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 (286)

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286 items
Ryo Imamura Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-27-30)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-27-30)
Discussion of prewar discrimination against Buddhists and social pressures to convert to Christianity
Ryo Imamura Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-27-6)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-27-6)
Role of early Buddhist ministers as community leaders, advocating social justice
Ryo Imamura Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-27-18)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-27-18)
Reconciling wartime killing by Buddhist 442nd Regimental Combat Team soldiers with Buddhism's doctrine of nonviolence
Ryo Imamura Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-27-2)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-27-2)
Parents' backgrounds, a family history revolving around the Buddhist ministry
Ryo Imamura Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-27-5)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-27-5)
Grandfather's role as Jodo Shin Buddhist minister to early plantation laborers in Hawaii
Ryo Imamura Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-27-13)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-27-13)
The emergence of two distinct groups within the Buddhist church: traditional and progressive
Ryo Imamura Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-27-7)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-27-7)
Philosophy and ideology of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect, "...[T]o see others as enlightened"
Ryo Imamura Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-27-11)
vh Ryo Imamura Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-27-11)
Evolution and adaptation within the Japanese American Buddhist Church: the challenge of introducing new ideas and practices into existing traditions and rituals
May Y. Namba Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-171-6)
vh May Y. Namba Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-171-6)
Religion as a child; father's involvement in community activities
Mii Tai Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-186-7)
vh Mii Tai Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-186-7)
Involvement in the Methodist church while growing up

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Mae Kanazawa Hara Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-168-21)
vh Mae Kanazawa Hara Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-168-21)
Active involvement in church music program; singing in the church choir
Mae Kanazawa Hara Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-168-23)
vh Mae Kanazawa Hara Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-168-23)
Discussion about the Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church in Seattle
Shigeko Sese Uno Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-98-7)
vh Shigeko Sese Uno Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-98-7)
Activities at Seattle's Japanese Baptist Church: cooking classes, sports, the Young Peoples Christian Conference, and prayers for peace
Shigeko Sese Uno Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-98-3)
vh Shigeko Sese Uno Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-98-3)
First exposure to the Baptist religion, memories of being "gathered" up for nursery school
Yasashi Ichikawa Interview II Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-112-2)
vh Yasashi Ichikawa Interview II Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-112-2)
Description of the Seattle Buddhist Temple's social activities (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese. The transcript is a translation of the original interview.

Yasashi Ichikawa Interview II Segment 31 (ddr-densho-1000-112-31)
vh Yasashi Ichikawa Interview II Segment 31 (ddr-densho-1000-112-31)
The Seattle Buddhist Temple becomes Betsuin in 1954 (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese. The transcript is a translation of the original interview.

Yasashi Ichikawa Interview I Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-111-27)
vh Yasashi Ichikawa Interview I Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-111-27)
Moving the Seattle Buddhist Temple to a new location (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese. The transcript is a translation of the original interview.

Yasashi Ichikawa Interview I Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-111-12)
vh Yasashi Ichikawa Interview I Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-111-12)
Participating in the Buddhist temple in Fresno, California (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese. The transcript is a translation of the original interview.

Yasashi Ichikawa Interview I Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-111-20)
vh Yasashi Ichikawa Interview I Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-111-20)
Husband's job as a minister at the Seattle Buddhist Temple (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese. The transcript is a translation of the original interview.

Tsuguo
vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview III Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-125-1)
Working on race relations within the Church Council of Greater Seattle during early 1960s

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

Sumi Okamoto Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-192-6)
vh Sumi Okamoto Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-192-6)
Memories of prewar Methodist church

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

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