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

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1262 items

img Drum and bugle corps (ddr-densho-37-565)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. A section of the drum and the bugle corps, a former boy scout unit, performs at the dedication of the hospital at the Topaz Relocation center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-565/

img Flower arrangements on display (ddr-densho-37-1235)

Flower arrangements [ikebana] on display. Included annotation: T-203, Exhibit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1235/

img Y. B. Council (ddr-densho-37-1507)

Included annotation: C-604, Y. B. Council.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1507/

img Boy Scout drum and bugle corps (ddr-densho-37-5)

Original WRA caption: The Hunt District Boy Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, parading in the administration area. This Drum and Bugle Corps, before evacuation was in Troop 123, Portland, Oregon. There are five troops in the Hunt District of the Snake River Area council.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-5/

img Beauty queen contest advertising (ddr-densho-37-318)

Original WRA caption: Signs tacked on barracks advertising the Labor Day beauty queen contest which was held at this relocation center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-318/

img Items on display (ddr-densho-37-1233)

Included annotation: T-201, Exhibit. One piece displayed by June Sakai.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1233/

img Violinist at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1257)

Included annotation: X-204, Hospital Silver Tea Party, Mr. Yagura Violinist.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1257/

img Sculpture on display (ddr-densho-37-1239)

Included annotation: T-206, Exhibit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1239/

img Christmas choir at a hospital tea party (ddr-densho-37-1251)

Included annotation: W-206, Hospital Silver Tea Party, 12/5, Christmas carol choir.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1251/

img Camp fashion show (ddr-densho-37-320)

Original WRA caption: A fashion show was one of the many exhibits held at this relocation center on Labor Day. Great skill was shown in dressmaking and tailoring, and was thoroughly appreciated by the large audience which witnessed this display.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-320/

img Girls' friendship club (ddr-densho-37-131)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-131/

img Japanese American building a model ship (ddr-densho-37-597)

Original WRA caption: Gila River Relocation Center, Rivers, Arizona. Wataru Ichinotsubo, former produce market employee form Los Angeles, California, is shown sandpapering the hull of a model into final shape in the model ship factory here. These ships are carefully constructed for the Navy by the Japanese-American craftsmen.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-597/

img High school dance orchestra (ddr-densho-37-505)

Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. The High School dance orchestra at the Granada Relocation Center at Amache, Colorado.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-505/

doc Amache YWCA Board Meeting Minutes (ddr-densho-356-830)

Minutes from the Amache YWCA's Board meeting on Organizing the New Board on May 29, 1943. This meeting also covered reports on YWCA setup, important dates, and Hospitality House activities. Business covered at the meeting: Purpose for YWCA board, board functions, selection of chairman and officers, discussion of meeting dates.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-830/

doc Invitation (ddr-densho-356-303)

Invitation to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada to attend Toquiwa's membership tea on December 20th. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-303/

doc Report on Advisory Board Meeting (ddr-densho-356-833)

Meeting minutes and report from the advisory board meeting.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-833/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-254)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he details his thoughts and feelings about recent news of governmental attempts to bar Japanese Americans from returning to the West Coast and the recent rulings in EO9066 test cases. He then continues the letter by describing a recent carnival near the base and movies he …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-254/

doc Invitation to a dance at Amache (ddr-densho-356-168)

Invitation to a dance at Amache.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-168/

doc Report of Advisory Board Meeting (ddr-densho-356-834)

Meeting minutes and report from the advisory board meeting.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-834/

doc Program for Amache YWCA Rally (ddr-densho-356-828)

Program for the Amache YWCA Rally on November 14, 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-828/

doc Amache YWCA Staff and Committee list and letter to Yuriko Domoto from Alice Suzuki (ddr-densho-356-829)

Amache YWCA staff and committee list that was attached to a letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Alice Suzuki asking for Yuri to participate in the organization of a YWCA Board.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-829/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Hana Uno (ddr-densho-356-832)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Hana Uno requesting Yuri's presence at the upcoming YWCA meeting on November 16th.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-832/

doc Agenda and minutes from the Coordinating Council Conference (ddr-densho-356-891)

Agenda and minutes from the Coordinating Council Conference on March 13, 1943. Conference included sessions on: What are the elements of a good community, concrete examples of good community thinking and planning, how can we achieve a good community in Amache, Environment, Character-Building, Research-Adjustment, Resettlement

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-891/

doc Invitation to a barbecue at Amache (ddr-densho-356-169)

Invitation to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada to attend a barbecue at Amache.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-169/

doc Program from "Better Citizens in a Better Community: A Conference Community Improvement" (ddr-densho-356-1033)

Program for "Better Citizens in a Better Community: A Conference Community Improvement" Sponsored by the Amache Coordinating Council.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-1033/