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
1166 items
1166 items
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Japanese Americans playing in creek (ddr-densho-151-401)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuee children enjoying a hot summer afternoon in the mountain creek which flows through the desert on the border of this War Relocation Authority center.
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Japanese Americans watching baseball game (ddr-densho-151-468)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuees watching a ball game late in the afternoon at this War Relocation Authority center.
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Japanese Americans playing in stream (ddr-densho-151-473)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry enjoying a hot summer afternoon at this War Relocation Authority center. This mountain stream flows through the desert on the border of the Center.
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Japanese Americans playing games in shade (ddr-densho-151-402)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuees enjoying games under the shade of trees near the creek which flows through the desert on the border of this War Relocation Authrority center.
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Japanese Americans playing go (ddr-densho-151-398)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Playing the Japanese game Goh in the Relocation Hall at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
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Young Japanese American reading comics (ddr-densho-151-472)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuee boy at this War Relocation Authority center reading the Funnies.
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Japanese Americans resting near creek (ddr-densho-151-399)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Family groups enjoying the mountain creek which flows along the outer border of this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
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A Year at Gila Anniversary Booklet (ddr-densho-469-8)
Includes the legend of Gila, a history of the beginning of the Gila River, facts, and maps of the Gila River, as well as summaries of Gila's River's various organizations, departments, work, and activities.
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Second Year at Gila (ddr-densho-469-9)
A summary of the second year spent by camp inmates at the Gila River Relocation Center. Topics on the second year of the camp include the camp's administration, involvement in the war, predominant religions, schools, agriculture, recreation, and population, ending with a timeline of events.
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Japanese American at baton practice (ddr-densho-93-10)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Baton practice, Florence Kuwata, Manzanar Relocation Center / photograph by Ansel Adams.
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Calisthenics class (ddr-densho-93-48)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Calesthenics [sic] / photograph by Ansel Adams.
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Band concert (ddr-densho-93-38)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Band concert (close), Manzanar Relocation Center / photograph by Ansel Adams.
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Seven women with corsages, man standing behind (ddr-densho-464-96)
Women standing before Heart Mountain YBA sign. Inscription on front: 1943 / 9-1943 / Bussie Coronation Ball
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Group of people alongside river, group standing in shallows (ddr-densho-464-50)
Inscription on front: Fishing in the river Shoshone
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Six people sitting on ground at picnic (ddr-densho-464-53)
Inscription on front: Asano putting pigtail on Mr. Kubo
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Two women and a man picknicking by river (ddr-densho-464-36)
Inscription on front: 1944 / Shoshone
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Group of dancing couples seen from above (ddr-densho-464-93)
Inscription on front: Coronation[?] Ball / 1944 / Ora[?] and Mae Inouye
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Letter from Kaz Ikebasu to Kats Nagai (ddr-densho-379-349)
Letter from Kaz Ikebasu, Departmental Supervisor of Community Activities, wishing Kats well on his departure and stating appreciation of his work at Community Activities.
