LAS VEGAS BUDDHIST SANGHA NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER, 2013

This month's service will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at the JACL Activity Center, 1401 Arville Street, a

block south of Charleston. Our visiting minister will be Rev Akio Miyaji. He will arrive on Saturday, December 7th to teach a

class on Japanese calligraphy at 1 p.m. at SW Behavior School, 6480 Fairbanks Rd 89103, which is one block south of Flamingo

between Jones and Torrey Pines and between Guinn Middle School and the West Flamingo Park. We will be having our

traditional potluck bonenkai luncheon after the service on Sunday, so please bring your special entree, salad, or dessert to share

with our Sangha members. Please put your name on the dish so other members may let you know how much they appreciate

what you’ve brought. It is one of the few times that we can leisurely sit and get to know one another better; so besides inviting

interested friends, please bring a generous amount to cover any prospective members. Our bonenkai celebration is to “forget the

hardships of the old year” while “being grateful for the interconnectedness” one has experienced this past year. Hopefully, the

Dharma School students will be submitting both the artwork for the annual calendar in addition to a video of any performance

which will be shown during the luncheon in the tradition of many bonenkai celebrations.

DHARMA CORNER: December 8th, Bodhi Day, marks the time when Prince Siddhartha Gautama “awakened” from a life

blinded by ignorance to an enlightened life as Shakyamuni Buddha. Gautama meditated under the Bodhi Tree (Tree of

Enlightenment) and became a Buddha, perfect in Wisdom and Compassion. This historic event supposedly took place as the first

faint light of day began to glow in the eastern sky. By his example he showed us that it was possible for human beings to become

a Buddha, a fully Enlightened Person. We therefore possess this potential of Buddha-nature, which when awakened and

cultivated, will enable us to achieve supreme Wisdom and Compassion.

NOVEMBER’S DHARMA MESSAGE: The Saturday class that Reverend Jay Shinseki presented was very informative on

rituals & traditions in Jodo Shinshu. Reverend Shinseki lives in San Jose, works in Santa Cruz and is the minister of the

Monterey Buddhist Temple. As in 2012, when he pinch hit for the former Bishop Seigen Yamaoka, this time he subbed for Rev.

Marvin Harada who had a conflict in his schedule. At our Sunday service, Reverend Shinseki’s Dharma talk was about a man

having four wives with each representing the various aspects of life: possessions, friends, family and then the true self. When we

die, we can only take our true self with us, “sonomama.”

NOVEMBER DONATIONS: Frances & Jim Akamine; Ken & Gladys Akita; Cathy Arakaki; Alice Branton; Sho

Fukawa; Sandi Hiyane (annual); Harriet Huber; Isa Family (October); Dale & Rosan Ito; Rosie Kakuuchi; Kumiko Kashiwada

(October & November); Kurashige Family; Pati Lira; Hank & June Maruyama; Frances Miyasato (annual); Bill & Nanette

Muraoka; Dennis & Margaret Nakata; Mits Nakayama; Takako Ogata; Mr./Mrs. Rodney Okano (new members); Bob & Chizuyo

Reynierse; Mike & Becky Suyeyasu; Roy & Caryl Suzuki; Oh & Alan Takemoto (annual); Fred & Carolyn Tomiyoshi (annual);

Sadako Wanless (annual); Grace Wertz; Patty & Fred Yamano; Tom & Sumiko Yanagihara (annual).

2013 MEMBERSHIP DUES RECEIVED: Frances & Jim Akamine; Ken & Gladys Akita; Emiko Aoki; Sharleen Aoki; Ann

& Noboru Aoyagi; Cathy Arakaki; Alice Branton; Dennis & Brenda Creed; Tom & Lynn DeMann; Mitch & Nam’e Dukes; Sho

Fukawa; Hana Fukumoto; Mabel Fukumoto; Clara Hamasaki; Sally Hanagami; Deborah Harlig; Carolyn & Richard Higa; Sandi

Hiyane; Tomico Honda; Dave Hopper; Harriet Huber; June Ikeda; Nancy & Stan Isa; Dale & Rosan Ito; Alice Kado; Rosie

Kakuuchi; Sadae Kasamoto; Kumiko Kashiwada; Albert & Georgiana Kobayashi; Dan & Katie Kosora; John Kosora; Wayne &

Myrna Kozai; Jim & Gay Kurashige; Pati Lira; June & Hank Maruyama; Roy & Kanyarat Matsuda; Aiko Mayeda; Sueno

Migaki; Jimi & Barbara Mitsunaga; Frances Miyasato; Daniel Miyake; Ben & Karen Mizusaki; Cathy & Cliff Moses; Bill &

Nanette Muraoka; Ben & Marilyn Nakagawa; Dennis & Margaret Nakata; Kumiko Nakata; Mits Nakayama; Steve & Myrtle

Noguchi; Jon Ogata; Takako Ogata; Eleanor Oshiro; Mary Ozaki; Bob & Chizuyo Reynierse; Paul & Alice Sakamoto; Lily

Sakemi; Marlo & Jason Sando; Muriel Scrivner; Kazu & Edna Shiotani; Ron & May Soeda; Aileen & Brent Sumida; Mike &

Becky Suyeyasu; Roy & Caryl Suzuki; Oh & Alan Takemoto; Michael Tanaka; Wayne & Sadie Tanaka; June Tateishi; Fred &

Carolyn Tomiyoshi; Agnes Tsuchiyama; Flora Tsuma; Sadako Wanless; Kyle Watanabe; Scott & Tami Watanabe; Grace Wertz;

Tom & Myrna Wieczorek; Mas Yamada; Patty & Fred Yamano; Tom & Sumiko Yanagihara; Stan Yokoyama; Katherine &

Ryan Yoshikawa; Shirley Yoshioka.

2014 MEMBERSHIP DUES RECEIVED: Alice Branton; Helen Koga; Frances Miyasato; Mits Nakayama. Also we welcome

as new members Gene Nakamura & his friend Tilda Silao, and Rodney & Crystal Okano who have children Tia (16) Roxanne

(10) and Kenji (6).

MEMORIALS: Alice Branton in memory of her husband Ralph Branton; Ken & Gladys Akita in memory of her father,

Mitsubi Higashi; Sho Fukawa – in memory of his parents in law, Mr. & Mrs. Sasaki; June Maruyama in memory of her father,

Kojiro Hamada.

BUDDHISM CLASS DONATIONS: Dennis & Margaret Nakata and Roy & Caryl Suzuki. At our December calligraphy

class, we would like to get an RSVP from anyone who wants to attend, because we need to know the quantity of supplies to have

on hand. We also request that a small donation of $10 be made by all attendees to cover the cost of the supplies.

SPECIAL DONATION: Harriet Huber - $400 towards service books as well as Dr. Dave Hopper donating $400 for the other

half; OCBC is donating 100 plastic covers at $2 each to have the books last longer.

SANGHA CRAFTS NEWS: The crafts group was very successful at the Aki Matsuri, although it only had one week's

notice. They were able to raise $375 for the Building Fund. It was decided that all the money donated by the Sangha Crafts (so

far over $2,000) would be set aside for our new kitchen at our new location. It will be a “warming” kitchen since a full kitchen

would have been over $100,000 extra to be in compliance with all the city/fire codes. The Sangha Craft Group will be selling

furoshikis and hangers for the holidays. The first order will go in this week and you will get your furoshikis by our next service,

Dec. 8th. Please go to www.furoshikishop.com and call if you wish to place an order - Patty Yamano (818) 219-6982.

Sewing Class for Decorative Pillows - We will be having a sewing class on Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. at the JACL Center. We will learn

how to put together decorative pillows using the furoshikis but other panels can be used. Call Patty at the number above if you

are interested to get details on what to bring. A portable sewing machine is desirable but not necessary. The classes will be $25

(part to go to the Building Fund) plus materials.

THANKSGIVING DONATIONS: We thank Helen Koga and Mits Nakayama who brought canned goods to November’s

service. In addition, Project 150 brought a surplus of food to SW Behavior School which was used to augment our Sangha

donations. In addition, Rosie Kakuuchi and Roy & Caryl Suzuki sent in their donations for the annual BCA Thanksgiving

program that our Sangha board may add to at its next board meeting.

FLOWERS & REFRESHMENTS: We thank all those who brought flowers for our service: Gladys & Ken Akita, Alice

Branton, June & Hank Maruyama, Chizuyo & Bob Reynierse, & Sadako Wanless. We also thank Takako Ogata & Sadako

Wanless and Sho Fukawa & Pati Lira for coming early to set up the chairs and Obutsudan.

DECEMBER MEMORIALS: If you would like to bring memorial flowers, please remember to bring a vase and to take your

flowers or give them away after the service.

12/1 Iwamatsu Hoshiyama, father of Hana Fukumoto; George Hoshiyama, brother of Hana Fukumoto; Yori Hamada, brother

of Haru Toimoto

12/3 Masao Nii, father of May Soeda

12/3 Bill Hopper, father of David Hopper

12/4 Tom Tanaka, father of Cathy Moses and Michael Tanaka

12/6 Hideo “Joe” Ikeda; father of Deborah Harlig

12/8 Fumie Suyama, grandmother of Cathy Moses and Michael Tanaka

12/10 Reverend Jitsuryu Tanaka, father of Wayne Tanaka

12/12 Frank Takemoto, brother of Margaret Nakata

12/13 Minoru Suzuki, father of Roy Suzuki

12/18 Yoogo Oba, father of Harriet Huber

12/20 Stanley Okumura, father of Francis Akamine

12/23 Hanayo Oba, mother of Harriet Huber

12/25 Kow Maruki, brother of Rosie Kakuuchi & Grace Wertz;

12/26 Haruyo Matsuda, mother of Sadako Wanless

12/28 Mitzy Tanaka, mother of Cathy Moses and Michael Tanaka

12/29 Kasumi Hamada, mother of Haru Toimoto

12/30 Jimmy Takemoto, brother of Margaret Nakata

KODEN SENT: To the families of Stan Isa and Heide Ferguson in memory of their mothers.

FUNERALS ATTENDED: Wayne Tanaka spoke as a representative of the Sangha at the services for June Tateishi and Don

Frazer. The Sangha donated flowers and koden.

HAPPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAY on 12/11 Katherine Yoshikawa; 12/12 James Akamine; 12/15 Alice Kado; 12/17 Cathy

Arakaki; 12/18 Kim Watanabe; 12/19 Sadie Kasamoto; 12/20 Paul Sakamoto; 12/21 Rosie Kakuuchi; 12/24 Lori Muraoka;

12/25 Tomico Honda; and 12/31 Sadie Tanaka.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY on 12/10 Margaret & Dennis Nakata; 12/19 Nan & Bill Muraoka; 12/20 Sadie & Wayne Tanaka;

12/29 Lynn & Thomas DeMann.

BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 AT 6 P.M. FOR DINNER at Mimi’s Restaurant (7

P.M. FOR THE MEETING). At our service, a motion was made and seconded to keep the entire current cabinet and board

members. A vote was taken and it was passed that the following Sangha members will be sworn in as the next service: President

Stan Isa; VP Jim Kurashige & Harriet Huber; Secretary Sharleen Aoki would like to be replaced, but will serve until she finds a

replacement; Treasurer Pati Lira; Board Members: Sandi Hiyane; Eileen Castle/Dr. Dave Hopper, John Kosora; Margaret &

Dennis Nakata; Jon Ogata has also asked to be relieved; so we need another volunteer; Ellie Oshiro; Michael & Sharan Tanaka;

Patty Yamano and Kyle Watanabe.

PROGRESS ON PURCHASE OF NEW BUILDING: At least 15 Sangha members were present at the NLV Planning

Commission meeting on Wed., Nov. 13, when the commission unanimously approved of having a church buy the building at

4110 MLK Blvd, NLV 89032, next to the empty lot which is behind Home Depot and less than a block south of Craig & Camino

del Norte. An electronic bank transfer has been set up by our financial planner Derek Uyehara which will get the funds into our

checking account in time for the closing of escrow on Wednesday, November 20 through realtors Mike & Becky Suyeyasu.

A big thank you to all our friends that have supported us in the past and now in this endeavor. Patty Yamano & Pati Lira sent out

letters a little over a month ago and we have received over $10,000 from our Sangha friends. If you know any of the donors

below, please give them a heartfelt thank you the next time you see them:

STANLEY & EVELYN MORIMOTO, LOS ANGELES, CA

TOM & AKIKO MAEDA, GARDENA, CA

JANE SAKASHITA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

TED & TOMOKO MIZUKAMI, HERMOSA BEACH, CA

DAVID & LILY NAKATANI, TORRANCE, CA

CHIYOKO NISHISAKA, CULVER CITY, CA

SACHI MATSUMOTO, LOMITA, CA

MOTOMI & JO-DELL ARAO, MOORPARK, CA

TOMIAKI & NOBUKO OKADA, ROLLING HILLS, CA

ICHIRO & TAKEKO DOI, BOUNTIFUL, UT

TOSHI OTSU, GARDENA, CA

MASAYO UYEDA, LA MIRADA, CA

KIMIKO & LARRY FUKUMOTO (MEMORY OF FRED FUKUMOTO), CERRITOS, CA

ALFRED, DORIS & SUSAN SHIGAKI, LOS ANGELES, CA

CHIYOKO NISHIMORI (MEMORY OF MINOBU NISHIMORI), SOMIS, CA

SACHIKO SAKAMOTO, SYLMAR, CA

TAYEKO KURASHIGE, SAN JOSE, CA

BILLY & SANDRA SAEK, LOS ANGLEES, CA

ENMANJI BUDDHIST TEMPLE, SEBASTOPOL, CA

FLORANCE M. KAJIKAWA, TORRANCE, CA

ROY & TERRY NAKAWATASE, TOPANGA, CA

KAYOKO UNO, MONTEREY PARK, CA

KIYOSHI & ELLEN FUJIMOTO, PEPEEKEO, HI

MICHIKO & CAROLYN ITATANI WAHLER, SAN JOSE, CA

HENRY & MICHIKO TANAKA, OXNARD, CA

SUZANNE YOSHIDA, TORRANCE, CA

AMY SATO, HENDERSON, NV

KEIKO OTANI, REDONDO BEACH, CA

SHIGERU & MARY TOKIWA, CAMPBELL, CA

CINDY OGAWA, WEST HILLS, CA

Y. MARY NAKAYAMA, WESTMINSTER, CA

SHOUSEI & KEIKO HANAYAMA, WASTSONVILLE, CA

KAYE BARTHOLOMEW & JOHN PETER SCOTT, SPOKANE, WA

REV. KATSUYA KUSUNOKI & AYANO KUSUNOKI, LODI, CA

DENNIS M. & SETSUKO F. FURUKE, SUMMERLAND, CA

HATSUMI YAMAMOTO, SACRAMENTO, CA

JON & LINDA TURNER (OCBC MINISTER), HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA

Also, a suggestion during this season of Dana (giving). If anyone asks you what you want for the holidays and are stuck for an

answer, please think about a donation to the LV Sangha Building Fund. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. As Rev.

Shinseki said, we are all family and now we are building a new home for our family to honor our dedication to the Buddha and

the Dharma.

SOUTHERN NEVADA JAPANESE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION’S 10TH ANNUAL SPEECH CONTEST. The Sangha

donated $100 for this event honoring Fumiko Bichard’s accomplishments as the first Japanese language teacher at Clark HS.

The event was held at Spring Valley HS on November 9 with 40 competitors from CCSD, CSN and UNLV.

BILL ENDOW GOLF TOURNAMENT was held on Sat., Nov. 16 at Bear’s Best Golf Club with the Sangha donating a hole

sponsorship and in return a sign was placed on the one of the holes and a full page ad about our Sangha was in the tournament

program booklet.

JAPAN AMERICA SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN NEVADA (JASN). Their third annual Bonenkai is being held on

Wednesday, December 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, 89106. Price is $60 per person and

RSVP is necessary at www.jasnlasvegas.org.

JACL MOCHITSUKI will be held on Saturday, December 28, from 7 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon. Both the mochi &

lunch must be prepaid ($4/bag, $15/person). Costs are more for non-JACL members in hopes that more Sangha members will

sign up. It only costs $20 per family. Plans are being made to have groups of performers for a New Year’s celebration at a larger

venue in January.

June Tateishi

Don Frazer Jane and Rev. Jay Shinseki with Crystal and Rodney Okano, Esq.

IN MEMORIAM

Tilda Silao and Gene Nakamura with Rev. Jay & Jane Shinseki