“Baseball saved us”: Recreation as refuge in a world war ii Japanese American prison camp¹

This study evaluated the role of recreation in the lives of internees at Man‐zanar, a Japanese American World War II prison camp located in California's Owens Valley. Specifically, the meaning of various art forms, organized sports and games, clubs and associations, and nature appreciation were interpreted in light of Yamato Damashii, Japanese character or spirit. The results of the study indicated that recreational pastimes were an important form of solace for internees, young and old alike. Implications for the way in which the story of Manzanar—recently designated a National Historic Site— might shed light on the significance of recreation in times of civil unrest conclude the article.