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 (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
Religion (255)

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Paul M. Nagano

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255 items
Elliot Yoshinobu Horikoshi Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-503-4)
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
Tsuguo
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.

Kay Matsuoka Segment 33 (ddr-densho-1000-48-33)
vh Kay Matsuoka Segment 33 (ddr-densho-1000-48-33)
Christian missionaries' weekly visits to camp lead to conversion
George Nakata Interview Segment 25 (ddr-one-7-29-25)
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.

Paul Nagano Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-65-8)
vh Paul Nagano Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-65-8)
Christian faith and social justice: dealing with so-called "loyalty questionnaire," and military service
Paul Nagano Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-65-10)
vh Paul Nagano Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-65-10)
Efforts of Caucasian Christian churches to support Japanese Americans in concentration camps
Paul Nagano Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-65-7)
vh Paul Nagano Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-65-7)
Different denominations meld together as one ecumenical church in Poston concentration camp
Japanese Evacuees (ddr-densho-462-8)
doc Japanese Evacuees (ddr-densho-462-8)
Notes for sermon 'The Christian Church behind barbed wire'. Notes reference Min Yasui's poem, testimony by Martha Higashita
Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo
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 …
Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo
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" …
Envelope and letters to Dr. Keizaburo
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 …
Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo
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 …
Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo
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 …
Postcard to Dr. Keizaburo
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 …
Envelope and letter to Dr. Keizaburo
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. …
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