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 (255)

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255 items
A.D. 1977: Japanese Christians in America: The Church That Survives Hate (ddr-densho-446-394)
doc A.D. 1977: Japanese Christians in America: The Church That Survives Hate (ddr-densho-446-394)
Article in the July/August 1977 issue of A.D. 1977 on the experience of Japanese Christians in America through the end of WWII.
The dogma of organization (ddr-densho-468-167)
doc The dogma of organization (ddr-densho-468-167)
Typed draft of essay or diary. The draft explores how the socialist party shares the weaknesses of organized religion
New Year's Postcard to Mas Yamamoto from M. Yamamoto (ddr-densho-492-21)
doc New Year's Postcard to Mas Yamamoto from M. Yamamoto (ddr-densho-492-21)
Postcard from M. Yamamoto to Mas Yamamoto wishing them a happy new year. The front of postcard includes a photograph of a large group of people outside a church.
Hilo Japanese Church Gathering 1906 (ddr-densho-492-22)
img Hilo Japanese Church Gathering 1906 (ddr-densho-492-22)
Photograph of a large group. Written on the front of the photograph is "Church / Hilo Japanese Gathering / 1906" in blue ink. Written on the back is "Hilo Boarding School / T. Yamamoto" in pencil.
12 people outside church (ddr-densho-492-20)
img 12 people outside church (ddr-densho-492-20)
Photograph of 12 people standing outside a building with a Japanese plaque above the door. Written on the photograph in the upper right corner is "Hilo Church" in blue ink.
An Oral History with Sumiye Takeno, Part II (ddr-csujad-29-60)
vh An Oral History with Sumiye Takeno, Part II (ddr-csujad-29-60)
An oral history with Sumiye Takeno, a current resident of Denver, Colorado. This interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. The purpose of this interview was to gather information regarding Takeno's incarceration and resettlement experience during World War II. Specifically, the interview covers her childhood in Florin, California, …
An Oral History with Lillie Y. McCabe, Part II (ddr-csujad-29-17)
av An Oral History with Lillie Y. McCabe, Part II (ddr-csujad-29-17)
An oral history with Lillie Y. McCabe, an incarceree at the Santa Anita Temporary Assembly Center and the Granada (Amache) incarceration camp. This interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. The interview covers the Anglo reverends and ministers who helped her while she was incarcerated at Amache, how …
Lillie McCabe (ddr-csujad-29-19)
img Lillie McCabe (ddr-csujad-29-19)
Photo of Lillie McCabe. Oral history audio and transcript are found in csufccop_jaoh_0030, csufccop_jaoh_0031, and csufccop_jaoh_0032. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1949_P03
An Oral History with Sumiye Takeno, Part I (ddr-csujad-29-59)
vh An Oral History with Sumiye Takeno, Part I (ddr-csujad-29-59)
An oral history with Sumiye Takeno, a current resident of Denver, Colorado. This interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. The purpose of this interview was to gather information regarding Takeno's incarceration and resettlement experience during World War II. Specifically, the interview covers her childhood in Florin, California, …
An Oral History with Mitsuo Nitta (ddr-csujad-29-4)
doc An Oral History with Mitsuo Nitta (ddr-csujad-29-4)
Oral history with Nisei farmer/businessman from pioneering Orange County, California family gives prewar biographical information with emphasis on Japanese Americans in Orange County. Discusses World War II forced removal, experiences in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the role of the Japanese American Citizens League before and after World War II. This oral history was conducted …
An Oral History with Craig Kei Ihara (ddr-csujad-29-1)
av An Oral History with Craig Kei Ihara (ddr-csujad-29-1)
Oral history with Craig Kei Ihara, Sansei and California State University, Fullerton philosophy professor, born at the Rohwer incarceration camp, Arkansas discusses family history, focusing on religion, education, aspirations, and cultural heritage; and recent overnight stay at old Rohwer campsite. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project for the Center for …
An Oral History with Seiko Ishida (ddr-csujad-29-11)
av An Oral History with Seiko Ishida (ddr-csujad-29-11)
Retired Kibei teacher recounts samurai parents' background and their immigration to Seattle, Washington; socioeconomic composition of Seattle's Japanese community; earlier teacher training; prewar stays in Japan as a child and as a tutor in a missionary family; experiences as a teacher in the wartime resettlement in New York; and postwar return to Los Angeles. This oral …
An Oral History with John Yukio Mori (ddr-csujad-29-2)
av An Oral History with John Yukio Mori (ddr-csujad-29-2)
A Sansei and conscientious objector to the Vietnam war discusses alternate service as partner in Amerasia Bookstore, a nonprofit organization serving Los Angeles's Little Tokyo; activities in Young Buddhist Association; parent's reaction to his current life-style; and long term effect of World War II incarceration. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese Oral History Project …
Fujin Home (ddr-densho-2-3)
img Fujin Home (ddr-densho-2-3)
The Fujin Home, which was affiliated with the Christian Baptist Church, was located at 11th and Spruce in Seattle, Washington. It offered shelter for people such as orphans, the handicapped, and women who were recently divorced or widowed and who had nowhere else to go. Various types of classes and social activities were organized by the …
Buddist Church Garden (ddr-jamsj-1-1)
img Buddist Church Garden (ddr-jamsj-1-1)
The Association helped landscape the Buddist Church in 1958
Buddhist funeral (ddr-densho-255-187)
img Buddhist funeral (ddr-densho-255-187)
Funeral for Reverend Shibata. Large gathering of men, women, and children outside what appears to be a Buddhist temple. In the foreground is a casket decorated with flowers.
Association gathering (ddr-densho-255-192)
img Association gathering (ddr-densho-255-192)
Gathering of men and women holding signs representing their location. Many of the signs read "Y.B.A.," which could be an acronym for "Young Buddhist Assocation."
Gathering outside Buddhist church (ddr-densho-255-190)
img Gathering outside Buddhist church (ddr-densho-255-190)
Men and women gathered outside the Ogden Buddhist Church in the snow.
img "12th Annual Intermountain District Young Buddhist League Conference" (ddr-densho-255-189)
Bottom right: "12th Annual Intermountain District Young Buddhist League Conference January 24-25 48 Davis High School Utah."
Young people's church gathering (ddr-densho-259-282)
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 …
Reverend of the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church (ddr-densho-259-26)
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 …
Young People's Christian Conference (ddr-densho-259-288)
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."
Young People's Christian Conference (ddr-densho-259-287)
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."
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."
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