 Between 1944 and 1947, during the US Government relocation program, about 500 Japanese families had been living and working at Seabrook Farms.In response to the community's spiritual concerns, Shosetsu Tsufara and Zaishin Mukushina began holding non-denominational Buddhist services.The Buddhist church was formed in the winter of 1945 and Kaoru Kamikawa was selected as president of the organization.