Community analysis report, no. 3 (March 1943)

JAPANESE GROUPS AND ASSOC eee Oy N THE UNITS

Community ae

fCport No. 3

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

From time to time -- question arises as ta the sirnificance of

the various Japanese groups and organizations in the United States. Does

membership in a Konjirked indicate subversion, or is the organization

simply a social group? What about the officers of such organizations?

What is the difference between Buddhism and Shinto?

A few of the more important groups end associations are dis

sed here in order to provide a factual background for understanding

Japanese groups.

CONTENTS

I. SOCIAL

a or Prefectural As

Junior Kenjinkai

Nihonjinkai or Japanose Ass

Seinenxal or Young People's

Fujinkal or Women's Secietie

II. ECONOMIC

vapanese Chambers of Commerce

el Associations

ia Farmerst Association

manese Labor Association

Ko or Tonomoshi Sredit Clubs

LIT. RELIGIOUS

Buddhism

Shinshu (Hongwanji)

Zen

Nichiren

Cdaishi

Shinto

Seicho No Ive

IV. MILITARY-NATIONALISTIC

Budokai

Heimusha Kai and Patrisetic Contributi

Veterans! Societies

Japanese Language Schools

on Societies

6=6214-Plof13-NCBU-COS=WP

"a

-

Ie SOCTAL

Many Japanese associations are primarily social in nature, made

up of people with common interests who meet from time to time for the

sake of sociability. Such associations are also often mutual aid soci-

eties so that any member in need, financial or otherwise, may receive

assistance from the society. Japanese social groups are very numerous,

so that only some of the more important ones are mentioned here.

Kenjinkai or Prefectural Associations

The older Japanese, when they arrived in this country, mingled

most readily with other Japanese from their own home prefectures or prov-

inces. As was almost inevitable, when there were a fair number of

people from one prefecture or one area, they formed a Prefectural

Association, or Kenjinkai. These societies meet from time to time for

sociability and at New Year's usually celebrate with a large banquet,

Members of the group help out fellow members in distress. So far as the

older people are concerned, the Kenjinkai is simply a mutual interest and

friendship society, with no particular nationalistic connotations. The

more important of the Kenjinkai are as follows:

Fukuoka

Hiroshima

Kumamoto

Tohoku

Yamaguchi

Junior Kenjinkai

Occasionally Junior Kenjinkai are formed, made up of Japanese-

Americans whose parents are from the same ken or prefecture. Whereas

with the older people the Kenjinkai is simply a common interest group,

when a group of young people become members of a Jynior Kenjinkai their

motives are of a somewhat different nature, since a Jynior Kenjinkai is

an artificially built up common interest group which can serve only to

maintain ties with Japan. The Junior Kenjinkai thus falls into a some-

what different class from that of the ordinary Kenjinkai, and young people

who actively belong to such groups tend to look to Japan for their cul-

tural values.

Nihonjinkai or Japanese Association

Practically all of the older Japanese in Hewaii and the West Coast

belong to one or another Nihonjinkai. The Japanese Counsul when dealing

with matters concerning Japanese nationals in this country usually did so

through some officer of the local Nihonjinkai, Similarly, when a prominent

visitor from Japan came to this country hospitality was customarily shown

to him locally through officers of the Nihonjinkai. However, membership

in the Society is not in itself an indication of anything more than mutual

interest with other Japanese nationals who have settled in this country.

Just as the Kenjinkai is a social group on a small prefectural scale, the

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Nihonjinkai is a mutual interest association using as its base all those

of Japanese ancestry, or, more specifically, those of Japanese nationality.

The officers of the Nihonjinkai are usually men of substance in the com-

munity who are old residents and have the respect of the older people,

While they may be activelly pro-Japanese in point of view, they are not

necessarily so.

Seinenkai or Young People's Societies

In itself, membership in a Young People's Society does not mean

much, since there are all kinds, For instance, there are Buddhist young

people's societies such as the Chikaranokai, which are not very different

in function from Y.M.C.A. groups. On the other hand, a young people's

society with "Dai Nippon" (Great Japan) as part of its title might be

looked upon with some suspicion,

Fujinkai or Women's Societies

As with the Seinenkai, there are several varieties of Fujinkai.

Most of the older Japanese women belong to some Fujinkai, which is partly socia

and partly civic in function, They sre often associated with religious

groups and sponsored by the local Buddhist priest.

IT. ECONOMIC

A number of mutual interest societies have been formed along

occupational lines among the Japanese in this country, just as they have

been organized among other ethnic groups. The Kenjinkai and Nihonjinkai

in their mutual aid aspects, are economic groups, Other associations

more purely economic in nature are given here,

Japanese Chamber of Commerce

Most large cities of the West Coast and in Hawaii have their

Japanese Chambers of Commerce, which function more or less like other

chambers of commerce. As a rule, they serve the interests of the local

business men of Japanese ancestry, being primarily local and economic in

function,

Hotel Associations

In places such as Seattle, where many Japanese owned or managed

hotels, there were organized Japanese associations of hotel MANAgers "

These also served primarily economic ends.

California Farmers! Association

This and other farmer organizations have been organized primarily

for mutual aid among farmers of Japanese ancestry. They correspond in

general aims to hotel associations and other occupational groups. The

farmers! associations tend to be patterned along more Japanese lines than

some of the others, simply because the farmers on the whole are less well

adapted to American ways than are the Japanese in cities.

6-621)-P3-NCBU-COS-WP

Ps

Japanese Labor Association

am

Cath

Figen

that

--

hi

in such of the

family in mie a

3

hee

or Tanomoshi Credit

ried

A

another

th

the

clubs of one sort

been retained amoung

led variously ko, tanomoshi,

20 or 30 people in a community.

borrows a sum of money.

. part. f the man needs

- meetings every

sbt, say $10, plus cide

system of bidding or drawin

debtor "wins" the pot of $200 plus the debtor'

one received the pot once, several of the member

the borrower has been tided over an emergen

had of social gathering

cooperat

Japan and China and he

West Coast, They

made up a rule

existence when on

formed group gives

each give $10. Then

into the club part of

also $10, Then by a

the

OF Ty

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as

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et,

or

and

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ie

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RELIG

n +

}

Ld " LLE

or

The Japanese, whe y came to

immediately for some religious organizat

problems of life end death such funerals

the early days informal prayer meeting frou

was not long before most immigrant

and churches, Japane se religious

indicated

but the main ones ar

n order to loo!

and memorial

were

had

in is United

broad cate

as

OSs

KY

communitie

groups

in the following

F

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s

0x2122

aid

Buddhis

Or nate mk a me en

mM }.

o {

Japanese Buddhism, Protestant

number of sects or denominations, The most

both in Japan and in this country, is that of

+1

13 LC

S

m

followers

and to have

Most ef the bl

a are members of the Shinshu Buddhist Chure On the

afte "te say that a person in good standing in th church

a law-abiding sident. The younger people who are members

people's Buddhist societies are for the most part also Maes

their activities resemble those of young Christian

oth o

a se many

Western

the

f the Ameri

ae

oO

1S h wi

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=

= people's

621 4-NOBU-COS-

ong Jepan

anyone who 0

attitudes,

worke

are very common i

Japanese in

The group

mach member of the newly

20 people may

so tne debtor pays

ng lots, a member o

interest,

me

bhicg

services.

establis!

States

in

125 EO

becaus

averare

ers! lab

r6

:

e to

Japanese

or group.

n

Hawaii and the

jin, and are

comes into

other members

ther than

When every-

de a profit,

the group has

felt the need almost

cer the

In

and it

pries

re many,

ck af

1edq

Ce 3

erories,

Buddhism in which the

[fo live a good life

Paradise,

can born as

ae

u

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is probab ty Bis

of young

and

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vi

Shinshu has two main divisions, popularly knewn as Nishi es:

and Higashi Hongwanji (i.e., West and Fast Hongwanji), the one most common

in this country is Higoshi Hongwanji.

Some other Buddhist sects which are fairly common, but which do

not approach Shinshu in popularity, are as follovs:

Zen A sect in which the followers attain enlightenment through

their own efforts of spiritual and physical self-discipline, rather than

depending upon a savior as in Shinshu.

Nichiren A sect the followers of which tend on the whole to be

rather ardent in their beliefs, Nischiren (1222-1282 A.D.), the founder

of this sect some centuries ego, was himself rather a nationalist, and some

of the Nichiren people in Japan today sre notable for their na tionalis tic

attitudes. This, however, is no guarantee that a Nichiren follower in this

country would be a Japanese nationalist.

Odaishi This is a populer form of the Shingon sect founded by

Kobo Daishi (died 816 A.D.) a famous teacher and religious leader. In

this country older Japanese frequently form a little group of ---=

followers who meet together for prayer and sociability once a mon

Odaishi priests often act as faith healers and most of the a are

older men and women who have faith in Odaishi's healing powers. Tanomoshi

with monthly payments of a dollar or so more or less on a lottery basis

are often associated with Daishi and similar regular meeting groups.

ft

Shinto

The first thing to know about Shinto is that there are several

different kinds. There is first of all the netionalistic "emperor-

worshipping" type of State Shinto, secondly there sre a series of Shinto

sects which in actual practice are much the same as some of the ordinary

Buddhist sects, and finally there are innumerable popular Shinto de ties

of nature which are belisved in and celebrated by the masses. One of the

most popular of these deities is Inari, god of good crops and prosperity,

who is often represented by a fox messenger. Observances in honor of Inari

are in Japan and in this country rather similar in nature to those in honor

of the Buddhist Odaishi.

v

A man who has been a priest in one of the shrines of the national-

istic Shinto, such as, for instance, the Sun Goddess or Daijingu Shrine

in San Francisco or Seattle, might fairly be regarded as being definitely

interested in promoting a Japanese war victory, even because of his trips

to and training in Japan, be strongly pro-Japanese. Older people who are

simply members of the sects are not to be regarded in this way. On th

other hand, older people who are simply members of some of the ordinary

Shinto sects snd followers of popul=r deities such as Inari, are to be

looked upon in much the same light as members of Buddhist sects or followers

of Odaishi. The two commonest Shinto sects are Tenrikyo and Konkokyo,

both of which stress ritual and faith healing. ~_ =

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Sei cho No Iye

pas

Seicho No Iye is a sect combining Buddhist and Christian beliefs.

One of the sacred books of the sect for instance, contains references

to Geutama Buddha and Mery Baker Eddy. Seicho No Iye teachers stress

happiness and health and maintain that by the proper attitude one can

overcome any illness. This sect gained quite a following in California

in the 1950's and most of its adherents are older people. It should be

leoked upon in the seme light as some of the ordinary Buddhist and Shinto

sects, oo

On the whole it may be said that most of the older Japanese, the

Issei, belong to one or another of the above religious groups, It is to be

expected that the law-abiding Issei would do so. Religious priests, on

the other hand, may be and often are conscious Japanese nationalists; this

is especially true of Shinto priests, even sect Shinto priests.

Younger people born in this country are less likely to be members

of Japanese religious frroups, _ Shinshu Buddhism in a rather American-

ized form, remains quite popular The Shinto sects, however, are not

Americanized and the ritual remains Japanese, so that Sacenese -~Americans

who are active members ef such religiovs groups may be regarded as less

assimilated to American life than those who belong to the Shinshu sect or

those who are Christians,

IV. MILITARY-NATIONALISTIC

-_ are a number of societies which have been formed on the

ast and in Hawaii of a military and nationalistic nature. Some

e, such as the Pudokai, are made up pretty exclusively of people

apanese in culture and loyalty, whereas others, such as the

Heimusha Kai, are simply organizations which were formed in connection

with raising money for the China war and, as explained below, are of a

somewhat different type.

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Budokai Or Japanese Spirit Association

The Bucokai, where it is found, is usually organized by persons who

were educated in Japan and who are interested in maintaining the Japanese

irit among young people in this country, The Budokai, for instance,

sponsors such Japanese things as Judo and Kendo classes (Japanese wrest-

ling and fencing). In general, it may be assumed that anyone who is a

member of such a society, or who has been an active participant in Judo

and Kendo exercises, is rather on the Japanese side of the fence. Teachers

of Judo, for instance, stress its spiritual valve, and young people who

participate are often those who feel more akin to Japan than to the United

States.

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Heimusha Kai and Patriotic Contribution Societies

These societies functioned before

also

soldiers, The organizers of such societies

nationalists. However, ordinary

regarded in the same light

pressure placed upon

tribute their share when contributions

as pres

money to China.

Veterans'

ct

ve

raising money for sending overseas to aid Japan in the China war.

contributors,

who were on Boards of Trustees of such societies,

as the organizers.

older Japanese residents in most communities to con-

were taken,

sure has been put upon individual Chinese

means of

They

war primarily as a

sponsored the making of consolation bags (imombukuro) for Japanese

may be regarded as Japanese

and even prominent residents

are not necessarily to be

There was strong social

in much the same way

in this country to send

Societies

Many of the

the Russo-Japanese War and who came to this

Most such men automatically became veterans

likely to be members of veterans!

membership is not very significant.

societies, one of which goes under the name

ably more strongly nationalistic in

some

organization.

However,

character.

early Japanese immigrants were men who had served in

country to seek their fortunes.

of the Japanese Army and are

In itself, such

there are certain military

of Hinomaru, which are prob-

"Officers of such societies,

in contrast to passive members, may be regarded as actively interested in

a Japanese victory.

Jananese Language

Schools

The Japanese,

lished language schools for their children.

other ethnic groups in this

and in Hawaii these language schools were

communities, Before the war,

school but,

against this extra schooling and ceased

The active sponsors of the language

language school ee t ucaetecs. may be

sympathy and point of view, just as are the

Judo clubs. On the other head, parents who

and especially the children themselves,

fact, to be regarded as anti-American,

to eaee something of the Jap

attended partly because of parental pres

knowledge of Japanese

The

soon after they arrived in the

country have dene the

sup"orted locally

children attended

as a rule, when hiidees reached high school age they rebelled

attend,

schools,

or,

panese language and culture; the

sure and partly becau

was (and is) an econom

States, estab-

Norwegians, and

On the West Coast

y by the Japanese

4

day after public

(The Chin

same. ,

an Shi a

and especially th

regarded as being ---S in

sponsors of Budokai and the

sent their children to school,

not, simply because of this

parents wanted their children

children

1seuro some

ic asset.

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