Rebuilding Social and Religious Communities: The Aftermath of the War

Abstract

This chapter examines the changes in the Japanese community in Kona after the end of World War II and how the Nisei adjusted to a different atmosphere surrounding Japanese immigrants in America at that time. While the Issei had been predominately coffee farmers, the Nisei in the post-war period began to diversify their forms of income by deciding to downsize their farms to part-time operations and working another job elsewhere. The post-war period also saw changes to the responsibilities of the kumi, which would primarily come to focus on helping with funerals and organizing a summer meeting or party. Changes in religious practices, such as wedding ceremonies, and funerals, as well as butsudan, kamidana and ohakamairi rituals, are also examined.