122-731)
img Young women and young men in uniform seated (ddr-densho-122-731)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-731/
Children Jump Rope (ddr-densho-556-7)
img Children Jump Rope (ddr-densho-556-7)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-556-7/
8 People at Rowher (ddr-densho-556-1)
img 8 People at Rowher (ddr-densho-556-1)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-556-1/
Group of Children (ddr-densho-556-6)
img Group of Children (ddr-densho-556-6)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-556-6/
Memoirs 1945 - Minidoka High School Yearbook (ddr-densho-474-50)
doc Memoirs 1945 - Minidoka High School Yearbook (ddr-densho-474-50)
Yearbook for the Minidoka High School, property of Starr Urakawa. Student signatures are included throughout the book.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-50/
Block party group photo (ddr-densho-560-31)
img Block party group photo (ddr-densho-560-31)
Signatures on back
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-31/
Page with photo and text (ddr-densho-560-32)
img Page with photo and text (ddr-densho-560-32)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-32/
Block party group photo with text (ddr-densho-560-30)
img Block party group photo with text (ddr-densho-560-30)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-30/
Seven men outside barracks (ddr-densho-560-33)
img Seven men outside barracks (ddr-densho-560-33)
Written on photo edge: 1944 Topaz, Utah
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-33/
Memoirs 1944 - Minidoka High School Yearbook (ddr-densho-474-49)
doc Memoirs 1944 - Minidoka High School Yearbook (ddr-densho-474-49)
Yearbook for the Minidoka High School, property of Starr Urakawa. Student signatures are included throughout the book.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-49/
Memoirs 1943 - Minidoka High School Yearbook (ddr-densho-474-48)
doc Memoirs 1943 - Minidoka High School Yearbook (ddr-densho-474-48)
Yearbook for the Minidoka High School, property of Starr Urakawa. The school included grades 8-12. Individual students are photographed in senior portraits or class photos. Student activities are represented, including student labor/work experience program ("part-time workers"), May Day royalty, and sports. Student signatures are included throughout the book.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-48/
70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)
doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)
The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/
The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 29 (September 14, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-35)
doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 29 (September 14, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-35)
Selected article titles: "8000 Attend Undokai; Ward VIII Wins Title" (pp. 1, 6), "First Escheat Action Filed in Orange County" (p. 1), and "WRA Policy on Eye Glass Indemnity Given" (p. 1).
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-35/
Interview with Clarence Matsumura, part 3 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1771)
av Interview with Clarence Matsumura, part 3 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1771)
Continued from ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1609/. Matsumura discusses the impact of growing up in a small town in Wyoming (particularly the lack of discrimination), the discrimination he faced in Heart Mountain, the movie theaters he ran at Heart Mountain, the extracurricular programs he helped run in camp, going to school, volunteering for the military from school, his time …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1771/
The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 30 (July 27, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-78)
doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 30 (July 27, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-78)
Selected article titles: "On 1 Condition: Swtz. to Look After Japanese Interests" (p. 1), "Assistance Granted to Resettlers in Need" (pp. 1-2), "Ration Books Now Issued at Tule Lake Camp" (p. 2), and "At Gym: 'Grand Student Recital' Aug. 3" (p. 4).
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-78/
The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 24 (June 15, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-73)
doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 24 (June 15, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-73)
Selected article titles: "4 C's May Ask for Change in Draft Classification" (p. 1), "New Service for Those Planning to Go Outside" (p. 2), "100th Infantry Returns from European Front" (p. 3), and "Japanese Movies: Two 35mm Films Scheduled June 18-22 at Auditorium" (p. 4). Page 5 is mislabeled as page 6.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-73/
The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 42 (December 14, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-44)
doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 42 (December 14, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-44)
Selected article titles: "Renunciation: Queries on Procedure Answered by Burling" (pp. 1-2) and "Mess Operations Festival: Division to Select Queen; Nominations Open Today" (p. 3).
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-44/
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