Sports
Sports leagues were important institutions for Japanese Americans growing up on the West Coast. Both boys and girls played basketball, baseball and other sports. The traditional Japanese martial arts of judo and kendo were practiced as well. Baseball became the primary sport for young Japanese Americans who were often prohibited from playing in the white leagues. The highly competitive games in the all-Japanese American leagues built pride and a sense of community.
Community activities
(871)
Sports
(358)
Related articles from the
Densho Encyclopedia :
Joe Kobuki,
Sports and recreation in camp
358 items
358 items


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National basketball tournament (ddr-densho-114-9)
In the late 1940s, Seattle hosted the National Oriental Basketball Tournament with teams competing from Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Illinois and Vancouver, BC. Games like this one were played at the Seattle University Gymnasium.

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Two men and a boy carrying freshly-caught Snake River trout (ddr-densho-201-321)
Two men and a boy carrying freshly-caught Snake River trout. Caption on front: "Kay, Tsuboi-san. Kay Yamamoto, Mr. Yamamoto, Tusboi-san, Tacoma & Midway Cafe. Snake River trout."

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Soldier in front of "Sporthaus" (ddr-densho-201-188)
Soldier standing in front of a building that says "Sporthaus" ("sports house" or "sports shop") beside a sign written primarily in German designating maps and locations. Part of the Joch Pass, a mountain pass that runs through the Uri Alps in Switzerland.

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Japanese American soldier in Uri Alps, Switzerland (ddr-densho-201-185)
Japanese American soldier standing in front of a sign written primarily in German designating maps and locations. Part of the Joch Pass, a mountain pass that runs through the Uri Alps in Switzerland.

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Man holding fish and fishing pole (ddr-densho-201-338)
Caption on front: "Searun Cutthroat. Gave half of fish to Jim Shaunessy fireman & Mayor of Auburn. 1942 Frank Shaunessy Cocker Spanial gave us."


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"'Dolloff Lake' Trout" (ddr-densho-201-341)
"'Dolloff Lake' Trout. Gave half of fish to Jim Shaunessy fireman & Mayor of Auburn. 1942 Frank Shaunessy Cocker Spanial gave us."

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Man and three children at riverside (ddr-densho-201-319)
Japanese American man and three children at riverside. Caption on front: "White River Judo Picnic Lakota Beach Washington, 1928. Masao Yamashita, me, Thomas Hikida, Tatuo Yonetani."

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Man holding a steelhead trout (ddr-densho-201-322)
Man holding a steelhead trout. Caption on front: "'Steelhead' Green River, Washington."

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Men with fish and fishing pole (ddr-densho-201-335)
Two men outside a car, each holding a fish and one holding a fishing pole. Caption on front: "Me - Mike Ohashi."


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"11 1/2 lb Jan 17, 1942 Steelhead" (ddr-densho-201-332)
Fish hanging from a wall. Caption on front: "11 1/2 lb Jan 17, 1942 Steelhead [trout]."

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Man holding two fish (ddr-densho-201-340)
"Sea-run Cutthroat. Gave half of fish to Jim Shaunessy fireman & Mayor of Auburn. 1942 Frank Shaunessy Cocker Spanial gave us."

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Man holding two steelhead trout (ddr-densho-201-323)
Man holding two steelhead trout. Caption on front: "7 lb Steelhead caught Jan. 30, 1942."

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"'Margelane' my Girl Friend" (ddr-densho-201-246)
Japanese American man and young girl on ski slopes. Caption on front: "'Margelane' my Girl Friend."

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"Steelhead from Green River, 1941" (ddr-densho-201-324)
Caption on front: "Steelhead [trout] from Green River, 1941."

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"San-dan" (ddr-densho-201-314)
Man wearing gi with a palm tree in the background. Caption on front: "San-dan."

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Soldiers and civilians watching a football game (ddr-densho-201-443)
Soldiers and civilians watching a football game. Caption on reverse: "Football."

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"Davos - Jim" (ddr-densho-201-244)
Man in swimwear in front of a Swiss flag. Caption on front: "Davos - Jim."