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)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Paul M. Nagano

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268 items
Sunday school class (ddr-densho-93-43)
img Sunday school class (ddr-densho-93-43)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Sunday school class, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
A Report of My Work at Minidoka Relocation Center (ddr-densho-483-131)
doc A Report of My Work at Minidoka Relocation Center (ddr-densho-483-131)
Report written by Rev. Tsutomu Fukuyama describing his pastoral work at the Minidoka Relocation Center. Includes two pages of testimonials from former youth group members. Undated.
Letter from Tsutomu Fukuyama (ddr-densho-483-133)
doc Letter from Tsutomu Fukuyama (ddr-densho-483-133)
Letter from Tsutomu Fukuyama describing living conditions in Minidoka. Topics described include housing, schooling, commerce, and the federated Christian church. The letter also describes the stated purpose of the War Relocation Authority and the resettlement of students and families.
Christmas letter (ddr-densho-483-132)
doc Christmas letter (ddr-densho-483-132)
Christmas letter from Tsutomu Fukuyama to family friends. The letter describes Christmas at Minidoka, housing conditions following transfers from Tule Lake and Manzanar, the agricultural impacts of the boll weaver, and the resettlement of Nisei Christians.
Vacation Bible School certificate (ddr-densho-483-69)
doc Vacation Bible School certificate (ddr-densho-483-69)
Certificate awarded to Kenji Imayanagita by the Federated Church.
Group at a Buddhist's picnic (ddr-densho-518-86)
img Group at a Buddhist's picnic (ddr-densho-518-86)
Written next to photograph in scrapbook: Buddists [sic] Picnics, Sat. Hirata, Kats Abe, Dick Kuwata, Hank Ozawa, Wieney, Yochari, Harry, Tsu Nakashima, Roy Izumi.
At a Buddhist's picnic (ddr-densho-518-85)
img At a Buddhist's picnic (ddr-densho-518-85)
Written next to photograph in scrapbook: Buddists [sic] Picnics, Lily Morinaga, Nobi Ochiai, Ayako Yamanaka, Yoshito.
Darts at a Buddhist's carnival (ddr-densho-518-84)
img Darts at a Buddhist's carnival (ddr-densho-518-84)
Written next to photograph in scrapbook: Buddist's [sic] Carnival, [left to right] Tomio Hamasaki, Hank Ozawa, Jim Koga.
Bob Ikeda and Father Joe (ddr-densho-518-191)
img Bob Ikeda and Father Joe (ddr-densho-518-191)
Written next to photograph in scrapbook: Bob Ikeda [left] and Father Joe [right].
Nakashima wedding party (ddr-densho-518-269)
img Nakashima wedding party (ddr-densho-518-269)
From left to right: Chunaka Fujihira, Yoshie (Fujihira) Nakashima, Harry Nakashima, unidentified, unidentified.
Bingo at a Buddhist's carnival (ddr-densho-518-83)
img Bingo at a Buddhist's carnival (ddr-densho-518-83)
Written next to photograph in scrapbook: Buddist's [sic] Carnival, May Morinaga [standing at microphone], Kari [standing on right].
Nakashima wedding party (ddr-densho-518-270)
img Nakashima wedding party (ddr-densho-518-270)
From left to right: (back row) Muck Fujihira, (unidentified), (unidentified), (priest), (unidentified), (unidentified), (unidentified), Tod Fujihira, (front row) Chunaka Fujihira, Yoshie Fujihira, Harry Nakashima, (unidentified).
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
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