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 (277)
Concentration camps (1771)
Social and recreational activities (1230)

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

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1230 items

img Boy reading on the shore of a canal (ddr-densho-475-286)

Black and white photograph of a boy reading on the shore of a canal.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-475-286/

doc Invitation and dance card for Dance "Spring Frolic" (ddr-densho-484-20)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-484-20/

img Children working (ddr-hmwf-1-279)

"2 children working on cleaning shoes on front steps" Identified as Yasuko Ideishi (left) and Mitsuru Ideishi (right)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-279/

img Children working (ddr-hmwf-1-281)

"2 children working on cleaning shoes on front steps" Identified as Yasuko Ideishi (left) and Mitsuru Ideishi (right).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-hmwf-1-281/

doc Tomoye Takahashi's 1943 diary from Topaz (ddr-densho-410-568)

Written on 1943 planner/calendar book from Buckbee Thorne Real Estate. Containing descriptions of camp life, her work on the Topaz Times women's page, sewing projects, meetings and social events, visitors and family news. Blank from March 27 to December 31 (blank pages not processed) except for four pages of names and contact information at back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-568/

img Tailoring class at Poston (ddr-densho-427-5)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-5/

img Tailoring a suit jacket (ddr-densho-427-3)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-3/

img Tailoring class at Poston (ddr-densho-427-2)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-2/

img Group in front of the tailoring center at Poston (ddr-densho-427-1)

A group of women and one man at the tailoring center in Poston concentration camp pose outside of recreation hall block 35.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-1/

img Tailoring exhibit at Poston (ddr-densho-427-8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-8/

img Tailoring class at Poston (ddr-densho-427-4)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-4/

img Tailoring exhibit at Poston (ddr-densho-427-7)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-7/

img Tailoring exhibit at Poston (ddr-densho-427-6)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-427-6/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, April 2, 1943 (ddr-densho-432-15)

This letter discusses life at Rohwer concentration camp. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Missoula, MT. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-15/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, March 29, 1943 (ddr-densho-432-14)

This letter discusses life at Rohwer concentration camp, including discussion of a horseshoe tournament. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Missoula, MT. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-14/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, February 3, 1943 (ddr-densho-432-12)

This letter discusses life at Rohwer concentration camp, including discussion of the social activities, trips into McGehee, and the weather. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Lincoln, Bismark, ND. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-12/

img Two men relaxing by river (ddr-ajah-2-917)

Caption below photo: Kuni Shinta, at left, and Kazuki Hirose take a break, very likely at the Shoshone River, which was just outside the confines of the Heart Mountain camp. The terrain is typical for the area, which has been described as barren and treeless. circa 1943-1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-917/

img Girl Scout Troop 15 Heart Mountain, Wyoming (ddr-ajah-2-928)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-928/

img Four boys eating at campsite (ddr-ajah-2-897)

Caption below photo: Nisei boys eat a meal while hiking their way towards Heart Mountain, circa 1943-1944. The lean-to at left says "T. Morita" (Takuritsu Morita), as his sons were on this trip.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-897/

img Group of girl scouts on camping trip (ddr-ajah-2-888)

Caption below photo: Girl Scout Troop 15, Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Looks like a weenie roast and pots of food, possibly just outside the confines of the camp, possibly near the Shoshone River. 1943

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-888/