Description
1 photographic print : b&w; | Panoramic group portrait of Japanese community at the dedication of a new Tacoma Buddhist Church in Tacoma, Washington, March 1, 1931. Several rows of children, men and women pose in front of brick building with fern arch and other wooden buildings. Six men in Buddhist vestments holding books on plates and one Caucasian man in a suit sit in middle of front row, flanked by children dressed in chigo costume of kimono and elaborate headdress. Ministers identified in first row (L to R): Bishop Kenju Masuyama (4th) and Rev. J. Yukawa (5th). Second row composed of seven men in kimono and children dressed in chigo costume. Women dressed in kimono stand in center of third row rest of row in Western clothing; Remaining rows of people and to side of chigo are dressed in suits, dresses, coats and hats, including several Caucasian people. Two stone lanterns flank entrance to church; two Japanese signboards in front of church. Building to left of church is apartment building with sign on porch, "Home apartments, Housekeeping rooms, Vacancy." Two-storey building directly to right of church with white sign in Japanese posted next to front door. Partial view of another two-storey building at far right. City of Tacoma and misty mountains visible in gap between buildings, including "Warren Soule Fairhurst Co. Wholesale dry goods, furniture & notions" building. Automobiles parked at both ends of image.

Inscription
Printed in black in inset, BLC (In Japanese): Takoma Written in pencil and black ink on back: Dedication of the New Tacoma Buddhist Church, March, 1, 1931. Written in pencil sideways on back, TLC: Centennial Materials. Stamped in purple on back, TLC: Chapin Bowen, Inc. / Commercial Photography / 714 Market St. Tacoma, Washington.

panoramic photograph
H: 6.5 in, W: 37.125 in

Chapin Bowen

Tacoma, Wash., March 1, 1931

(99.201.22)

Buddhist Churches of America Collection

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