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 (2384)
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

img Two Japanese Americans playing cards (ddr-densho-159-231)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-231/

img Party for silk screen shop workers (ddr-densho-159-226)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-226/

img Party for silk screen shop workers (ddr-densho-159-230)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-230/

img Japanese Americans playing in the snow (ddr-densho-159-45)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-45/

img Young Buddhists Association choir (ddr-densho-159-98)

Mary Watanabe, choir director.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-98/

img Queen contest (ddr-densho-159-70)

Left to right: Fumi Sotomura, June Sato, Lucy Nakano, Yoshiko Oda, Asano Kasai.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-70/

img Amache USO (ddr-densho-159-60)

Center: Rose Matsuoka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-60/

img Amache USO (ddr-densho-159-61)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-61/

img Young Buddhists Association officers (ddr-densho-159-97)

This photograph is of the new officers for 1943. Front row (center): Reverend Imamura. Second row: unknown, unknown, Alice Yamasaki, Tamaki Hatayama, unknown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-97/

img Party for silk screen shop workers (ddr-densho-159-222)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-222/

img Party for silk screen shop workers (ddr-densho-159-229)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-229/

img Amache USO (ddr-densho-159-62)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-62/

img Amache USO (ddr-densho-159-63)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-63/

img Party for silk screen shop workers (ddr-densho-159-225)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-225/

img Party for silk screen shop workers (ddr-densho-159-224)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-159-224/

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/

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/

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/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 16 (June 15, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-23)

Selected article titles: "Graduation for 120 Seniors on Friday" (p. 1), "Repatriation Requests in Transit to Japan" (PP. 1-2), and "All Meetings, Entertainments Must Be Registered with Police" (p. 2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-23/

doc Tag from 1943 Amache Carnival Souvenir (ddr-densho-329-690)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-329-690/

img Guests at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1254)

Included annotation: X-201, Hospital Silver Tea Party 12/5, Guests.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1254/

img Musical revue (ddr-densho-37-127)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-127/

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/

img Japanese American carpenter building furniture (ddr-densho-37-358)

Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, California. Shinkichi Kiyono, 56, carpenter-evacuee from Longview, Washington, is shown using a carpenter's plane which he won as first prize in a furniture contest conducted among the evacuees of Japanese descent at this War Relocation Authority center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-358/

img Japanese American ice skating (ddr-densho-37-677)

Original WRA caption: Girl skating on a frozen pond in the center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-677/