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 (1454)
Religion (259)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Paul M. Nagano

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259 items

img Wedding portrait (ddr-manz-4-10)

Caption in album: "Toki-Hara wedding."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-4-10/

doc Buddhist gathas and services, with gassho (ddr-csujad-55-1949)

List and lyrics for Buddhist gathas used at Tule Lake incarceration camp. Includes lyrics for Buddhist gathas (verses), Happy Little Children, Hour of Meditation, Juni-Rai, Kokun, Three Treasure, How Glorious is Thy Dhamma, Softly Blew the Breezes, Nichiyo Bi, and Kiyoki Madoi. Signed by Setsuko Abe. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1949/

doc Newell star, vo. 1, no. 30 (September 21, 1944) (ddr-csujad-55-1971)

Newsletter published at Tule Lake incarceration camp. Covers news, events, community activities, job openings, sports, and schedule of church services. Includes English and Japanese. From the Masako Adachi scrapbook, page 18. See also sac_jaac_1953. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1974

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1971/

doc Desert echoes 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-143)

Yearbook, "Desert echoes" 1943, created by the members of the 1st Junior Christian Church at the Poston incarceration camp, Poston Arizona. Includes essays by church leaders, history of vacation bible school and the first Junior Church, parish and inter-parish activities, biographical information on pastors, list of officers, essay competition, parish organizations and activities, "Ideal Girl" and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-143/

doc Poston II Buddhist church leaders and Sunday school teachers (ddr-csujad-55-1865)

Essay on Poston II Buddhist Church, a list of couples married at the church, a poem, and a black and white photograph. From the Poston II Reunion Program. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1868

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1865/

doc Memo from Jiro Fujioka, Co-operating with Block Chairmen, Heart Mountain, to Rev. Kubose, June 7, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-694)

Memorandum from Jiro Fujioka to Speaker, Rev. Kubose, regarding his speech on Buddhist young people's psychology at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Includes handwritten comments. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0696

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-694/

doc Invitation to Carry on Bussei (ddr-csujad-55-217)

Invitation to Bussei (Young Buddhist Association) gathering at an incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0219

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-217/

doc YBA farewell service (ddr-csujad-55-226)

Program for the Young Buddhist Association farewell service. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0228

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-226/

doc Religion (ddr-csujad-55-1462)

Scrapbook page containing a brief essay on religious groups and services at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. Includes a program from the Christmas 1943 Protestant Christmas program. Title from caption. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 111. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1462/

doc Announcements to the members of the Church of the Atonement, August 31, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-942)

Announcement to members of the Church of the Atonement regarding Reverend Winfred Ziegler's visit to Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-942/

doc Buddhist digest: Heart Mountain Buddhist Church weekly journal, vol. 1, no. 4 (July 7, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1074)

Weekly bulletin from the Heart Mountain Buddhist Church. Covers the O'Bon (also called Obon or Bon) festival, the significance of O'Bon, and program schedule; Sunday School teachers association, and facts about the Buddhist Church. Includes five pages in Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1076

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1074/

doc Beginning of the Japanese speaking church of Poston II (ddr-csujad-55-1871)

Essay on the founding of the Japanese-speaking Christian Church at Poston incarceration camp. Includes a black and white photograph of an individual writing calligraphy. From the Poston II Reunion Program. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1874

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1871/

doc Harmony in Sangha (ddr-csujad-55-221)

Program for the candlelight installation ceremony of the Ward IV Young Buddhist Association. Includes ceremony schedule, list of officers, and welcome address. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0223

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-221/

doc Heart Mountain Community Christian Church, vol. 1, no. 51 (March 5, 1944) (ddr-csujad-55-1604)

Newsletter of the Heart Mountain Community Christian Church covering a calendar of church events, camp visitors, church members who left camp, and schedules for junior church services and adult English services. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1606

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1604/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting, special session, April 21, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-555)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting and Special Session. Includes report on meeting of Buddhist and Christian ministers. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0557

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-555/

doc Baccalaureate wervice, Senior Class of '44 (ddr-csujad-55-1841)

Program for the Baccalaureate Service of the senior class of 1944 at Poston incarceration camp. Includes order of events and lyrics to the songs, "Higher Ground" and "Give Your Best to the Master." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1844

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1841/

doc Divine service (ddr-csujad-55-77)

Program for worship service for the 442nd Combat Team at Camp Shelby. Services were held during a visit from incarcerees from the Rohwer and Jerome incarceration camps. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00081

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-77/

doc Photograph of a drawing and a prayer card from an Italian internee, Ft. Missoula, Montana (ddr-csujad-55-1341)

Mounted black and white photograph of a drawing of "Santa Maria Fort Missoula" and mounted Italian Catholic prayer card depicting Jesus. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947" page 12. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1343

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1341/

doc Religion in Poston (ddr-csujad-55-1720)

Report by James Sera, Senior Research Worker, on religious groups at Poston incarceration camp. Covers the Catholic Church, Y.W.C.A, and Buddhist churches. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1722

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1720/

doc Buddhist digest: Heart Mountain Buddhist Church weekly journal, vol. 1, no. 6 (July 31, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1083)

Weekly bulletin from the Heart Mountain Buddhist Church. Includes "Mirror", a reflection on Bodhisattva by Rev. Kubose, information and a program schedule for the Y.P. evening service, Buddhist Sunday School, library list, and choir sign up. Includes text in Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1085

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1083/

doc Postcard from Heart Mountain Community Christian Church Board to Mr. Shoji Nagumo, July 23, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-998)

Correspondence from the Heart Mountain Community Christian Church to Shoji Nagumo regarding an upcoming cabinet meeting. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1000

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-998/

doc Buddhist digest: Heart Mountain Buddhist Church weekly journal, vol. 1, no. 5 (July 24 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1080)

Weekly bulletin from the Heart Mountain Buddhist Church. Covers the Buddhist library books available, spiritual reflection by Rev. Cubase, and other church announcements. Includes Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1082

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1080/

doc A Year at Gila Anniversary Booklet (ddr-densho-469-8)

Includes the legend of Gila, a history of the beginning of the Gila River, facts, and maps of the Gila River, as well as summaries of Gila's River's various organizations, departments, work, and activities.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-469-8/

doc Second Year at Gila (ddr-densho-469-9)

A summary of the second year spent by camp inmates at the Gila River Relocation Center. Topics on the second year of the camp include the camp's administration, involvement in the war, predominant religions, schools, agriculture, recreation, and population, ending with a timeline of events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-469-9/

img Japanese American in front of Christian church sign (ddr-densho-93-53)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Tatsuo Miyake (student of divinity) / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-53/