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 (270)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Paul M. Nagano

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270 items

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/

img Camp Buddhist church (ddr-densho-93-44)

Original Ansel Adams caption: People leaving Buddhist church, winter II, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-44/

img Camp chapel (ddr-densho-93-42)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Entrance, Catholic chapel (V), Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-42/

img Buddhist church service (ddr-densho-93-45)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Buddhist service, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-45/

img Sunday school class (ddr-densho-93-43)

Original Ansel Adams caption: Sunday school class, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-93-43/

img Large group photo outside barracks (ddr-densho-464-13)

Inscription on front: Heart Mt. Wyo. YBASS. 1943

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-464-13/

doc A Report of My Work at Minidoka (ddr-densho-462-7)

Includes hand-written edits

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-462-7/

doc The Christian Gospel in the Relocation Center (ddr-densho-462-9)

Sermon delivered at Bethany Baptist church, Colorado Springs

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-462-9/

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-462-8/

doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/

doc Book of 70th Anniversary of Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-446-455)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the Japanese Christian Mission in North America. This book traces the history of JCC within the larger setting of national and local events, and some of the photos and narratives may be of interest. Ai Chih Tsai was pastor at JCC from 1948 to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-455/