Record Detail

People of Sacramento Archive

Caption: A Japanese wedding party at a temple in Stockton in 1930s.

Date: 1930s

Historical Context: This wedding was celebrated at the Stockton Daishij-ko, a temple which belonged to the Koyasan Shingon Buddhism in Japan. The Sacramento Daishij-ko was organized in 1920 by Mrs. Toshie Yamamoto at her farm house near what is now William Land Park in Sacramento. Many Japanese were members of Christian churches. Some became believers in Japan while others joined in the U.S. One of the reasons for joining churches was that they represented modernity and a way to be accepted in the Anglo-American dominated society. A criticism and a stereotype often cast upon the Japanese here by Anglo people was that the Japanese were all Buddhists and Shintoists.

Ethnic Group: Japanese

Place: Stockton, San Joaquin County

Events: Wedding

Names/Biographical Data: Unidentified.

Key Words: religion,celebration, assimilation, heritage

Image Number: To see a larger version of this picture, see image number 1355 and select the full-size image.

Objects/Items of Note: Note bride and her attendants wearing western dress, while flower girls wear traditional kimonos.

Image Credit: SMHD, Sacramento Ethnic Communities Survey, Koyasan Church of Sacramento, donor.