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
Nancy K. Araki Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-305-18)
vh Nancy K. Araki Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-305-18)
Recreational activities in camp

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.

Hal Keimi Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-458-10)
vh Hal Keimi Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-458-10)
Joining the Boy Scouts in camp, going on a trip to Yellowstone
Frank Yamasaki Interview I Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-107-20)
vh Frank Yamasaki Interview I Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-107-20)
Community life in Minidoka concentration camp: bands, sumo, Japanese crafts, and other activities
Kay Matsuoka Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-48-29)
vh Kay Matsuoka Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-48-29)
Teaching children Japanese dancing and singing to entertain the Issei in camp
Frank Kitamoto Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-35-18)
vh Frank Kitamoto Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-35-18)
Childhood activities in camp: a network of tunnels in which to play
Hank Shozo Umemoto Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-294-21)
vh Hank Shozo Umemoto Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-294-21)
Sneaking out of camp to hike in the hills outside

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 …

Sue Takimoto Okabe Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-74-6)
vh Sue Takimoto Okabe Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-74-6)
Memories of Minidoka, and traveling outside the barbed wire to perform in nearby towns
Marian Asao Kurosu Interview Segment 52 (ddr-densho-1000-118-52)
vh Marian Asao Kurosu Interview Segment 52 (ddr-densho-1000-118-52)
Hobbies at Pinedale Assembly Center; making jewelry out of shells, sewing

During this interview, Mrs. Kurosu alternately speaks in both English and Japanese. As a result, the English translation of the transcript contains [Jpn.] and [Eng.], which indicate whether the original dialogue was spoken in Japanese or English.

George Yoshida Interview Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-132-29)
vh George Yoshida Interview Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-132-29)
Helping to organize a dance band in camp, rehearsing evenings and weekends
George Yoshida Interview Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-132-30)
vh George Yoshida Interview Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-132-30)
Enjoying playing in the Music Makers, Poston's dance band: "We played more for ourselves than for the entertainment of others"
Sue Kunitomi Embrey Interview Segment 12 (ddr-manz-1-2-12)
vh Sue Kunitomi Embrey Interview Segment 12 (ddr-manz-1-2-12)
Building gardens: "I think it really helped the morale of the people"
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