Archives West Finding Aid

Mr. Masato Yamasaki and Mrs. Kuni Yamasaki founded the Tacoma Japanese Language School in 1911. They rented a house at 411 S. 15th Street Tacoma, WA for $18 and had two students. Students learned Japanese language and culture after their public school classes had finished for the day. Over time, the school added courses teaching English to Japanese language speakers, and their enrollment grew to over 200 students. The school was located at 1715 S Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma, WA. During the second world war, Mr. and Mrs. Yamasaki were sent to internment camps. Sadly, Mr. Yamasaki died while interned after an extended illness. Mrs. Yamasaki returned and lived until 1946. The school closed in the 1940's and the building fell into disrepair. It was on the National Register of Historic Places. The property is now owned by the University of Washington. The structure was demolished but a memorial was placed on the site.

The Tacoma Hongwanji (Hongan-ji) Buddhist Church belongs to the Jodo Shinshu Nishi Hongwanji tradition and is a member of the Buddhist Churches of America, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Origins of the Tacoma congregation began in the early 20th century and formed by celebrating families hosting Rev. Hoshin Fujii (Seattle) to teach in their stores and residences between 1910 and 1915. Increasing membership, and a tragic fire lead to congregation members, including Masataka Fujimoto (President of the church council), to raise funds to find a temple location within Tacoma. A section of a preexisting building, the Columbus Hotel, at 1556 Market Street was leased and remodeled. On April 8, 1919, during the Hanamatsuri celebration, the Church was officially registered as a member of the Buddhist Mission of North America. After fundraising in the difficult financial environment of the Great Depression; groundbreaking began in September, 1930 at 17th & Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma to build the two story brick building with a basement for an auditorium, basketball gym, and banquet hall represented within the photographs. According to Tacoma Buddhist Temple information, on February 28, March l, and March 2, 1931, ceremonies were conducted to celebrate the completion of the first major project of the Tacoma Japanese community with parades from the 1556 Markey location to 17th and Fawcett led by Rev. Jokatsu Yukawa. The building currently holds the congregation.