Sports

Sports were a major form of recreation for the Issei and Nisei in the camps. Baseball became the preferred sport for both, although basketball and football were also popular among the Nisei. Organized teams, often consisting of friends from prewar neighborhoods, played each other in highly competitive matches. Other sports, like ping-pong, judo, boxing, badminton, and sumo wrestling were also popular pastimes.

World War II (283)
Concentration camps (2078)
Sports (359)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Manzanar Committee, Sports and recreation in camp

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359 items

doc Transcript from talk by Heart Mountain Community Activity Committee to Toastmaster, guests and friends, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-969)

Transcript from talk by the Heart Mountain Community Activities Committee regarding a sporting event for Gila River and Heart Mountain internees. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0971

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-969/

doc Basketball (ddr-csujad-55-1867)

Essay reflecting on the author's experience forming a basketball team at Poston incarceration camp. Includes three black and white photographs of basketball teams. From the Poston II Reunion Program. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1870

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1867/

img Amache vs. Holly football (ddr-csujad-55-1325)

Black and white photograph depicting a crowd of observers at a football game at Amache incarceration camp. Verso reads, "Amache 7, Holly 0." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1327

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1325/

img Heart Mountain sentinel (October 2, 1943): Zootsuo (ddr-csujad-55-1014)

Comic strip created by Bennie Nobori, published in "Heart Mountain Sentinel" at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Satirical cartoon features the adventures of Zootsuo, a young boy at an incarceration camp. Includes verso in Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1016

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1014/

doc Football activities (ddr-csujad-55-1414)

Program (cover page only) for a high school football game at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. Title from caption. For full program see sac_jaac_1417. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 74. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1414/

img Japanese Americans playing baseball (ddr-densho-151-393)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Baseball is the most popular recreation at this War Relocation Authority center with 80 teams having been formed throughout the Center. Most of the playing is done between the barrack blocks.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-393/

img Japanese Americans playing baseball (ddr-densho-151-394)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Baseball players in a huddle. This game is very popular with 80 teams having been formed to date. Most of the playing is done in the wide firebreak between blocks of barracks.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-394/

doc Second Year at Gila (ddr-densho-469-9)

A summary of the second year spent by camp inmates at the Gila River Relocation Center. Topics on the second year of the camp include the camp's administration, involvement in the war, predominant religions, schools, agriculture, recreation, and population, ending with a timeline of events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-469-9/

img Baseball game (ddr-densho-93-37)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Baseball game, Manzanar Relocation Center, Calif. / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-37/

img Volleyball game (ddr-densho-93-51)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Volley Ball game / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-51/

img Football practice (ddr-densho-93-50)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Football practice, / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-50/

doc Keynote address by Bob H. Suzuki for Nisei Honorary Degree Ceremony (ddr-densho-446-363)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-363/

img Two boys (ddr-densho-359-1105)

Two boys in gees at a concentration camp during World War II. Most likely Manzanar.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1105/

img Two boys in gis (ddr-densho-359-1446)

Two boys pose in gis outside the barracks at Manzanar Concentration Camp. Bob Nakata is on the left

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-359-1446/

doc Letter from Ruth Yamada to Matsuye Koike, March 29, 1943 (ddr-densho-432-14)

This letter discusses life at Rohwer concentration camp, including discussion of a horseshoe tournament. Matsuye Koike received the letter while imprisoned at Fort Missoula, MT. The letter was "detained alien enemy mail examined."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-432-14/

doc Letter to Richard Matsuishi from Stephan Hall (ddr-densho-553-6)

Letter to Richard Matsuishi, President of the Arizona Chapter of the Japanese American Citizen's league, donating the baseball home plate found at the site of Gila River.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-553-6/

img Photograph of home plate (ddr-densho-553-5)

Print out copy of a photograph a wooden baseball homeplate from Gila River Internment Camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-553-5/

doc Letter to Rick Noguchi from Stephen Hall (ddr-densho-553-7)

Letter to Rick Noguchi, Resource Center Director of the Ellis-Shackelford House requesting that any plaque in connection with the display of the Zenimura Ballpark Home Plate contain the phrase "In memory of those whose families were held against their will in the Gila Internment Camp / Donated by the Kawauchi-Hall Family"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-553-7/

img James, Midori and Stephen Hall (ddr-densho-553-4)

From left to right: James Hall, Midori (Kawauchi) Hall, and Stephen Hall

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-553-4/

img Heart Mountain Girls Sports (ddr-ohs-1-84)

Caption on Photo: Rayko Yabe 1st left, 1st Row. Jr. Sports Club taken Dec., 1943.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ohs-1-84/

img Sport Girls (ddr-ohs-1-97)

Caption on Photo: Jr. Sport Girls of Heart Mt.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ohs-1-97/

img Basketball Game (ddr-ohs-1-108)

Caption on Photo: War Relocation Authority. Midland Savings Bldg. Denver, Colo. NO: I-138. DATE: 3/18/1944. PHOTO LOCATION: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Ht. Mt., Wyo. DATA: A hotly contested Interscholastic Basketball game between the Heart Mountain and Powell High School girls team took place at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center on March 18. The Heart Mountain girls …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ohs-1-108/

img Football Game (ddr-ohs-1-106)

Caption on Photo: Heart Mountain. War Relocation Authority. Midland Savings Bldg. Denver, Colo. NO: G-191. DATE: 11/20/1943. PHOTO LOCATION: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Ht. Mt., Wyo. DATA: Real action can be expected when two of the Junior age teams tangle on the Heart Mountain gridiron. Photographer: HIKARU IWASAKI.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ohs-1-106/

img Girls Exercising (ddr-ohs-1-105)

Caption on Photo: War Relocation Authority. Midland Savings Bldg. Denver, Colo. NO: G-231. DATE: 11/17/1943. PHOTO LOCATION: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Ht. Mt., Wyo. DATA: Keeping a trim figure is a chief concern of any young American girl. Regardless of ancestry. This scene, in the Heart Mountain gymnasium, shows a group of young evacuees keeping fit. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ohs-1-105/

img Heart Mountain High School Girls Athletic Association (ddr-ohs-1-104)

Caption on Photo: I think that's Mickey Yabe 4th right First row. G.A.A. Dec., 1943.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ohs-1-104/