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

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255 items
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.
Masao Murata in uniform (ddr-manz-4-20)
img Masao Murata in uniform (ddr-manz-4-20)
Caption: "To / Rev. Nagatomi / Sincerely yours, / Masao Murata / July 1st 1942."
Letter sent to Rev. Shinjo Nagatomi from Rev. E. Shigefuji (ddr-manz-4-17)
doc Letter sent to Rev. Shinjo Nagatomi from Rev. E. Shigefuji (ddr-manz-4-17)
Rev. E. Shigefuji thanking Rev. Nagatomi for sending a Bible. Also discussed, life in camp and his move from Lordsburg to Santa Fe.
Memo from Shinjo Nagatomi to David Bromley (ddr-manz-4-276)
doc Memo from Shinjo Nagatomi to David Bromley (ddr-manz-4-276)
Memo regarding Shinjo Nagatomi's ability to travel to review evacuee property stored at the San Francisco Buddhist Church.
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