Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

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In this issue of WA...

‘wa’
Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

5

May 2016

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
5/1
5/8
5/8

MAY

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Car Care class
Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Mother’s Day family service &Sunday school
Otoki lunch prepared by temple men
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
現代語で仏教を聞こう

5/10 Tue
5/12 Thu
5/15 Sun
5/15
5/17
5/22
5/24
5/24
5/28
5/29

Sun
Tue
Sun
Tue
Tue
Sat
Sun

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
10 am Shinran Shonin Birthday service &Sunday school
12 pm Betsuin board meeting
7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
6:30 pm Movie night: Fires on the Plain (1959)
10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
10 am All Wars Memorial service &Sunday school

Remembering all victims of war

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5/1

Memorial Day:

JUNE
Sun 10 am Local dharma gathering
Guest speaker: Rev. Hiroko Maeda
6/9 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
6/12 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
6/12 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class6/5

現代語で仏教を聞こう

led by Rinban Kawawata in JapaneseUkulele class/band practiceHindu Scriptures: the Upanishads
and the Bhagavad Gita
6/15 Wed 7 pm Jewish Scripture: The Hebrew Bible
6/16 Thu 7 pm Christian Scripture: The New Testament
6/17 Fri 7 pm Islamic Scripture: The Koran
6/19 Sun 10 am Father’s Day family service &Sunday school
6/19 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
6/21 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
6/26 Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
6/28 Tue 10 am
6/28 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
6/28 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Late Spring (1949)
6/14 Tue 3 pm
6/14 Tue 7 pm

Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays & 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin main hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins
as an open Sangha, welcoming
anyone who wishes to learn more
about the Jodo Shinshu
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)3 organization
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Koen Kikuchi
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Asst. Sec’y & Auditor: Ken Saiki
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Missionof Hawaii for its members
and friends. Comments,
articles and other items for
publication consideration
are welcomed.
Editor: Ken SaikiThe Memorial Day custom of honoring Americans who died while inmilitary service can be traced back to the American Civil War. Althoughplacing flowers on soldiers’ graves has been done since ancient times, it issaid that the first soldier’s grave to be decorated during the Civil War was in
Warrenton, Virginia, on June 3, 1861.
With more than 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers losing their lives
in the war, the practice gained significance and eventually a day in May wasset aside for memorial activities for “Decoration Day,”
which became commonly known as “Memorial Day”
after World War II.
Today Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed
annually in the U.S. on the last Monday in May to remember
the people who died while serving in the country’s armed
forces. On that day the U.S. flag is raised, then lowered tohalf-staff in memory of the more than million men andwomen who lost their lives while in service to their country.
At noon the flag is then raised to full-staff and remains
Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
there for the rest of the day as a tribute to the living.
As you know, once a war is started, not only soldiers die, but civilians,
too, become innocent victims of war. So that is why we hold an All Wars
Memorial Service at the Betsuin for all people—military and civilians—who
died as a result of past wars.
Countries wage war for a variety of reasons: advancement of national
interests, self-defense, resource grab, territorial disputes and so on.
The reason often cited for going to war is, ironically, the pursuit of peace andhappiness. If we sincerely desire a world of peace and harmony, however, we haveto find a different way to come up with solutions. I think even children know that.
Although adults, we cannot seem to come up with peaceful solutions and wego to war, or depend on huge military forces and arms stockpiles to speak for us.
We human beings are so foolish and ignorant. Throughout our history, and eventoday, we are constantly in conflicts and at war.
The Buddha said that we—all humans—produce three poisons: greed,anger and ignorance. We produce these three poisons and we suffer. These
are the real causes of our conflicts and wars in this world. So we have to know
our true nature of ourselves before we judge others.
Prince Shotoku, legendary statesman during the Asuka period (538-710)
and a devout Buddhist, said let’s cease from wrath and refrain from angry
looks. Nor let us be resentful when others differ from us. For all people havehearts, and each heart has its own leanings. Their right is our wrong, and(cont’d on p. 2)

41&$*"-.&.03*"-%":"$5*7*5*&4"55)&#&546*/
Tuesday, May 24
Sunday, May 28

6:30 pm Movie night: Fires on the Plain （野火）10 am
All Wars Memorial Service

Memorial Day (cont’d from p.1)
our right is their wrong. We are not unquestionably sages,
nor are they unquestionably fools. Both of us are simply
ordinary people. How can anybody lay down a rule by which
we distinguish right from wrong? For we are all one withanother, wise and foolish, like a ring which has no end.
So we have to know the true nature of our human selves.
Then we can share the same sadness, respect and joys of life.
After World War II ended, Rev. Haya Akegarasu, amodern thinker of our Higashi Hongwanji tradition,stated, “Arrogance and greediness are the cause of
warfare. Respect and love are the cause of peace.”“The teaching of Buddha is not a teaching to become
strong and powerful. The teaching of Buddha is teaching
to become respectful and embracing others. The origin ofteaching of respect and embracing is realizing the self thatis respected and embraced in the world of oneness.”“Written letters in Japan always begin with respectand end with respect. The tea ceremony and any martial
arts begin with respect. Parents respect children, children
respect parents, a husband respects a wife, a wife
respects a husband, brothers and sisters respect eachother. Respect is in our daily lives.”

M“Reciting Namu Amida Butsu (bowing) means torespect the Soviet Union, to respect the United Statesand embrace the Soviet Union and the United States.
Before Namu Amida Butsu (bowing) there are no enemies
or allies. We just have Namu Amida Butsu (bowing) insideand outside.”“Arrogance and greediness are theAmidst theconfusion after cause of warfare. Respect and love
the war, Rev.
are the cause of peace.”
Akegarasu wassaying that to respect each other, we need to listen toeach other and have a deep understanding of each otheras one who shares the pains and joys of life together.
Our challenge is to find out how we can open ourears to others and how we can listen to each other in a
deep and respectful level in our daily lives. I think doing
the nembutsu means listening to the dharma, as well as
truly listening.
With everyone’s cooperation in cultivating andimproving the art of listening in a respectful and loving
way, we can all work together to achieve peace.
In gassho,
Kenjun Kawawata

Little Differences: U.S. & Japan - Memorial Day

emorial Day is a U.S. holiday in May to honor men
NeaNearly 24 million people in Japan are expected to makeand women who lost their lives in military service.
overnight or longer trips during Golden Week this year.
In Japan a “Memorial Day” of sorts is also celebrated inPopular visitor attractions will be packed, transportation
May, the first of three consecutive national holidays:
facilities strained and hotels are booked solid.
.BZConstitution Memorial Day, (憲法記念日, or
Blessed with a stronger yen and cheaper oil, resulting
Kenpō Kinenbi), to celebrate the date the democratic
in lower fuel surcharges on airfares, more than half
Constitution of Japan was put into effect ina million Japanese are expected to travel
1947 after World War II.
overseas. While many Japanese visitors may.BZGreenery Day ( みどりの日, or
avoid Europe this year because of the terrorist
Midori no Hi), dedicated to nature and theattacks in Paris and Brussels, “safe” Hawaii may
５月３日
environment.
end up as a beneficiary of increased tourism
CONSTITUTION and spending.
.BZChildren’s Day (こどもの日, orKodomo no Hi), also known as Boys’ Day (端午の MEMORIAL DAY
Once the holidays are over, the infamous
節句, or Tango no Sekku).
“U-Turn
Rush” begins, with highway traffic into
憲法記念日 Tokyo backed
And, as if having three official days off in aup as much as 25 miles androw wasn’t fortuitous enough,"QSJM Showa Day (昭和thousands of travelers at airports and train stations withの日, or Showa no Hi), Emperor Hirohito’s birthdate andomiyage stuffed in their bags awaiting transportation home.
a day to reflect on the turbulent Showa Era, is also a
The recent Kyushu earthquakes have not only
national holiday.
resulted in loss of lives and homes, but have damaged
This convergence of four full-fledged holidays within
visitor attractions and affected access to many areas, anda one-week period provides a golden opportunity towill cause changes in Golden Week travel plans for many.
travel, and that’s one reason it’s known as “(PMEFO8FFL.”
Meanwhile, nestled in continuing quake coverage on
This year, with April 29 being a Friday, right off the bat NHK News was a heartwarming story of young workers
there’s a three-day weekend. May 3-5, Tuesday throughfrom all over Japan committing their Golden Week timeThursday, are holidays, so all you need to do is take two
off to volunteer to help in the Kumamoto relief effort,
days—May 1 and May 6—off as vacation days and, oh,assisting at shelters, delivering supplies, collecting
joy, you have ten straight days to take an extended trip!
donations and pitching in the rebuilding process.
Some companies shut down operations completely
Amidst the glitter of Golden Week and the tragedy ofduring Golden Week to give employees time off. Bosses
a devastating natural disaster lie acts of true dana giving.
apparently want, and deserve, time off, too.
— Ken Saiki

2

MahaloGozaimasu

We gratefully acknowledge the following for theirgenerous contributions. If we’ve missed any donor’s
name, please accept our apologies and let us know
by calling the Betsuin at 531-9088 so we can makecorrections to our records. For donations of $250 or
more, receipts/acknowledgment will be issued incompliance with IRS regulations. Thank you.

.&.03*"- '6/&3"- */63/.&/5#63*"-4&37*$&

Kikue Kaneshiro family Judith Nakata
Wayne Shinbara
George Gono
Leatrice Omiya
Shigeko Tsuchida
Wilfred Gono family Craig Miyasato
Frances Makiyama Paul & Judith Tanaka Ken & Kumiko Saiki Dennis & Debra Saiki
Jane Okazaki
Katherine Nakamura Kenneth T Doi family David Fujihara

Daryle & Violet Kitamori
Shirley Nishizawa
Yuko Oshiro
Robert Takayama,:0%"/%0/"5*0/ (including Otani Center, parking lot, columbarium, altar supplies)

Rev. Hidehiro Kita
Diane Funai
Meuki Amaral
Bertha Suzuki
Patrick Miyamura
Foodland Super Market Foodland Give Aloha Rev. Yuisho Kawawata Rev. Osamu Kobayakawa(0+*,"*%6&4

Ed Hondo
Barbara OkumuraPatrick Miyamura
Helen Suzuki

0)*("/

Minako Ito-Song
Florence Kanno
Arlene Yoneyama
Chieko Sugimoto
Charlotte Tsukamoto Anonymous
Harold Kudo
Gale Shoda
Atsuko Nonaka
Peggy Arita
Mildred Tashiro
Masago Asai
Sachiko Yoshino
Kazue Uechi
Robert & Frances Makiyama

05"/*$&/5&31"3,*/(-05
Jonathan Tani
Janell Mendez
Eye Productions

The Aikido Ohana
Quyen Duc Long
Minasan Hawaii

4)*//&/&/,"* 
Gladys Sakata

Michael Sawai

Ray Miyashiro

Wallace & Jane Naito June Omura
Viola Uyeno
Iris Kubota
James Hirakawa
Keizaburo Tsuji
Gladys Murakami
Patrick Miyamura
Mitsue Ikari
Florence Sueyoshi
Betty Nishida
Roy Nakamoto
Marilyn Kuroda

Atsuko Nonaka
Chelsea Rafael$"-&/%"3

Ho Minh Ky
Claire Tabiolo

Walter & Joyce Fukuhara'-03"-"33"/(&.&/54
Minako Ito-Song

Diane Funai

Joyce Masaki

Meuki Amaral

Melvin & Ida Hori
Kenneth Shinbara
Margaret Higa

Sensoji Temple

Mikiko Kishida

In Memoriam
We extend our deepest sympathy
to the families of the late
Edward Akinobu Suyama (87)
Feb. 28, 2016
Morris Moritsuka Umehira (87)
March 20, 2016
Kikue Kaneshiro (98)
April 7, 2016
Tadao Iwasaki (88)
April 16, 2016

Shotsuki Observance for MayO

ur monthly shōtsuki service in remembranceof temple family members who passed away inthe month of May of a previous year will be held thismonth on 4VOEBZ .BZThe following list includes temple members whose
deaths occurred in May in the past 25 years.
Please call the office at 531-9088 if you have any
questions about the listing.

Jo Ann Sayoko Dawson
Kiyoshi Fujieda
Fujie Fujieda
Masako FukuharaCharlotte Yukie Hanai
Michiko Higa
Kiyoshi Hikari
Helen Ayame Hirata
Ike Torao Ikari
Sueto Ikari
Tsuruko Ishikawa
Doris Umeko Ishikawa
Shigeru Ishimatsu

Kiyoko Dorothy Moriyama
Chiyoko Nakagawa
James Kiyoshi Nakamoto
Toshie Nakamura
Harry Masao Nishida
Muraichi Nishida
Mildred Yukie Saida
Asako Sekimoto
Sueko Shima
Florence Mitsue Shimada
Katherine Miyoko Shirabe
Hiroshi Shoji
Hisako Suyama

Roy Hideo Kaneshiro
Grace Matsue Kaneshiro
Masao Kitayama
Gary Ken Kudo
Raymond Eiwo Kurakake
Shizuko Matsumoto
Phyllis Umeko Matsunaga
Randal Kiyoshi Michioku
Yoshino Mimuro
Harry Masaru Minamishin
Robert Seigi Miyagi
Tsutayo Miyamura
George Kazuyuki Morita

Myron Nagao Suyetsugu
Richard Kakuji Takasaki
Yoshinobu Takayama
Shigeru Tamanaha
Fred Gyoun Tamayose
Cherie Toshiko Tamayose
Hatsue Tanoue
Harumi Ujimori
George H. Umemoto
Sharon Taeko Yamamoto
James Takeo Yamamura
Saburo Yamashita
Hyosaburo Yoshida

5

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Dharma Study Center

News on the

Betsuin Wirelesspresents a four-part lecture series

Buddhism and Different Religions
Guest lecturer: Dr. George Tanabe

Professor Emeritus, Department of Religion, University of Hawaii

Gain insight into other major religions in the world by looking at what their scripturessay. Develop a better understanding of other peoples through their teachings and beliefs.

Tues., June 14
Wed., June 15
Thur., June 16
Fri., June 17

Hindu Scriptures: the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita
Jewish Scripture: The Hebrew Bible
Christian Scripture: The New Testament
Islamic Scripture: The Koran

Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm each evening
Place: Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street (corner N. Kuakini St.)
Honolulu, HI 96817
Fee:$9 per lecture
Dr. George Tanabe is a Professor Emeritus in the Department ofReligion at University of Hawaii - Manoa, where he taught courses
on World Religions and Japanese Religions from 1977 to 2006. He
is currently President of Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK) Hawaii, andis also President of BDK America in Berkeley, CA. With his wife, Dr.
Willa Tanabe, he co-authored the guidebook, Japanese Buddhist
Temples in Hawaii, published by University of Hawaii Press.
Dr. George Tanabe

q YES! I plan to attend the Dharma Study Center lecture series, "Buddhism and Different Religions."
Name____________________________________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________________________ State ________ ZIP ___________________________
Telephone_____________________________________Email_______________________________________

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, HI 96817 • Telephone (808) 531-9088 • Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org

4.A standing-room-only crowd of about 200 people filled the Betsuin hondo at the Hawaii
Buddhist Council annual Buddha Day service held on April10. Photo by Rev. Hiroko Maeda
Mahalo to all who helped with the)#$#VEEIB%BZQBDLTAFNJO
serviceand food drive to benefit the
April 10 was very lively at thelessfortunatein our community.
Betsuin as Higashi Hongwanji
hosted this year’s Hawaii Buddhist,VNBNPUPFBSUIRVBLFSFMJFG
Council Buddha Day service.
Our Kyoto headquarters is assisting
Every single seat in the hondo—
the earthquake relief efforts in Kyushu
supplemented by wheelchairs andthrough temples in the affected areas.
folding chairs—was occupied during
If you wish to be a part of this relief
the Hanamatsuri service. Others had toeffort and help out with a check or cash
stand outside and listen through the
donation of any amount, we will collectopen windows.
and forward your contribution to Japan.
Even the altar platform was fully
Please indicate “Kyushu Earthquake
occupied by ministers of the various
Relief” on checks made payable to
HBC sects and members of the Hawaii“Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.”
Gagaku Society, who provided
Japanese court music and dance.
.FOTUFQVQGPS.PUIFST%BZ
Attendees poured sweet tea in the
Sunday, May 8, is Mother’s Day,
colorfully decorated hanamido, theand the temple men have agreed tohandiwork of Faye Shigemura, Debra
do all the preparations for lunch after
Saiki and other temple members.
the Mother’s Day family service. And
Bishop Ken Kawawata officiateddo the cleaning up afterwards, too!
the service and guest speaker Chizuko,PO*DIJLBXBTFires on the Plain JT
Endo, co-founder of Taiko Center of.FNPSJBM%BZNPWJFTFMFDUJPO
the Pacific, gave a history of the taiko
Continuing our tradition of showing
and gagaku connection to Buddhism.
films
depicting the futility of war around
Where did everyone park? Thanks
Memorial
Day each year, we guarantee
to the theater-style system devised by
that
you
won’t
forget May’s movie, Fires
Jonathan Tani and Jim Dote, some 85
on
the
Plain
(1959),
anytime soon.
cars were able to mimic sardines andAnagonizing
portraitof desperate
fit neatly in the Betsuin lot.
Japanesesoldiers
strandedon Leyte
After the service, Otani Center was
Islandduring
World
War
II,
Fires
on thesaid to be way busier serving up tasty
Plain(novelby
ShoheiOoka)
isaand satisfying lunches than evencompelling descent into psychological
Liliha Bakery down the street!
and physical oblivion. Denied hospital
For entertainment, attendees weretreatment for tuberculosis and cast off
treated to a children’s musical variety
into the unknown, Pvt. Tamura (Eijishow performed by youngsters
Funakoshi) treks across an unfamiliar
representing the Soto, Jodo andPhilippine landscape, encountering an
Higashi & Honpa Hongwanji Missions.

increasingly debased cross-section ofImperial Army soldiers, including Yasuda(Osamu Takizawa) and Nagamatsu(Mickey Curtis), who eventually give into eating “monkey” meat.
Directed by Kon Ichikawa (Harp of
Burma) with screenplay by Natto Wada,
it won Japan’s 1960 Best Director &Cinematography (Blue Ribbon Awards),
Best Screenplay & Actor (Kinema Junpo)
and Best Actor (Mainichi Film Concours).
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., May 24.
104 min. B&W. Japanese audio, English
subtitles. Free admission. Light
refreshments provided.
（のび）

大岡昇平の同名小説を、和田夏十が脚色し市川崑が監督した反戦映画。病院にも部隊にも見放された田村（船越英二 ）は、フィリピン戦線のレイテ島をさまよっていた。同じように敗走している仲間と病院の前で合流するが、その病院が砲撃を受けたため、田村は一人で逃げ出す。食べるものもなく、仲間を失った田村は、草を食べて生き延びていた。やがて生き別れたかつての仲間である永松(ミッキー・カーティス）と安田（滝沢修）と再会。二人は殺した味方の兵士を“猿”と称し、その肉を食べていた…。
受賞： ブルーリボン賞監督賞、撮影賞、ベストテン第2位/キネマ旬報ベストテン第2位、脚本賞、男優賞、その他。
公開 ：1959、 モノクロ 、 言語 : 日本
語、 字幕 : 英語 、映時間 : 108分、5月24日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

3

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Dharma Study Center

News on the

Betsuin Wirelesspresents a four-part lecture series

Buddhism and Different Religions
Guest lecturer: Dr. George Tanabe

Professor Emeritus, Department of Religion, University of Hawaii

Gain insight into other major religions in the world by looking at what their scripturessay. Develop a better understanding of other peoples through their teachings and beliefs.

Tues., June 14
Wed., June 15
Thur., June 16
Fri., June 17

Hindu Scriptures: the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita
Jewish Scripture: The Hebrew Bible
Christian Scripture: The New Testament
Islamic Scripture: The Koran

Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm each evening
Place: Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street (corner N. Kuakini St.)
Honolulu, HI 96817
Fee:$9 per lecture
Dr. George Tanabe is a Professor Emeritus in the Department ofReligion at University of Hawaii - Manoa, where he taught courses
on World Religions and Japanese Religions from 1977 to 2006. He
is currently President of Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK) Hawaii, andis also President of BDK America in Berkeley, CA. With his wife, Dr.
Willa Tanabe, he co-authored the guidebook, Japanese Buddhist
Temples in Hawaii, published by University of Hawaii Press.
Dr. George Tanabe

q YES! I plan to attend the Dharma Study Center lecture series, "Buddhism and Different Religions."
Name____________________________________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________________________ State ________ ZIP ___________________________
Telephone_____________________________________Email_______________________________________

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, HI 96817 • Telephone (808) 531-9088 • Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org

4.A standing-room-only crowd of about 200 people filled the Betsuin hondo at the Hawaii
Buddhist Council annual Buddha Day service held on April10. Photo by Rev. Hiroko Maeda
Mahalo to all who helped with the)#$#VEEIB%BZQBDLTAFNJO
serviceand food drive to benefit the
April 10 was very lively at thelessfortunatein our community.
Betsuin as Higashi Hongwanji
hosted this year’s Hawaii Buddhist,VNBNPUPFBSUIRVBLFSFMJFG
Council Buddha Day service.
Our Kyoto headquarters is assisting
Every single seat in the hondo—
the earthquake relief efforts in Kyushu
supplemented by wheelchairs andthrough temples in the affected areas.
folding chairs—was occupied during
If you wish to be a part of this relief
the Hanamatsuri service. Others had toeffort and help out with a check or cash
stand outside and listen through the
donation of any amount, we will collectopen windows.
and forward your contribution to Japan.
Even the altar platform was fully
Please indicate “Kyushu Earthquake
occupied by ministers of the various
Relief” on checks made payable to
HBC sects and members of the Hawaii“Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.”
Gagaku Society, who provided
Japanese court music and dance.
.FOTUFQVQGPS.PUIFST%BZ
Attendees poured sweet tea in the
Sunday, May 8, is Mother’s Day,
colorfully decorated hanamido, theand the temple men have agreed tohandiwork of Faye Shigemura, Debra
do all the preparations for lunch after
Saiki and other temple members.
the Mother’s Day family service. And
Bishop Ken Kawawata officiateddo the cleaning up afterwards, too!
the service and guest speaker Chizuko,PO*DIJLBXBTFires on the Plain JT
Endo, co-founder of Taiko Center of.FNPSJBM%BZNPWJFTFMFDUJPO
the Pacific, gave a history of the taiko
Continuing our tradition of showing
and gagaku connection to Buddhism.
films
depicting the futility of war around
Where did everyone park? Thanks
Memorial
Day each year, we guarantee
to the theater-style system devised by
that
you
won’t
forget May’s movie, Fires
Jonathan Tani and Jim Dote, some 85
on
the
Plain
(1959),
anytime soon.
cars were able to mimic sardines andAnagonizing
portraitof desperate
fit neatly in the Betsuin lot.
Japanesesoldiers
strandedon Leyte
After the service, Otani Center was
Islandduring
World
War
II,
Fires
on thesaid to be way busier serving up tasty
Plain(novelby
ShoheiOoka)
isaand satisfying lunches than evencompelling descent into psychological
Liliha Bakery down the street!
and physical oblivion. Denied hospital
For entertainment, attendees weretreatment for tuberculosis and cast off
treated to a children’s musical variety
into the unknown, Pvt. Tamura (Eijishow performed by youngsters
Funakoshi) treks across an unfamiliar
representing the Soto, Jodo andPhilippine landscape, encountering an
Higashi & Honpa Hongwanji Missions.

increasingly debased cross-section ofImperial Army soldiers, including Yasuda(Osamu Takizawa) and Nagamatsu(Mickey Curtis), who eventually give into eating “monkey” meat.
Directed by Kon Ichikawa (Harp of
Burma) with screenplay by Natto Wada,
it won Japan’s 1960 Best Director &Cinematography (Blue Ribbon Awards),
Best Screenplay & Actor (Kinema Junpo)
and Best Actor (Mainichi Film Concours).
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., May 24.
104 min. B&W. Japanese audio, English
subtitles. Free admission. Light
refreshments provided.
（のび）

大岡昇平の同名小説を、和田夏十が脚色し市川崑が監督した反戦映画。病院にも部隊にも見放された田村（船越英二 ）は、フィリピン戦線のレイテ島をさまよっていた。同じように敗走している仲間と病院の前で合流するが、その病院が砲撃を受けたため、田村は一人で逃げ出す。食べるものもなく、仲間を失った田村は、草を食べて生き延びていた。やがて生き別れたかつての仲間である永松(ミッキー・カーティス）と安田（滝沢修）と再会。二人は殺した味方の兵士を“猿”と称し、その肉を食べていた…。
受賞： ブルーリボン賞監督賞、撮影賞、ベストテン第2位/キネマ旬報ベストテン第2位、脚本賞、男優賞、その他。
公開 ：1959、 モノクロ 、 言語 : 日本
語、 字幕 : 英語 、映時間 : 108分、5月24日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

3

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
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Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

‘wa’
Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

5

May 2016

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
5/1
5/8
5/8

MAY

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Car Care class
Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Mother’s Day family service &Sunday school
Otoki lunch prepared by temple men
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
現代語で仏教を聞こう

5/10 Tue
5/12 Thu
5/15 Sun
5/15
5/17
5/22
5/24
5/24
5/28
5/29

Sun
Tue
Sun
Tue
Tue
Sat
Sun

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
10 am Shinran Shonin Birthday service &Sunday school
12 pm Betsuin board meeting
7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
6:30 pm Movie night: Fires on the Plain (1959)
10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
10 am All Wars Memorial service &Sunday school

Remembering all victims of war

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5/1

Memorial Day:

JUNE
Sun 10 am Local dharma gathering
Guest speaker: Rev. Hiroko Maeda
6/9 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
6/12 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
6/12 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class6/5

現代語で仏教を聞こう

led by Rinban Kawawata in JapaneseUkulele class/band practiceHindu Scriptures: the Upanishads
and the Bhagavad Gita
6/15 Wed 7 pm Jewish Scripture: The Hebrew Bible
6/16 Thu 7 pm Christian Scripture: The New Testament
6/17 Fri 7 pm Islamic Scripture: The Koran
6/19 Sun 10 am Father’s Day family service &Sunday school
6/19 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
6/21 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
6/26 Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
6/28 Tue 10 am
6/28 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
6/28 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Late Spring (1949)
6/14 Tue 3 pm
6/14 Tue 7 pm

Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays & 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin main hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins
as an open Sangha, welcoming
anyone who wishes to learn more
about the Jodo Shinshu
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)3 organization
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Koen Kikuchi
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Asst. Sec’y & Auditor: Ken Saiki
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Missionof Hawaii for its members
and friends. Comments,
articles and other items for
publication consideration
are welcomed.
Editor: Ken SaikiThe Memorial Day custom of honoring Americans who died while inmilitary service can be traced back to the American Civil War. Althoughplacing flowers on soldiers’ graves has been done since ancient times, it issaid that the first soldier’s grave to be decorated during the Civil War was in
Warrenton, Virginia, on June 3, 1861.
With more than 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers losing their lives
in the war, the practice gained significance and eventually a day in May wasset aside for memorial activities for “Decoration Day,”
which became commonly known as “Memorial Day”
after World War II.
Today Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed
annually in the U.S. on the last Monday in May to remember
the people who died while serving in the country’s armed
forces. On that day the U.S. flag is raised, then lowered tohalf-staff in memory of the more than million men andwomen who lost their lives while in service to their country.
At noon the flag is then raised to full-staff and remains
Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
there for the rest of the day as a tribute to the living.
As you know, once a war is started, not only soldiers die, but civilians,
too, become innocent victims of war. So that is why we hold an All Wars
Memorial Service at the Betsuin for all people—military and civilians—who
died as a result of past wars.
Countries wage war for a variety of reasons: advancement of national
interests, self-defense, resource grab, territorial disputes and so on.
The reason often cited for going to war is, ironically, the pursuit of peace andhappiness. If we sincerely desire a world of peace and harmony, however, we haveto find a different way to come up with solutions. I think even children know that.
Although adults, we cannot seem to come up with peaceful solutions and wego to war, or depend on huge military forces and arms stockpiles to speak for us.
We human beings are so foolish and ignorant. Throughout our history, and eventoday, we are constantly in conflicts and at war.
The Buddha said that we—all humans—produce three poisons: greed,anger and ignorance. We produce these three poisons and we suffer. These
are the real causes of our conflicts and wars in this world. So we have to know
our true nature of ourselves before we judge others.
Prince Shotoku, legendary statesman during the Asuka period (538-710)
and a devout Buddhist, said let’s cease from wrath and refrain from angry
looks. Nor let us be resentful when others differ from us. For all people havehearts, and each heart has its own leanings. Their right is our wrong, and(cont’d on p. 2)

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Tuesday, May 24
Sunday, May 28

6:30 pm Movie night: Fires on the Plain （野火）10 am
All Wars Memorial Service