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 (228)

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228 items

img "Davos Church" (ddr-densho-201-245)

Church spire. Caption on front: "Davos Church."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-201-245/

doc Postcard send to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-20)

Correspondence from Rev. K. Iijima updating Kinuta Uno on his family.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-20/

img Church (ddr-densho-325-67)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-325-67/

img Sansei boy with prayer beads (ddr-densho-325-506)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-325-506/

img Buddhist ministers at Sante Fe internment camp (ddr-densho-310-1)

A group photograph of the Buddhist ministers interned at Sante Fe internment camp. Etsuko Osaki's father, Tatsuya Ichikawa, is in the second row, third from the left. Ichikawa was picked up by the FBI in April 1942. He remained separated from his family for two years before they reunited in Crystal City internment camp.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-310-1/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 31 (April 25, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-17)

"Nisei Priest in Nichiren Church Gets Writeup in "Seattle Scene" (p. 1), "Historian Cites Difficulties of Civil Liberties in Canada" (p. 1).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-17/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 7 (January 22, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-174)

"Race Parley Slated Here on Jan. 30" (p. 1), "Illinois Representative Keeps Pledge; Tosses ENI Legislation in the Hopper" (p. 1).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-174/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 4 No. 94 (November 25, 1950) (ddr-densho-229-256)

"One Out of Every Three Doesn't Believe in God, Japanese University Student Poll Discloses" (p. 1), "New U.S. Law Affects Issei" (p. 1), "Tacoma Buddhists to Note 30th Year of Their Church" (p. 1), "Walter Bill, Hawaii Statehood Head ADC Agenda; Congress Meets Monday" (p. 2).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-256/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 5 No. 9 (January 31, 1951) (ddr-densho-229-270)

"Father Murphy Appeals to the Nisei" (p. 1), "Northwest District Council Sets Conclave for Labor Day Holidays; Seattle to be Host" (p. 1).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-270/

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."

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

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."

http://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."

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

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

Possibly part of a Shinto memorial service.

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

img Issei men in front of Buddhist church (ddr-densho-259-332)

A group of Issei men posed in front of a Buddhist temple in Portland, possibly members of the Nipponjin Kai Japanese Association.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-332/

img Issei minister with violin (ddr-densho-259-147)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Formal portrait of the Reverend Isaac Inouye I suspect that this picture was taken before he came to Hood River around September, 1927."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-147/

img White missionary family (ddr-densho-259-170)

Caption by Yuka Yasui: "Missionary family from Hood River. Went to the Phillipines." Caption by Homer Yasui: "This is the Landis family, whom we knew years ago in Hood River."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-170/

img Christmas pageant at Japanese Community Hall (ddr-densho-259-179)

Caption in Japanese at top of photograph: "Iwa Kurisumasu [Christmas celebration]." Caption by Homer Yasui: "A Christmas pageant which was performed by the Nisei members of the Hood River Japanese Methodist Church The girl second left looks like Mika Asai to mel and it might have been Jessie Iwatsuki holding the star on the stick. I …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-179/

img Issei members of Portland Methodist church (ddr-densho-259-306)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Posed group of Issei members of the Epworth Methodist Church in Portland. The ministers at the time were Rev. Osuga and Rev. Frank Iritani."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-306/

img Young People's Christian Conference (ddr-densho-259-304)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Another posed group of YPCC [Young People's Christian Conference] attendees this time in Hood River, and taken in front of the Hood River High School auditorium."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-304/

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."

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

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

Kibitsu Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Okayama, Japan.

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

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."

http://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 …

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

img Young People's Christian Conference (ddr-densho-259-296)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Posed group photo of another YPCC [Young People's Christian Conference], this time at the Centenary-Wilbur Church which was on the eastside of Portland." Caption on front of photograph: "Fourth Oregon Sectional Y.P.C.C. Centenary - Wilbur Church, Portland, Oregon, March 28-29, 1936."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-296/

img Portrait of an Issei minister (ddr-densho-259-143)

Portrait of the Revered Isaac Inouye. Caption by Homer Yasui: "Some vandal (and as I remember it, that vandal was Shu [Yasui]) had drawn two ink lines along the mouth creases of the good Reverend. Shu and the Rev. didn't get along too well."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-143/