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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Inscription on a Hill (ddr-csujad-13-8)

An inscription was placed on a mountain side that reads, "1943 Aug. 31 Katsumi Sato, Tsutomu Matsumoto, Masato Nakashima, Kiyoshi Fukumitsu Paint Crew." Caption on back of photograph reads, "inscription at top of highest peak by Japs during Christian gathering in Aug 43. Japs inscription is only date of gathering." See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-13-8/

doc Manzanar From Inside Out (ddr-csujad-19-2)

Text of address by Roy Nash, Director of the Manzanar War Relocation Project, given to the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, on July 31, 1942 for the purpose of "interpret[ing] the actuality of a War Relocation Center housing 10,000 evacuees" in view of perceptions of mistreatment of incarcerees in California. Sections of the speech include …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-19-2/

doc Report on Jerome to Tule Lake transfer George Kuratomi (ddr-csujad-2-46)

Detailed informational report about George Kuratomi, an incarceree transfer to Tule Lake Camp from Jerome Camp due to questions about his loyalty to the United States and his activities within the Buddhist repatriate group at Jerome Camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0046

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-46/

doc Memo from Co-ordinating Committee to the Advisory Council, March 18, 1944 (ddr-csujad-2-100)

Memo regarding employment of priests as social workers and educational lecturers. Recommends employing nine Buddhist priests, stating that they will have greater influence over the students and parents ("colonists"), the majority of whom are Buddhist, than the Japanese Language School teachers would. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0101

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-100/

doc Letter from Herbert Nicholson to Michi Weglyn, October 30, 1980 (ddr-csujad-24-8)

A letter from Herbert Nicholson to Michi Weglyn about his experiences working with other religious figures in the Manzanar incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: chi_01_008

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-24-8/

doc Chapter 6 and 7 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-34)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including living in barracks, block noise, lack of privacy, mess hall dining, nosy neighbors, jobs, leisure time, sports, movies, church attendance, the Young Buddhist Association (YBA), family dynamics, social changes, dating, and rumors. Each entry includes the full date …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-34/

doc History of the Tule Lake Union Church as told to James Sakoda by Rev. Kuroda (ddr-csujad-26-9)

Summary of an interview conducted with Rev. Andrew Kuroda describing the beginnings of the Lake Union Church at Tule Lake including how the church was named, election of ward stewards, the organization of the Church Board of Directors and the congregation. Interview conducted as part of the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS). See this …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-9/

doc Christian church in Tule Lake (ddr-csujad-26-7)

Report on the majority Protestant Christian church at Tule Lake and the development of a community church which became known as "Tule Lake Union Church." The report describes church organization, leadership issues and changes, schedules, facilities, church-centered groups and activities, finances, languages and membership. Report compiled as a portion of the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-7/

doc Religious life in the Gila community (ddr-csujad-26-30)

Observations and descriptions of Buddhist, Christian, and Shinto practices by incarcerees including the establishment of Buddhist Church, funeral arrangements and ceremony, Bon festival, and events taking place in and around the churches established at Gila River. Compiled as a portion of the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS). See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-30/

doc Chapter 8, 9, 10 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-35)

Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including movies, dances, dissatisfaction with recreation, family dynamics, desire to leave camp, cultural and generational differences, and weather. Each entry includes the full date and student name. The entries were part of a class assignment and collected for the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-35/

img Japanese couple (ddr-csujad-26-124)

Photo of a Japanese American couple wearing crucifix pins pose outdoors. A crowd is in the background. From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_093

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-124/

doc Buddhist church preliminary report (ddr-csujad-26-8)

Description of the development and practices of the Buddhist Church at Tule Lake including Sunday school, adult services and the Young Buddhist Association (YBA). Includes several comparisons to the Christian Church and Christians at Tule Lake. Report compiled as a portion of the Japanese American Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS). See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-8/

img Father Dai (Daisuke Kitagawa) Episcopal minister and his flock (ddr-csujad-26-98)

Group photo of parishioners in front of building. Caption on back of photograph reads, "Father Dai (Daisuke Kitagawa) Episcopal minister and his flock." From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_035

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-98/