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 (1434)
Social and recreational activities (1155)

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

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1155 items

img 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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-96/

img Group of people at picnic (ddr-densho-464-54)

Inscription on front: 21-27 picnic

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-54/

img Group of people alongside river, group standing in shallows (ddr-densho-464-50)

Inscription on front: Fishing in the river Shoshone

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-50/

img Group sitting on ground at picnic (ddr-densho-464-71)

Inscription on front: Shoshone / 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-71/

img Four women standing by car (ddr-densho-464-99)

Inscription on front: [unreadable] picnic

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-99/

img Group picnicking by river (ddr-densho-464-31)

Inscription on front: Shoshone River / 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-31/

img Six people sitting on ground at picnic (ddr-densho-464-53)

Inscription on front: Asano putting pigtail on Mr. Kubo

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-53/

img Two women and a man picknicking by river (ddr-densho-464-36)

Inscription on front: 1944 / Shoshone

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-36/

img Group picnicking by river (ddr-densho-464-30)

Inscription on front: Shoshone River / 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-30/

img Group at picnic (ddr-densho-464-42)

Inscription on front: Mess Hall Picnic / 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-42/

img Group of dancing couples seen from above (ddr-densho-464-93)

Inscription on front: Coronation[?] Ball / 1944 / Ora[?] and Mae Inouye

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-93/

vh Louise Kashino Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-31-17)

Social activities for teenagers in camp

For the first hour of this interview, an additional camera crew from KCTS Television was also present.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-31-17/

vh Helen Takeshita Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-471-4)

Memories of father making natto in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-471-4/

vh Fumi Kaseguma Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-203-14)

Participating in camp choir, touring towns outside

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-203-14/

vh Robert Moriguchi Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-515-13)

Childhood memories of Amache

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-515-13/

vh June Takahashi Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-88-25)

Dating and privacy in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-88-25/

vh June Takahashi Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-88-24)

Camp social activities: dances

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-88-24/

vh Gene Akutsu Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-1-27)

Having strict parents -- even in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-1-27/

vh Sam Mihara Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-516-10)

Passing the time in camp as a child

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-516-10/

vh Shig Yabu Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-272-17)

Leaving camp to go hiking

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-272-17/