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panoramic photograph
H: 10 in, W: 44.25 in

Subject Tags
Altars
Boys
Buddha
Buddhism
Buddhist churches
California
chigo
Flags
Fresno
Garages
Girls
Hakama
Hanamatsuri
Headdresses
Japanese Americans
Kimonos
Men
Palms (trees)
Portraits
Rites and ceremonies
Sculpture
Social life and customs
United States
Utility poles
Women

[Enshrinement of Naijin and elevation of rank to Betsuin at Fresno Buddhist Church on Hanamatsuri, Fresno, California, March 13-15, 1937]

Fresno, Calif., March 13, 1937 to March 15, 1937

Buddhist Churches of America Collection

Description
1 photographic print : sepia toned. | Portrait of Fresno Buddhist Church congregation on the occasion of the enshrinement of Naijin or Amida Buddha statue and the elevation of church's rank to Betsuin on Hanamatsuri in Fresno, California, March 13-15, 1937. Several rows of children, men and women pose in street and steps in front of church. A flower covered palanquin holding the statue sits on a platform in the front row center, flanked by two rows of children dressed in traditional chigo costume of kimono, hakama, and headdress; girls have elaborate metal headdresses and boys have caps. Buddhist priests in robes and vestsments, or okesa, stand behind naijin and children and are identified (L-R): Rev. G. Mayeda (1st), Rev. R. Katsueda (2nd), Rev. R. Nagoya (3rd), Rev. I. Kyogoku (4th), Bishop Kenju Masuyama (5th), (shrine), Rev. E. Shigefuji (6th), Rev. K. Fujinaga (10th). Young women are dressed in chigo costume as well near the nijin, including a Caucasian woman standing next to Rev. Fujinaga. Adults dressed in western clothing and kimonos stand in rows behind the children and the path leading up the stairs to the entrance to the church. There is a large arch over the path with banners hanging along columns and the word, "WELCOME," across top. Dark drapery with Buddhist symbols hangs above the entrance. An American flag is held amongst the crowd at right. Large palm trees are spead around the grounds. Utility poles line the street that runs in foreground. O.K. Garage building in background, left. There is a basketball court in the backround right.

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Hirasaki National Resource Center at the Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org).