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 (242)

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242 items

img Prewar ministers conference (ddr-densho-157-120)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-120/

img Kure Church (ddr-densho-157-156)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-156/

img Church service in the Tono area of Japan (ddr-densho-157-145)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-145/

img Church service in Hawaii (ddr-densho-157-118)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-118/

img Tono Church (ddr-densho-157-143)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-143/

img 1st National Church Group in Japan (ddr-densho-157-146)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-146/

img Chofu Church (ddr-densho-157-144)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-144/

img Countryside church service (ddr-densho-157-151)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-151/

img Wapato Methodist Church group (ddr-densho-153-19)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-153-19/

img 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-282/

img 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-26/

img 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."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-288/

img 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."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-287/

img Kibitsu Shrine in Japan (ddr-densho-259-545)

Kibitsu Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Okayama, Japan.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-545/

img "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."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-336/

img 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-197/

img Japanese American and white men and boys at St. Marks church (ddr-densho-259-110)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-110/

img Japanese writing over a memorial table (ddr-densho-259-491)

Possibly part of a Shinto memorial service.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-491/

img "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."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-338/

img 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."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-151/

img Japanese American and white men and boys at St. Marks church (ddr-densho-259-237)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-237/

img Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church of Portland (ddr-densho-259-307)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Posed group of members of the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church of Portland. This old church was actually a remodeled home and it was located near 16th Avenue and Glisan Street."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-307/

img Issei gathered for memorial service (ddr-densho-259-364)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "A group of mostly adult Issei men and women in formal dress in a small meeting hall. I believe that this was the Knights of Pythias Hall which the early Issei pioneers rented for their events. [In this picture,] the Issei remembered their comrades who had earlier died in Hood River...A friend …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-364/

img "Issei men posed in front of Buddhist church" (ddr-densho-259-337)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Group of Issei men posed in front of Buddhist church. Most probably members of Nipponjin Kai."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-337/

img Group portrait in front of torii in Japan (ddr-densho-259-292)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Large number of Japan relatives (my guess) with Michi [Yasui]. There's a fairly large torii [gate] in the background and what seems to be ongoing construction of a mon (Japanese entrance gate)."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-292/