Religion

Japanese Americans used religion as one way to handle the stress of the incarceration experience. Church served as both a spiritual comfort and a place for community gatherings. On Sundays, Buddhist and Christian services and Sunday schools were held in the recreation halls. State Shintoism was another popular religion within the Japanese American community but was banned by the U.S. government on the grounds that it included "Emperor worship." Church services initially were given in both Japanese and English, but camp authorities later banned the use of Japanese at all group gatherings (although translation into Japanese was later permitted at some religious services).

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
Religion (255)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Paul M. Nagano

Facilities
Format
Genre
Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

255 items
Gathas and Service (ddr-densho-387-5)
doc Gathas and Service (ddr-densho-387-5)
English and Japanese language of Gathas and Services for Buddhist Services at Manzanar. The English reads left to right starting from the cover. The Japanese reads right to left starting at the cover.
Buddhist funeral (ddr-densho-39-19)
img Buddhist funeral (ddr-densho-39-19)
The elaborate floral wreaths and arrangements for this Buddhist funeral service were probably fashioned from paper by the camp inmates, since they did not have easy access to fresh flowers.
Rev. L. H. Tibesar posing with the Kinoshita family at gates of Camp Minidoka, Idaho (ddr-densho-403-8)
img Rev. L. H. Tibesar posing with the Kinoshita family at gates of Camp Minidoka, Idaho (ddr-densho-403-8)
Rev. L. H. Tibesar, Maryknoll and pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Seattle posed at Minidoka Concentration Camp near Hunt, Idaho. (L to R) Y. M. McLaughlin, Charles Kinoshita, Fred Kinoshita, Mary Kinoshita, Akino Kinoshita, Jean Alexander, Rev. L. H. Tibesar. This content is copyright restricted. Densho and its partners have received permission from the …
Japanese American in front of Christian church sign (ddr-densho-93-53)
img Japanese American in front of Christian church sign (ddr-densho-93-53)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Tatsuo Miyake (student of divinity) / photograph by Ansel Adams.
Camp Buddhist church (ddr-densho-93-44)
img Camp Buddhist church (ddr-densho-93-44)
Original Ansel Adams caption: People leaving Buddhist church, winter II, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
Camp chapel (ddr-densho-93-42)
img Camp chapel (ddr-densho-93-42)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Entrance, Catholic chapel (V), Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
Buddhist church service (ddr-densho-93-45)
img Buddhist church service (ddr-densho-93-45)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Buddhist service, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
Sunday school class (ddr-densho-93-43)
img Sunday school class (ddr-densho-93-43)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Sunday school class, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
Album of Shinjo Nagatomi (ddr-manz-4-1)
doc Album of Shinjo Nagatomi (ddr-manz-4-1)
Caption in album: "Collections of Manzanar Relocation Center during the years 1942-1943."
View of barracks and Mt. Williamson (ddr-manz-4-19)
img View of barracks and Mt. Williamson (ddr-manz-4-19)
Caption in album: "A beautiful view of Mt. Williamson."
Memo from the Manzanar Buddhist Church (ddr-manz-4-168)
doc Memo from the Manzanar Buddhist Church (ddr-manz-4-168)
Invitation to an "Appreciation Dinner and Entertainment Night."
Memo from the Manzanar Buddhist Church (ddr-manz-4-51)
doc Memo from the Manzanar Buddhist Church (ddr-manz-4-51)
A thank you to members for a successful Obon celebration.
API