Religion and churches
Religion and churches played an important role in the formation and development of West Coast Japanese American communities. While Buddhism is frequently seen as most prominent, Christianity was also influential. Initially focused on helping new male immigrants adjust to life in the United States, churches soon began catering to increasing numbers of families. By the mid-1930s, Japanese Americans' religious affiliations were split fairly evenly between Christianity and Buddhism.
Religion and churches
(255)
255 items
255 items
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Lillie McCabe (ddr-csujad-29-19)
Photo of Lillie McCabe. Oral history audio and transcript are found in csufccop_jaoh_0030, csufccop_jaoh_0031, and csufccop_jaoh_0032. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1949_P03
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An Oral History with Seiko Ishida (ddr-csujad-29-11)
Retired Kibei teacher recounts samurai parents' background and their immigration to Seattle, Washington; socioeconomic composition of Seattle's Japanese community; earlier teacher training; prewar stays in Japan as a child and as a tutor in a missionary family; experiences as a teacher in the wartime resettlement in New York; and postwar return to Los Angeles. This oral …
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An Oral History with John Yukio Mori (ddr-csujad-29-2)
A Sansei and conscientious objector to the Vietnam war discusses alternate service as partner in Amerasia Bookstore, a nonprofit organization serving Los Angeles's Little Tokyo; activities in Young Buddhist Association; parent's reaction to his current life-style; and long term effect of World War II incarceration. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese Oral History Project …
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An Oral History with Sumiye Takeno, Part I (ddr-csujad-29-59)
An oral history with Sumiye Takeno, a current resident of Denver, Colorado. This interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. The purpose of this interview was to gather information regarding Takeno's incarceration and resettlement experience during World War II. Specifically, the interview covers her childhood in Florin, California, …
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An Oral History with Mitsuo Nitta (ddr-csujad-29-4)
Oral history with Nisei farmer/businessman from pioneering Orange County, California family gives prewar biographical information with emphasis on Japanese Americans in Orange County. Discusses World War II forced removal, experiences in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the role of the Japanese American Citizens League before and after World War II. This oral history was conducted …
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An Oral History with Craig Kei Ihara (ddr-csujad-29-1)
Oral history with Craig Kei Ihara, Sansei and California State University, Fullerton philosophy professor, born at the Rohwer incarceration camp, Arkansas discusses family history, focusing on religion, education, aspirations, and cultural heritage; and recent overnight stay at old Rohwer campsite. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project for the Center for …
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Fujin Home (ddr-densho-2-3)
The Fujin Home, which was affiliated with the Christian Baptist Church, was located at 11th and Spruce in Seattle, Washington. It offered shelter for people such as orphans, the handicapped, and women who were recently divorced or widowed and who had nowhere else to go. Various types of classes and social activities were organized by the …
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Buddist Church Garden (ddr-jamsj-1-1)
The Association helped landscape the Buddist Church in 1958
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Buddhist funeral (ddr-densho-255-187)
Funeral for Reverend Shibata. Large gathering of men, women, and children outside what appears to be a Buddhist temple. In the foreground is a casket decorated with flowers.
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Japanese American and white men and boys at St. Marks church (ddr-densho-259-197)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "St. Marks Church in Hood River, showing [Masuo Yasui], several Issei men, a Caucasian minister, and remarkably, a Japanese minister not Isaac Inouye. St. Marks was either a Catholic or Episcopalian church--or maybe it was a Lutheran church. In any event, the two clerics are wearing their collars backwards, as Catholic and …
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Japanese American and white men and boys at St. Marks church (ddr-densho-259-110)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "St. Marks Church in Hood River, showing [Masuo Yasui], several Issei men, a Caucasian minister, and remarkably, a Japanese minister not Isaac Inouye. St. Marks was either a Catholic or Episcopalian church--or maybe it was a Lutheran church. In any event, the two clerics are wearing their collars backwards, as Catholic and …
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Japanese writing over a memorial table (ddr-densho-259-491)
Possibly part of a Shinto memorial service.
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"Issei men posed in front of Buddhist church" (ddr-densho-259-338)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "Group of Issei men posed in front of Buddhist church. Most probably members of Nipponjin Kai."
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Issei minister and family (ddr-densho-259-151)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "The Reverend Seijiro and Mrs. Hana Uyemura [Uemura], with their first 3 children: Lillian, Margaret & Frances, Rev. Uemura was a well known Issei Methodist minister who knew our family well."
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Japanese American and white men and boys at St. Marks church (ddr-densho-259-237)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "St. Marks Church in Hood River, showing [Masuo Yasui], several Issei men, a Caucasian minister, and remarkably, a Japanese minister not Isaac Inouye. St. Marks was either a Catholic or Episcopalian church--or maybe it was a Lutheran church. In any event, the two clerics are wearing their collars backwards, as Catholic and …
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Young People's Christian Conference (ddr-densho-259-287)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "A sectional Young People's Christian Conference (YPCC) which was held in Yakima, WA, February 23, 1935."
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"Issei men posed in front of Buddhist church" (ddr-densho-259-336)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "Group of Issei men posed in front of Buddhist church. Most probably members of Nipponjin Kai."
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Young people's church gathering (ddr-densho-259-282)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "Some sort of young Nisei gathering taken in front of the Hood River Riverside Church, a Congregational church Since both the Reverends Lester Bond, the then-pastor at Riverside, and Taro Goto are shown, I figure that this was some sort of a young peoples' church gathering, mostly likely a YPCC [Young People's …
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Reverend of the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church (ddr-densho-259-26)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "The Reverend Seijiro and Mrs. Hana Uemura Rev. Uemura was the pastor of the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church in Portland in the 1920s Some Portland Nisei still talk about the old 'me-kyokai' Kyokai in this instance meant church, but the 'me' meant the Methodist Episcopal, which was abbreviated M.E. and read as …
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Young People's Christian Conference (ddr-densho-259-288)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "Posed group photo of many young Nisei This surely must have been another YPCC gathering this conference likely took place at a church in Portland."
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"12th Annual Intermountain District Young Buddhist League Conference" (ddr-densho-255-189)
Bottom right: "12th Annual Intermountain District Young Buddhist League Conference January 24-25 48 Davis High School Utah."
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Association gathering (ddr-densho-255-192)
Gathering of men and women holding signs representing their location. Many of the signs read "Y.B.A.," which could be an acronym for "Young Buddhist Assocation."
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Gathering outside Buddhist church (ddr-densho-255-190)
Men and women gathered outside the Ogden Buddhist Church in the snow.
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Issei men in front of Buddhist church (ddr-densho-259-330)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "39-40 Issei men sitting in chairs in front of what surely must have been a Buddhist church in Portland. The swastika on the door indicates that this was a Buddhist temple. I suspect that these men were members of the Nipponjin Kai--sometimes called the Nihonjin Kai--Japanese Association."