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 (283)
Concentration camps (2078)
Religion (282)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Paul M. Nagano

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282 items

img Priest with Nuns and children (ddr-densho-330-242)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-330-242/

doc Gathas and Service (ddr-densho-387-6)

English and Japanese language of Gathas and Services for Buddhist Services at Manzanar. The English reads left to right starting from the cover. The Japanese reads right to left starting at the cover.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-387-6/

doc Gathas and Service (ddr-densho-387-7)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-387-7/

doc Gathas and Service (ddr-densho-387-5)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-387-5/

img Buddhist Temple (ddr-densho-357-776)

After their collective forced relocation, members of the Oakland Buddhist Church started a new Buddhist church community in the Topaz concentration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-776/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-131/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-133/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-132/

doc Vacation Bible School certificate (ddr-densho-483-69)

Certificate awarded to Kenji Imayanagita by the Federated Church.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-69/

img Man sitting on steps of Topaz Buddhist church at Topaz (ddr-densho-434-348)

Caption: Min Sano

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-434-348/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-86/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-85/

img Yoshie and Harry Nakashima with a priest on their wedding day (ddr-densho-518-268)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-268/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-84/

img Bob Ikeda and Father Joe (ddr-densho-518-191)

Written next to photograph in scrapbook: Bob Ikeda [left] and Father Joe [right].

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-191/

img Nakashima wedding party (ddr-densho-518-269)

From left to right: Chunaka Fujihira, Yoshie (Fujihira) Nakashima, Harry Nakashima, unidentified, unidentified.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-269/

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].

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-83/

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).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-518-270/

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/