January, 2014

Group photo from Ministers’ and Ministers’ Wives’ Workshop with Archbishop Shogen Miyabayashi (center), lecturers, and special guests from Japan

at Jodo Missions of Hawaii in Honolulu on December 21, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAWAII COUNCIL OF JODO MISSIONS1429 Makiki Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

NEW YEAR’S GREETING FROM OUR BISHOP

Wishing you and your family a very happy and peaceful New Year!

The New Year represents new beginnings, starting life afresh with renewed enthusiasm and energy. Thefresh air in the morning of the first day of the year always feels extra special to me as it is filled withanticipation of the new things the year will bring. It is also a time to set new goals. In Japan, the word,hatsu—“first, beginning”—signifies the first actions we take during the first few days of the New Year,such as hatsumoude (first shrine or temple visit), hatsuyume (first dream), or hatsugama (first tea ceremony).Speaking of new beginnings, I am looking forward to working with our new Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions (Kyoku) President Leonard Chow of Hilo Jodo Mission and wholeheartedly thank our formerPresident Mark Nakamura for his many years of dedication and service. I hope that as many of you willjoin in for the observances and functions at your respective temples as well as on a statewide level. Pleaselook at the Calendar of Events in this issue and mark your calendars for our annual services andgatherings such as the Youth Retreat (March), Aloha State Meisho YBA Convention in Hilo (June 6–8),and Laypersons’ Association/Rengo Fujinkai Joint Convention in Hilo (September 19–21).

In addition to the annual events, this year I look forward to the special commemorative celebrations:* February 8 (Sat.) The 110th Anniversary of Hakalau Jodo Mission* April 26 (Sat.) The 50th Anniversary of the Relocation of Hilo Meishoin Mission* October 25 (Sat.) The Centennial of Wailuku Jodo Mission

I am also pleased to announce that the long-awaited, revised Otsutome Book is expected to be publishedand distributed this spring. It is my hope that this new edition will inspire you to learn more about ourtradition and teachings.

Please remember that each and every one of you makes a difference at your temple. Let us join togetherto work towards a brighter future for Jodo Shu in Hawaii.

Embraced by the Wisdom and Compassion of Amida Buddha, let us call Amida Buddha’s sacred Name,Namu Amida Butsu, daily and live our lives happily and peacefully to the fullest throughout 2014.

With Gassho,

Gensho Hara

The Buddha’s vows are many as many as forty-eight.But the Nembutsu alone was revealed as the practice with the greatest karmic relationship.

If you earnestly think of the Buddha, the Buddha in turn will think of you.If you seek the Buddha with your whole heart, the Buddha in turn will receive you.

-- From the Chinese Pure Land Master Shantao’s hymns

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NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM OUR KYOKU PRESIDENT

Mina-sama, Shinnen Akemashite Omedetougozaimasu!

Happy New Year Greetings to all of our Jodo Shu members and friends! Wishing everyone a safe, prosperous, and healthy 2014.

As your newly elected Kyoku President, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your support and confidence in me to lead our statewide Sangha. I look forward to working closely with Bishop Hara, your resi-dent ministers, our members, and friends of Jodo Shu in Hawaii.

Our present challenges are many—specific issues of declining membership, aging temples, and self-sufficiency of our smaller temples are priorities. These problems should not be considered as insurmountable or hopeless. How-ever, we cannot be passive or indifferent and say “shoga nai” (“it can’t be helped”) because these challenges, if not addressed soon, will have a devastating effect on the future of Jodo Shu in Hawaii. I truly believe we can overcome these challenges if we work together as a Sangha and “think outside of the box.”

We live in a very hectic and fast-paced society that is no longer idyllic or pastoral. We need to be proactive in our daily lives as well as in our dealings with temple matters or we will be left behind. We should also respect each oth-er and other’s opinions. Let us put aside our personal differences and selfish mindset, think positively, and live and work harmoniously with others so that we can truly create a better community and a better Sangha. Our actions and deeds should always be “Otera no tame ni” (“for the sake of the temple”). If our actions and words are truly sincere then perhaps we can achieve and realize true Buddha nature.

Let us be good role models so that others would want to join us as new members in fellowship. We also need to be proactive in our approach in attracting new members. Our temples and congregations need to interact and engage the community at large and make our presence known in our respective local areas. For example, if you become ac-tive members in your community by joining service organizations or social and recreational clubs and on occasion open your temple halls for community events, others may one day reciprocate the favor when help is needed at your temple. Building relationships with others takes time and must be nurtured so that in the future you can be comfort-able in asking for help for temple activities and in turn others would be willing to offer assistance when asked.

Membership in our traditional thinking means someone is paying dues (gojikai) to belong to the temple. If you cannot convince others to make that kind of commitment, it would be acceptable to have them as “friends of the tem-ple” or be associate members and utilize their occasional donation of time and resources. This type of relationship could be beneficial to a temple’s sustainability and existence in lieu of dues.

Thank you for your continued support of our resident ministers and temples and your faith in Jodo Shu Buddhism. If I can be of service to you or if you have any new ideas of how we can address our challenges, please feel free to contact me (lchow.kyoku@gmail.com).

In Gassho, Leonard Chow President, Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions

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INTRODUCING OUR NEW KYOKU PRESIDENT, LEONARD CHOW

After ten years of dedicated service, Mark Nakamura has stepped down as President of the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions (Kyoku). We are grateful to Mark for his enthusiastic and fearless leadership as we warmly welcome our new President, Leonard Chow.

Many of you may already know Leonard as a dedicated member of Hilo Meishoin but if you have a chance to sit down and “talk story” with him, you will find that he has all the makings of a great Kyoku President—he has a long background in and deep knowledge of Buddhism, brings with him administrative experience and a positive vision for the future of Jodo Shu in Hawaii, and is a lot of fun. To get to know him better, we asked him for a short bio for this issue.

Aloha! My name is Leonard Chow and I am an affirmed Buddhist. I joined Hilo Meishoin in 1976 after I graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in Sociology and Social work. As a teenager, many of my high school friends were members of Hilo Hongwanji’s Jr. YBA so I naturally joined them and happily participated in tem-ple-sanctioned social activities such as camp outs, picnics, Friday night dance socials, and Obon dances.

During this time, around 1972, I started attending Hilo Meishoin’s Japanese Services with my friend Calvin. His grandparents were members of Meishoin and it was his responsibility to drive them to temple on Sundays but he didn’t want to sit through the service by himself so I would accompany him. As weeks turned into months, Rev. Dwight Nakamura, the resident minister at the time, asked me about my interest and knowledge of Jodo Shu Buddhism. I told him that my paternal grandmother’s family was Chinese Chingtu Buddhists, the counterpart of Japanese Jodo or Pure Land Buddhists. I further told him that our founder was St. Shantao, who is known as St. Zendo in Japanese. So it was a natural transition for me to join Hilo Meishoin.

I am grateful to have been initially accepted into the temple by Mr. Yoriyoshi Hara (whose father Rev. Testuyu Hara was the former resident minister of Hilo Meishoin), the Fujinkai ladies, and later on by the rest of the congregation who made me feel welcome and a part of the active Sangha. I served 2 terms as Senior YBA President and a term as Kyodan President. As your newly elected Kyoku President, I humbly ask for your continued support.

I have enjoyed over 37 years of membership and active participation at Hilo Meishoin. It is my hope that I can continue to be an active, productive, and contributing member in the years to come. I consciously try to live by the rules of the Eight Fold Path laid down for us by the historical Buddha and fervently seek refuge in the Three Treasures in my daily life. I enjoy the fellowship of our universal Jodo Shu Sangha and it is my sincere wish that we can share the boundless love, compassion and wisdom of our Amida Buddha with everyone we meet. Namu Amida Butsu.

President: Leonard Chow (Hilo)1st VP: Robert Miyake (Hilo)2nd VP: Ian Kitajima (Honolulu)Secretary: Eleanor Miyake (Hilo)Assistant Secretary: Jane Nakamura (Hilo)

Treasurer: Herbert Fujikawa (Honolulu)Assistant Treasurer: Clifford Miyamoto (Honolulu)Auditors: Alvin Akimoto (Kauai), Donald Fujii (Maui)

Kyoku Officers (2013–2015)

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HAKALAU CELEBRATING 110TH ANNIVERSARY

Hakalau Jodo Mission is celebrating its 110th year anniversary this February 8th (Sat.). Fifteen miles from Hilo, along the Hamakua Coast, Hakalau Jodo Mission was founded in 1904, and the temple was built in 1909 with the Japanese school. The current temple and parsonage was built during Rev. Ryokai Yamanaka’s time (1929–37).

Due to the declining membership and aging population, today, Hakalau is facing financial challenges. The temple and parsonage are in need of renovations. We are being innovative in the area of finances. We are renting the par-sonage, feeding seniors in our community, and developing a group called Friends of Hakalau Jodo Mission. This helps in broadening our support base and raising much-needed funds.

The twenty members and its Board have been working very hard to sustain this temple. We have in this past year fixed and remodeled the parsonage so that it could be rented. With the help of our project coordinator, Clyde Chin-en, who worked with a contractor, the electrical system was rewired and the lighting of temple replaced.

Our community outreach person, Akiko Masuda, met with Ed Toguchi and Garry Wyckoff (our newest member) to work on the Friends of Hakalau Jodo Mission. Akiko also has another big task. She coordinates the senior groups weekly from Honokaa to Puna to come to Hakalau for a wonderful lunch cooked by Miyo Harumi of Miyo’s Restaurant. Miyo brings along her friends to volunteer their time. Setsuko Taira, our kitchen manager, makes sure that we have the necessary things ready for the seniors, like coffee, tea, and water. She has four Fujinkai ladies to help her. Our repair and maintenance coordinator, Bobby Arakaki, comes to open the Temple for our guests. This is also a part of the Project Dana Program, where Jan Nakamura is the site coordinator. The seniors enjoy themselves by singing, dancing, and socializing, and occasionally professional performers come to entertain.

For the 2014, we will be addressing the electrical system of the dining room to make the seniors safe and comfort-able. We also plan to install a solar photovoltaic system to reduce the cost of electricity and fumigate the Temple and parsonage.

We are fortunate to have members who are dedicated and have much love for the Temple.If we are to make progress we must not repeat history but make new history.

We must add to the inheritance left by our ancestors. —Mahatma Gandhi

(Submitted by Jan Nakamura)

Our hardworking crew preparing for community luncheon New staircase leading up to the temple

If you are interested in becoming a Friend of Hakalau Jodo Mission, please contact us at P.O. Box 296 Hakalau, HI 96710.

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ANNUAL HCJM MINISTERS’ AND MINISTERS’ WIVES’ WORKSHOP

On December 21 and 22, 2013, the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions’ ministers and their wives held their annual workshop at the Jodo Mission of Hawaii in Honolulu with led by Archbishop Shogen Miyabayashi of Jodo Shu Head Temple Komyo-ji in Kamakura, Japan. We are very grateful for Archbishop Miyabayashi, who offered us to have a memorial service for the late Professor Sadanobu Washimi of Taisho University, here in Hawaii. Together with the Archbishop and Rev. Tomatsu, the late Prof. Washimi had been our lecturer for the ministers’ workshop for many years and also a major supporter of Hawaii Jodo Shu.

As an opening ceremony for the workshop, a memorial service—officiated by Archbishop Miyabayashi—was solemnly observed. Following the service, two books (in Japanese), published in memory of Prof. Washimi, were presented to the Jodo Mission of Hawaii by Rev. Munenobu Washimi and Ms. Tomoko Washimi. The family also donated two books (a total of 34 books) to all the HCJM temples. In recognition of their kindness, our Bishop Gensho Hara presented a certificate of appreciation to the Washimi family.

The workshop began with a memorial lecture about the essence of the precepts according to Jodo Shu by Archbishop Miyabayashi, followed by a lecture by Rev. Masamichi Kobayashi, a chair of board of directors of the Japan Federation of Buddhism. Rev. Kobayashi introduced various actives of JFB and talked about the importance of socially engaged Buddhism.

The next day, we all attended the Sunday Service (sponsored by the Jodo Mission of Hawaii) with a sermon delivered by Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu of Jodo Shu Research Institute. Rev. Tomatsu shared his experience of meeting the young economic journalist Tetsuo Kaneko, who came to believe strongly in a life after this life and prepared his death and funeral by himself. Rev. Tomatsu stressed “Nenbutsu” as the heart of Buddhism, explaining that the character nen are made up of the characters for “now or the present moment” and “heart.”

After the service, a town hall-style meeting, coordinated by Rev. Yubun Narashiba, was held in order to brainstorm and exchange ideas for the betterment of Hawaii Jodo Shu. This meeting was originally requested by members, who felt “various gaps” between members and ministers, but Bishop Hara emphasized the need to improve our ministers’ services and recommended holding another such meeting in the future.

To conclude the workshop, Rev. Dosho Takeda of the Jodo Shu Research Institute, who recently came to interview the ministers and some members in Hawaii, also gave us lecture. He said “connection” is a keyword for the future. Interdependence, temple and society, members and ministers, living and dead, Amida Buddha and us, and even the internet, they are all related to the keyword “connection.” He emphasized that we ministers need to work on concretely explaining more about these “connections.”

As the word, “religion,” originally means “to re-connect,” this workshop gave us a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our relationship between members and ministers and supporters in Japan and Hawaii Jodo Shu in the past and present, and hopefully in the future. Our HCJM president, Mr. Leonard Chow, who attended all lectures of the workshop, stated in his speech, getting more connections between temple and society is a key not only for our temples to survive but also to attract more people. We all realize that we need to engage more in the community. (Submitted by Rev. Kosen Ishikawa, Koloa Jodo Mission)

YBA CONVENTION Announcement!Hilo Meisho YBA will be hosting the Aloha State Meisho YBA Convention in Hilo on June 6-8, 2014. Book your airlines reservations early to get a good rate. Rooms have been reserved at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Information about the convention will be sent out in January to the Statewide YBA units.

For more information, contact Mark Nakamura (markn3615@yahoo.com) or Bob Miyake (r_e_miyake@hawaiiantel.net

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2014 HAWAII COUNCIL OF JODO MISSIONS MAJOR EVENTS

NEW YEAR’S DAY SERVICE Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 5

ST. HONEN’S MEMORIAL (GYOKI-E)

Jan. 26 Jan. 5 Jan. 12 Jan. 19 Jan. 19 Jan. 26 Jan. 19 Jan. 12 Jan. 26 Jan. 12 Jan. 19 Jan. 26

NEW YEAR’S PARTY Jan. 26 Feb. 16 Feb. 9 Feb. 8 Jan. 19 Jan. 11 Jan. 25 Jan. 18 Feb. 8

NIRVANA DAY SERVICE Feb. 9 Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Feb. 16 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 16 Feb. 16 Feb. 23

SPRING O-HIGAN

(EQUINOX)Mar. 23 Mar. 2 Mar. 9 Mar. 9 Mar. 16 Mar. 9 Mar. 16 Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 9

BUDDHA DAY (HANAMATSURI) Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 20 Apr. 20 Apr. 27 Apr. 20 Apr. 13 Apr. 20 Apr. 20

BUDDHIST COUNCIL

BUDDHA DAYApr. 6 Apr. 6 Apr. 6 Apr. 6 Apr. 6 Apr. 6

O-BON/O-SEGAKI Jul. 25 Jul. 18

& 19 Aug. 2 Aug. 16

Jul. 19 & 20 Aug. 2 Aug. 9 Jul. 12 Jun. 20 Aug. 9 Jul. 4

& 5 Jun. 1 Jul. 13

BON DANCE Aug. 15 & 16

Jul. 18 & 19 Aug. 2 Aug.

16Jul. 18 & 19 Jun. 20 Aug. 9 Jul. 5 Jun. 6

& 7Jul. 18 & 19

TORO NAGASHI Jul. 19 Jul. 5 Aug.

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AUTUMN O-HIGAN

(EQUINOX)

Sept. 28 Sept. 7

Sept. 14 @Hilo

Sept. 14@Hilo

Sept. 14

Sept. 21

Sept. 28

Sept. 21

Aug. 14

Aug. 28

Sept. 14

Sept. 28

Sept. 28

OJUYA Nov. 9 Nov. 2 Nov. 16 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 16 Oct. 15 Oct. 15 Oct. 12 Nov. 6 Nov. 9

BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT (BODHI DAY)

Dec. 7 Dec. 7 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Dec. 21 Dec. 14 Dec. 7 Dec. 21

BUDDHIST COUNCIL

BODHI DAYDec. 7 Dec. 7 Dec. 7 Dec. 7

NEW YEAR’S EVE (JOYA-E) Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31

SERVICES & EVENTTEMPLE B

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KYOKU EVENTSHakalau’s 110th Anniversary February 8 Youth Retreat (each island) March 17 to 19 Ministers’ Meeting April 22 Hilo Meishoin’s April 26 50th Relocation Anniversary

YBA Convention in Hilo June 6–8 Laypersons’ Convention in Hilo September 19–21 Wailuku’s Centennial Celebration October 26

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FIRST STEP PRESCHOOL OPENS AT KURTISTOWN JODO MISSION

The First Step Preschool, a licensed and certified early childhood education pre-school, has opened at Kurtistown Jodo Mission and will commence on April 8, 2013 (the Buddha’s birthday!). Kudos to Rev. Junyu Miyazaki, the Preschool Project coordinator and advisor; Neil and Lolita Gyotoku, the First Step owners; and the Preschool Committee member advocates George Abe, Melvin Yasutake, Harold and June Shibuya. Special thanks goes out to the Kurtistown Jodo Mission members and community supporters who generously donated to the church hall renovations to meet building safety requirements. This project was also supported by the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions’ JARPA (Jodo Advance Religious Projects Advocacy) fund. The vision to build a licensed preschool to serve children and families for the Kurtistown with early childhood education services has been accomplished! Rev. Miyazaki will hold a weekly storytelling session at the preschool. Currently, six children are enrolled.

For enrollment questions or application forms, please contact Neil or Lolita Gyotoku at 959-0129 or Rev. Miyazaki at 936-7828. Any child whose parent or grandparent is a Hawaii Jodo Shu member shall receive a 10% discount on pre-school monthly fees. to work on concretely explaining more about these “connections.”

(Submitted by Rev. Junshin Miyazaki)

Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu delivering his sermon at the Betsuin Sunday Service on December 22, 2013

Ministers and their wives join Sunday Service at the Betsuin

Preschool Keikis! First Step Preschool

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