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 (2384)
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

img Crowd on a carnival night (ddr-densho-37-1238)

Included annotation: V-201, Carnival Canal.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1238/

img Japanese American building a model ship (ddr-densho-37-592)

Original WRA caption: Gila River Relocation Center, Rivers, Arizona. Chic Yamaguchi, former farm worker from Kingsburg, California, is shown turning a section of one of the model ships on the lathe in the model ship factory at the Gila River Relocation Center. Chic had never operated power machinery before starting work in the factory here. Prior …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-592/

img Navy and White girls presenting gifts (ddr-densho-37-1499)

Included annotation: B-601, Navy and White Girls presenting gift to Inductee.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1499/

img Wood carving class (ddr-densho-37-551)

Original WRA caption: Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. In a wood carving class, this center resident, a former Californian of Japanese ancestry works on a patriotic carving out from a natural hardwood formation.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-551/

img High school band members (ddr-densho-37-539)

Original WRA caption: Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. A snare drum section of the high school band, in a practice session at the school band room. Most of the student band members are playing instuments for the first time, and the band is fast becoming a matter of much pride among center residents, former west coast …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-539/

img Block 55 tools in display (ddr-densho-37-1229)

Included annotation: S-205, Exhibits.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1229/

img Lifeguards (ddr-densho-37-6)

Original WRA caption: Volunteer lifeguards at outdoor swimming hol[e] constructed close to north side irrigation canal. At left is Willard Jeager, Hunt High School teacher and volunteer Red Cross life-saving instructor. At right is Walter Kipp, community activities supervisor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-6/

img Vegetables on display (ddr-densho-37-1232)

Included annotation: S-208, Exhibits.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1232/

img Woman at dressmaker's exhibit (ddr-densho-37-1222)

Included annotation: R-206, Dressmaker's Exhibit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1222/

img Camp high school brass band (ddr-densho-37-533)

Original WRA caption: Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. A part of the brass section of the High School Band, at the Rohwer Center. The students learning to play instruments for the band are former Californians, who, with their parents, were evacuated from stratiegic west coast areas.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-533/

img Camp Boy Scouts (ddr-densho-37-427)

Original WRA caption: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Boy Scouts conducting a morning flag raising ceremony at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center. Where persons of Japanese ancestry, evacuated from West Coast defennse areas, now reside.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-427/

img Downbeat (band) farewell (ddr-densho-37-130)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-130/

img Block 63 exhibit (ddr-densho-37-1225)

Included annotation: S-201, Exhibits.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1225/

img Clothing and home goods on display (ddr-densho-37-1236)

Included annotation: T-204, Exhibit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1236/

doc Letters to Yuri Domoto from Kayoko Riusaki and Sonoko Riusaki (ddr-densho-356-342)

Two letters to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada mailed together, one from her niece Kayoko Riusaki and one from her sister Sonoko Domoto Riusaki. In the first letter Kayoko tells about joining the girl scouts, a cancelled scouting trip, and preparations on starting the 5th grade. In the second letter Sonoko writes about life in Gila River, being …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-342/

doc Monthly Report on Topaz Boy Scouts (ddr-densho-356-901)

Monthly Report on Topaz Boy Scouts for the month of March. Includes scout activities, and issues the troop faces due to circumstances.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-901/

doc Amache YWCA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes (ddr-densho-356-831)

Minutes from the Amache YWCA's Advisory Board Meeting on June 26, 1943. This meeting covered reports on Hospitality House activities, conferences, harvest camp, carnival, and financials. It also covered business on staff, membership forms, blue star mothers, selection of chairman and officers, and the next meeting date.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-831/

doc YWCA Conference tag (ddr-densho-356-826)

YWCA Conference tag identifying Yuriko Domoto as a member of the Amache YWCA.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-826/

doc Letter to Dorothy Takechi from Florence Hellman regarding Tolan Committee report and other secondary sources (ddr-densho-356-835)

Letter to Dorothy Takechi, Chairman of the Amache Young Women's Christian Association from Florence Hellman, Chief Bibliography and Librarian at the Library of Congress. The letter is in response to an inquiry about procuring copy(s) of the Tolan Committee report(s). The letter provides full titles and pricing for copies of the hearings and reports and provides …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-835/

doc Amache YWCA Meeting Agenda (ddr-densho-356-827)

Amache YWCA Meeting Agenda for meeting on October 29, 1942. Topics include: YWCA activities prior to relocation, Amache YWCA, suggestions and discussion.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-827/