Religion

Japanese Americans used religion as one way to handle the stress of the incarceration experience. Church served as both a spiritual comfort and a place for community gatherings. On Sundays, Buddhist and Christian services and Sunday schools were held in the recreation halls. State Shintoism was another popular religion within the Japanese American community but was banned by the U.S. government on the grounds that it included "Emperor worship." Church services initially were given in both Japanese and English, but camp authorities later banned the use of Japanese at all group gatherings (although translation into Japanese was later permitted at some religious services).

World War II (239)
Concentration camps (1640)
Religion (268)

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Paul M. Nagano

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268 items

vh Elliot Yoshinobu Horikoshi Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-503-4)

A few childhood memories of camp, father's work setting up Christian churches

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-503-4/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-123-17)

Participating in camp activities, high school, church, dances

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-123-17/

vh Mary Kinoshita Ikeda Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-510-18)

The role of the Christian leaders in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-510-18/

vh Kay Matsuoka Segment 33 (ddr-densho-1000-48-33)

Christian missionaries' weekly visits to camp lead to conversion

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-48-33/

vh Miyoko Uzaki Interview Segment 15 (ddr-manz-1-156-15)

The role of Christian churches in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-156-15/

vh M. Jack Takayanagi Interview Segment 8 (ddr-manz-1-122-8)

Organizing Christian church services in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-122-8/

vh Masako Yoshida Interview Segment 15 (ddr-manz-1-153-15)

Attending church services in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-153-15/

vh Sadako Nimura Kashiwagi Interview Segment 12 (ddr-manz-1-172-12)

Attending Buddhist services in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-172-12/

vh George Nakata Interview Segment 25 (ddr-one-7-29-25)

Establishment of churches in camp

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-one-7-29-25/

vh Paul Nagano Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-65-8)

Christian faith and social justice: dealing with so-called "loyalty questionnaire," and military service

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-65-8/

vh Paul Nagano Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-65-10)

Efforts of Caucasian Christian churches to support Japanese Americans in concentration camps

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-65-10/

vh Paul Nagano Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-65-7)

Different denominations meld together as one ecumenical church in Poston concentration camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-65-7/

img Amache Christian Church (ddr-densho-157-111)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-111/

doc Granada Federated Christian Church contact list (ddr-densho-157-189)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-189/

img Granada Christian Church (ddr-densho-160-11)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-160-11/

doc Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-40)

Slightly yellowed envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama in Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, at Minidoka. Postmarked October 19, 1942. Along the top 10-23-1942 is written in red pencil. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" stamp. Inside the envelope is a letter dated October 17, 1942. Teru writes about …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-40/

doc Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-20)

White air mail envelope with a red, white and blue border. The envelope is addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama. The envelope is postmarked Jul 21, 1942, and in red pencil below the postmark is the date 7/25/42. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-20/

doc Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama and Miriam Koyama (ddr-one-5-37)

Envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, and daughter, Miriam Kiyo Koyama. Postmarked October 6, 1942. To the left of the postmark “Oct 11, 1942,” is written in red pencil. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" stamp from Camp Livingston. Inside the envelope are …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-37/

doc Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama and Eva Koyama (ddr-one-5-19)

Yellowed envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama in Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, in the Portland Assembly Center. The envelope is postmarked Jul 13, 1942. In red pencil “7/16-42” is written just below the postmark. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "CENSORED" stamp with unknown initials below the stamp in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-19/

doc Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-72)

Envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at the Santa Fe Detention Station from his wife, Teru Koyama, at Minidoka. Postmarked Oct 4, 1943. In the upper right corner “Internee of War/Free Mail” is written in place of a stamp. The numbers “10-8-43” are written along the top of the envelope in red pencil. Inside is a …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-72/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-12)

One cent postcard addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Fort Sill from his wife, Teru Koyama, at the Portland Assembly Center. Postmarked May 14, 1942. Message on the back dated May 13, 1942. Teru writes to Kei about her and the children getting their first typhoid shots, her new work duties, and the family's enjoyment of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-12/

doc Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from William Koyama (ddr-one-5-64)

Envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama in Santa Fe Detention Center from his son, William Koyama, at Minidoka. Envelope is postmarked August 3, 1943. In red pencil "8/10-43" is written above the receiver's information. The letter from William Koyama is yellowed and water-damaged. At the bottom of the letter is an "EXAMINED" stamp with unknown initals. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-64/

doc Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru and Eva Koyama (ddr-one-5-33)

Envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, and daughter, Eva Koyama. Postmarked Sep 21, 1942. To the left of the postmark is “9/26/42” written in red pencil. On the left side of the envelope is a purple "Censored" stamp. The left edge of the envelope is torn so that …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-33/

doc Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama and Miriam Kiyo Koyama (ddr-one-5-30)

Envelope addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Camp Livingston from his wife, Teru Koyama, and daughter, Miriam Kiyo Koyama. Postmarked Sep 16, 1942. In red pencil “9/20-42” is written to the left of the postmark. In the lower left corner is a purple "Censored" stamp from Camp Livingston. Inside the envelope are two letters, one from …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-30/

doc Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from Teru Koyama (ddr-one-5-65)

One cent postcard addressed to Dr. Keizaburo Koyama at Santa Fe Detention Station from his wife, Teru Koyama, at Minidoka. Postmarked Aug 16, 1943. To the left of the postmark “Aug-24-43” is written. "Examined" stamp in the lower left corner with "25-3" written on it. On the back dated Aug 15, 1943. Teru writes about the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-65/