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
The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 16 (June 15, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-23)
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/
Tag from 1943 Amache Carnival Souvenir (ddr-densho-329-690)
doc Tag from 1943 Amache Carnival Souvenir (ddr-densho-329-690)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-329-690/
Musical revue (ddr-densho-37-127)
img Musical revue (ddr-densho-37-127)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-127/
Guests at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1254)
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/
Japanese American carpenter building furniture (ddr-densho-37-358)
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/
Queen of Hunt High School (ddr-densho-37-4)
img Queen of Hunt High School (ddr-densho-37-4)
Original WRA caption: Queen of Hunt High School May Day Festival being crowned by Richard A. Pomeroy, Supt. of Education, is shown with her attendants. The court was chosen by popular vote in a contest sponsored by the student body. Left to right: Pri[n]ce Victor Fujioka, Princess Dorothy Sugawara, Mr. Pomeroy, Queen Betty Aoki, Princess Sue …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-4/
Art class (ddr-densho-37-509)
img Art class (ddr-densho-37-509)
Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. An adult art class under the direction of Tokio Ueyama, working in pencil sketch charcoals and oils. Adult art classes are extremely popular at the Amache Center.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-509/
Camp band performance (ddr-densho-37-681)
img Camp band performance (ddr-densho-37-681)
Original WRA caption: Norakuro band. This is called a harmonica band although harmonicas are augmented by an equal number of other instruments. The organization including the name is patterned after Borrah Minnevitch's Harmonica Rascals. The band plays for center dances and is very popular. They play both American and Japanese music, often putting Japanese lyrics to …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-681/
Serving tea at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1253)
img Serving tea at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1253)
Included annotation: W-208. Hospital Silver Tea Party 12/5, Serving Tea.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1253/
Boy Scout Headquarters (ddr-densho-37-773)
img Boy Scout Headquarters (ddr-densho-37-773)
Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. "Amache District Headquarters, Boy Scouts of America, Granada Relocation Center."
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-773/
Japanese Americans swimming in irrigation canal (ddr-densho-37-326)
img Japanese Americans swimming in irrigation canal (ddr-densho-37-326)
Original WRA caption: Swimming hole located south of warehouse area adjacent to the North Side Irrigation Canal which may be seen at upper right. Water flows from canal into pool and out again. The average depth of the pool is 6 feet.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-326/
Y. B. Council (ddr-densho-37-1513)
img Y. B. Council (ddr-densho-37-1513)
Included annotation: C-604.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1513/
USO exhibit (ddr-densho-37-1230)
img USO exhibit (ddr-densho-37-1230)
Included annotation: S-206, Exhibits.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1230/
Japanese American making jewelry (ddr-densho-37-547)
img Japanese American making jewelry (ddr-densho-37-547)
Original WRA caption: Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. Among the unusual hobbies to be found in the relocation center, whose residents are former west coast persons of Japanese ancestry, is this former Californian's semi-precious stone cutting. He has prepared much interesting jewelry from bits of unusual stone picked up on the center grounds.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-547/
Carolers at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1252)
img Carolers at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1252)
Included annotation: W-207, Hospital Silver Tea Party, 12/5, Christmas carol choirs.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1252/
Camp flower garden (ddr-densho-37-323)
img Camp flower garden (ddr-densho-37-323)
Original WRA caption: Evacuee flower garden.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-323/
Japanese American and handmade cabinet (ddr-densho-37-357)
img Japanese American and handmade cabinet (ddr-densho-37-357)
Original caption: Shinkichi Kiyono, 56, evacuee from Longview, Washington, exhibits the cabinet which won him first prize (a carpenter's plane) in a furniture building contest. All pieces of furniture were made from scrap lumber.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-357/
Canal inductees outside building (ddr-densho-37-1498)
img Canal inductees outside building (ddr-densho-37-1498)
Included annotation: A-608, Canal Inductee, 6/7.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1498/
Actors seated on a stage (ddr-densho-37-1234)
img Actors seated on a stage (ddr-densho-37-1234)
Included annotation: T-202, Play.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1234/
Musicians at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1256)
img Musicians at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1256)
Included annotation: X-203, Hospital Silver Tea Party 12/5, Mr. Yagura Violinist, Mrs. Yagura Piano accompanist.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1256/
Camp Boy Scouts receiving badges (ddr-densho-37-554)
img Camp Boy Scouts receiving badges (ddr-densho-37-554)
Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. Boy Scouts hold court of Honor at Central Utah Relocation Center at Topaz. Deputy Director, James F. Hughes, presents merit badges to first class scouts.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-554/
Tule Lake symphony (ddr-densho-37-133)
img Tule Lake symphony (ddr-densho-37-133)
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-133/
Talent show skit (ddr-densho-37-380)
img Talent show skit (ddr-densho-37-380)
Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Segregation Center, Newell, California. Skit by boys in talent show sponsored by Tri-State High School student body June 9 at Tule Lake Center to help finance the annual.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-380/
Japanese Americans fishing (ddr-densho-37-367)
img Japanese Americans fishing (ddr-densho-37-367)
Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, California. During the noon hour, evacuee farm workers fish for carp in a nearby slough.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-367/
Camp garden and pond (ddr-densho-37-830)
img Camp garden and pond (ddr-densho-37-830)
Original WRA caption: Poston, Arizona. Landscaping done by evacuee residents of Camp Number1.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-830/
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