Kenjinkai

Kenjinkai were organizations made up of Issei (Japanese immigrants) who shared roots in the same prefecture (ken) in Japan. They fostered a sense of community for immigrants in a strange land by sponsoring social events such as dinners and picnics, serving as mutual aid societies, and providing informal networks for apprenticeships, hiring, and business patronage.

Community activities (871)
Associations and organizations (537)
Kenjinkai (43)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Kenjinkai

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

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

Gallery view
List view

43 items

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-38-9)

Kenjinkai activities in the prewar Japanese American community in Spokane, Washington

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-9/

vh Chris Kato - Yoshi Mamiya - Tad Sato Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-33-20)

The role of the kenjinkai in the prewar Japanese American community

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-33-20/

vh Chris Kato - Yoshi Mamiya - Tad Sato Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-33-19)

Memories of kenjinkai picnics

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-33-19/

vh Frank Miyamoto Interview I Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-50-6)

"Ken" (prefecture) connections: how Japanese geography affected Japanese American businesses

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-50-6/

vh Mary Kinoshita Ikeda Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-510-10)

The importance of kenjinkai activities before World War II

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-510-10/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-164-6)

Childhood memories of Mount Eden, California: kenjinkai picnics, father is community's Japanese school teacher

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-6/

vh Francis Mas Fukuhara Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-9-2)

Four close families, continuing "ken" connections

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-9-2/

vh Fumiko Uyeda Groves Segment 39 (ddr-densho-1000-10-39)

Involvement helping visitors from Japan through the Nikkeijinkai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-10-39/

vh Fumiko Uyeda Groves Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-10-27)

Importance of ken connections

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-10-27/

vh May Y. Namba Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-171-6)

Religion as a child; father's involvement in community activities

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-171-6/

vh Victor Ikeda Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-487-2)

Importance of prefectural connections

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-487-2/

vh Rudy Tokiwa Interview II Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-92-4)

Taking care of people within the community, kenjinkai associations

This interview was conducted at the 1998 Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans National Convention, held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-92-4/

vh Katsugo Miho Interview II Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1022-2-7)

Community groups in prewar Maui: kenjinkai, fujinkai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1022-2-7/

vh James Sakamoto Interview Segment 3 (ddr-jamsj-2-1-3)

Prewar community activities: picnics, theater, baseball

This interview was conducted by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and is part of a project entitled "Lasting Stories: The Resettlement of San Jose Japantown," a collaborative project between the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-jamsj-2-1-3/

vh Kiyo Maruyama Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1003-1-15)

Memories of kenjinkai picnics

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1003-1-15/

vh Jim Hirabayashi Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1002-5-7)

Issei life: community associations, cultural traditions

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1002-5-7/

vh Ruby Inouye Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-143-11)

Discussion of prewar kenjinkai activities

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-143-11/

vh Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-165-6)

Father's role within the Japanese American community

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-165-6/