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

Teenage incarceree spending Sunday afternoon in various activities such as ironing, playing cards, etc. at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-37)

img Teenage incarceree spending Sunday afternoon in various activities such as ironing, playing cards, etc. at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-37)

Teenage incarceree spending Sunday afternoon in various activities such as ironing, playing cards, etc. at Granada incarceration camp. August 30, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f02

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-37/

img Block R's of 318 Block (ddr-csujad-38-182)

A group photograph of the members of Block R's 318, a Nisei men's club of the high school at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Blk "R's" 318, Poston Ariz. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 4. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_04_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-182/

img Sack race in Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-87)

A photograph of the end of a sack race in the Jerome incarceration camp in Arkansas during a camp-sponsored game day. It captures participants and barracks at the camp. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 21. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_21_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-87/

img Sack ace in the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-102)

Photographed are children incarcerated in the Jerome incarceration camp in Arkansas, playing a sack race. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 22. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_22_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-102/

img Block R's of 318 Block (ddr-csujad-38-183)

School yearbook photo taken by Paul Shintaku. Photographed are Tosa Aoki, John, Ben Nobuhiro, Ben Kitahara, Bob, Kan Ibasa, Seizo Ishizaki, Kiyo Ishida, and Harry Fukuhara, who are members of "Block R's of 318 Block," a Nisei men's club of the high school, at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Block R's of 318 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-183/

doc George Naohara's handwritten annotation (ddr-csujad-38-3)

English translation of handwritten annotation from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 5: When I went to the Manzanar camp in California, late Hiromu Sasaki took me to Maryknoll School, which was a Japanese language school located on Alameda Blvd, Los Angeles, California. I remember I packed my birth certificate, clothes, and other necessities into my …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-3/

img Mitzi Naohara photo album (ddr-csujad-38-163)

A photo album compiled by Mitzi Masukawa Naohara. Contained are photographs mainly taken during the war, depicting lives at the Poston camp in Arizona, where the Masukasa family was incarcerated. Mitzi was a preschool teacher at the Poston camp, and photographs of the children incarcerated at the camp are included. She also belonged to a young …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-163/

img Block R's of 318 Block (ddr-csujad-38-184)

School yearbook photo taken by Paul Shintaku. Photographed are Tosa Aoki, John, Ben Nobuhiro, Ben Kitahara, Bob, Kan Ibasa, Seizo Ishizaki, Kiyo Ishida, and Harry Fukuhara, who are members of "Block R's of 318 Block," a Nisei men's club of the high school at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Block R's of 318 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-184/

doc Card to Mitzi Naohara (ddr-csujad-38-363)

An invitation card to a gathering for Freidereka Green held on May 29, 3:15-4:30, at the Poston camp in Arizona. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 11. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_12_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-363/

img Basketball team Sigma XI (ddr-csujad-38-208)

Photographed are members of a Nisei men's basketball team, Sigma XI, at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Basketball team Sigma XI. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_07_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-208/

img Three-legged race in Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-97)

Photographed are incarcerees playing three-legged race in the Jerome incarceration camp in Arkansas. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 22. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_22_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-97/

img 318 Sigma Debs (ddr-csujad-38-215)

Photographed are members of a Nisei women's club, 318 Sigma Debs, at the Poston camp in Arizona. They were also baseball players. The caption reads: 318 Sigma Debs. Title from caption. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_07_011

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-215/

doc Card to Mitzi Naohara, January 3, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-367)

An invitation card to Block 325 party at Cafe Pendelphie in the Poston camp in Arizona on January 3, 1944. It was sent to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara incarcerated in the Poston camp. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 13. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_14_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-367/

img Block R's of Block 318 baseball team (ddr-csujad-38-190)

Photographed are members of Block R's of Block 318 baseball team of the high school at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Blk R baseball team. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 4. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_04_009

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-190/

doc Card to Mitzi Naohara, May 18, 1945 (ddr-csujad-38-368)

An invitation card to a dance program, "Adios Amigos" held at 318 Mess Hall of the Poston camp in Arizona, on May 18, 1945. It was sent to "Mitsuko" who is Mitzi Masukawa Naohara incarcerated at the camp. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 13. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-368/

doc Junction "Jive" (ddr-csujad-38-351)

A program for an event, "Junction 'Jive,'" held at the Poston camp in Arizona on Saturday November 13, 1943. An item from: Mitzi Naohara scrapbook (csudh_nao_0400), page 3. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_03_04_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-351/

img Gila River Co-op workers' picnic (ddr-csujad-42-232)

A group photo of the Gila River Co-op workers. It was taken during the picnic. The handwritten note on the back side reads: Gila Co-op workers picnic, April 15, 1945. Stamped on the back side: Photographed by Kunkle and Wilcox 331 W. Washington St. Ph. 3-4563, Phoenix Arizona. See this object in the California State Universities …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-232/

img Third All Center Enterprises Conference (ddr-csujad-42-226)

Photographed is a group of the 3rd All Center Enterprises Conference attendees. The annotation on the back side reads: The conference was held at the Gila River camp on December 4, 1944. Representatives from enterprises at all incarceration camps attended it. The photo was taken to commemorate the conference but I [Itsuhei Takano] was unable to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-226/

img Outdoor stage at the Gila River incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-42-223)

Photographed are audiences and an outdoor stage at the Gila River incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_02_06_005

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-223/

img Home Makerettes (ddr-csujad-44-43)

A photograph of five young Nisei women incarcerated at Tule Lake, California. They are the members of a women's club, the Home Makerettes. They are standing outside posing together for the camera. Barracks are visible behind them. Photo inscription on back: "The Home Makerettes." Title from inscription. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-43/

img Three Nisei couples dancing (ddr-csujad-44-55)

A photograph of three Nisei couples dancing in a dimly lit room while incarcerated at Tule Lake, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0055

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-55/

img Nisei man standing next to carnival game (ddr-csujad-44-53)

A photograph of a Nisei man incarcerated at Tule Lake, California. He is standing next to a homemade carnival game consisting of a hoop with strings attached on top of a pole. A sign behind the man reads "goal-hi." Groups of people are walking past the man. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-53/

img Outdoor stage at the Gila River incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-42-221)

Photographed are audiences and an outdoor stage at the Gila River incarceration camp. The caption reads: Outdoor stage at the Gila River incarceration camp. Title from caption. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_02_06_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-221/

img Gila River Co-op workers' picnic (ddr-csujad-42-231)

A group photo of the Gila River Co-op workers. It was taken during the picnic. The handwritten note on the back side reads: Co-op worker's picnic, Feb. 1944. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_02_07_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-231/

doc Letter from Makoto Okine to Mr. Okine, June 28, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-82)

A letter from Makoto Okine in Lecce, Italy to his father, Seiichi Okine, in the Rohwer incarceration camp in Arkansas. It is mailed via New York by the US Army Postal Service. In the letter, Makoto assumes that not many people participate in the bonodori event in the camp this time because many of the young …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-82/