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U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
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Permit No. 693

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

Hanamatsuri

Buddha Day Celebration

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

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Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
APRIL 2013

MAY 2013

HBC Buddha Day service
Joint Hawaii Buddhist Council service
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
4/11 Thu 7 pm Basic & Shin Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
4/13 Sat 10 am Local retreat at Palolo Hongwanji
Betsuin, Palolo & Kaneohe temples,Call Betsuin office if you need a ride.
4/14 Sun 10 am Hanamatsuri service (Buddha Day)
4/14 Sun 12 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class

5/5 Sun 10 am Shotsuki service
5/6 - 5/12
11th World Dobo Convention/Tour
Kyoto - Shinhodaka Onsen Shirakawa-go - Hida-Takayama
5/11 Sat 10 am Study class:
What on Earth is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
Fukuhara Conference Room
5/12 Sun 10 am Mother’s Day family service
5/16 Thu 7 pm Basic & Shin Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata
Fukuhara Conference Room
5/19 Sun 10 am Shinran Shonin’s Birthday service
5/19 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Fukuhara Conference Room
5/21 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Informal dharma discussion
Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji
5/26 Sun 10 am All War Victims’ Memorial service
5/28 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Letters from Iwo Jima
(140 min.)Japanese audio/English subtitles
Fukuhara Conference Room

4/7

Sun 9 amਠ৻ୁदบઇ॑ୂऒअ‫ ؙ‬঩মୁ

4/16
4/21
4/21
4/23
4/28

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Fukuhara Conference RoomTue 7 pm O-ko: Informal dharma discussion
Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji
Sun 10 am Shotsuki service
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Fukuhara Conference RoomTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Tampopo (115 min.)Japanese audio/English subtitles
Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Sunday service
Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we
remain true 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

President: Faye Shigemura
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Makoto Honda
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: hhhb@me.com
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

Did you walk and talk at birth?
Rinban Kenjun KawawataAs you know, April is Buddha Day month and we celebrate Buddha’s
birth. Shakyamuni Buddha was born in a place called Lumbini
Garden, where many trees, plants and flowers bloomed in glory. So we callthe celebration of Buddha’s birth “Hanamatsuri,” or Flower Festival.
Also it is said that when the Buddha was born, heavenly beings
appeared and poured sweet rain from the sky to bless his birth. That’s why
we celebrate Buddha’s birth by decorating a Hanamido altar and pouring
sweet tea during Hanamatsuri.
This is one sign that spring hascome. Also this is a time to celebrate
our own birth and life, and think
about the meaning of birth and life.
It is said that when Buddha wasborn, he walked seven steps andsaid, “Above the heaven and below
the heaven, I am the only noble one.”
Are you surprised? Buddha
walked and talked right after he was born! Usually newborn babies don’t
walk and talk. Do you remember when you were born? Did you walk? Did
you talk?
I do not think that Buddha walked and talked at birth, either, but hewas such a great teacher for everybody, people who listened and followed
his teaching made up this story praising him for his achievement.
Walking seven steps signifies achieving the purpose of life. Saying“Above the heaven, below the heaven, I am the only noble one” means “I
received precious life.” It is very hard to receive human life. From the Three
Treasures: “Difficult
is it to receive life inhuman form, now
we are living it.”
Our lives share the same quality as Buddha’s life. Each life is precious
and important because we get only one chance to live it right now. There
are no other chances.
In tea ceremony, there is a saying, “Ichi-go ichi-e” (঳਋঳ভ), literally,“one chance, one meeting,” or a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. People
meeting for tea will say they share that time only once and cannot
experience that same time again. That time will never come back.

“Above the heaven, below theheaven, I am the only noble one.”(Continued on next page) )BOBNBUTVSJ
(continued from page 1)

Rev. Gyomei Kubose, the founder of Buddhist Templeof Chicago, wrote a poem that goes like this:“Every time is the last time.
We meet only once in a lifetime.
I meet you today but who knows if we are able tomeet the next day.
Every day is the last day.”You see your friend today but you don’t know if you’ll
see him or her tomorrow. Therefore every meeting is a
new chance and last chance to see your friend.
Our birth, life and living are very important andprecious. Also, it is very hard to encounter Buddha’s
teaching. So we have to really appreciate ourbirth and life that we are living now.

Each individual life is unique. You are the only one who
can live your life, and it can only be lived right now, notat some other time. That is why your life is precious andimportant. Just as important, we must realize that otherlives are precious and important, too. We have to respect
each other.
The celebration of Buddha Day is not only thecelebration of the birth of one person who lived in history.
Buddha Day is an expression of our joy in being able toencounter the teachings of the Buddha. Let us reflect on
the Buddha’s life and his teachings in our own lives.
“Happy birthday, Buddha, and happy birthday,
everyone.”Thank you in Gassho୨ऽणॉ
ఖਮিཛྷ࿖

‫ؙ‬ऒभ‫ڰ‬াमउ๸⌣஘भउไে॑उ໑ःघॊ୨ऽणॉभা
दघ‫؛‬୨౪ൡ॑उ෪ॉख‫ؚ‬ไেบप๿ภ॑ᅲऍ‫ق‬जजऍ‫ك‬उ໑ःःञखऽघ‫؛‬‫ؙ‬उ๸⌣औऽम‫ڬڬڱڮ‬ফ৐ནभਨॖথॻ‫ؚ‬০঩भॿঃ‫ش‬ঝ୩दঝথঅॽୱधःअৃਚदउেऽोपऩैोऽखञ‫؛‬उ๸⌣औऽऋउেऽोपऩढञৎ‫ؚ‬૬ऊैम๿່भංऋఋ
ॉ‫ؚ‬୨‫ر‬ऋ࿮ऌ৫ऌ‫ؚ‬जखथপ৉ऋ൜৿खञ‫ؚ‬ऽञउ๸⌣औऽमেऽोथघएप೻ననऊो‫َؚ‬ଠ঱ଠৣ೑ஆ๑ُ‫ؚ‬َऒभ਼ੀदஎमমਊप๑ःோ૔टُᆕॎोऽखञ‫؛‬ऒभ਼ੀपেऽोলॊधःअऒधमൌরभወऩऒधऩभदघ‫؛‬எनुम೯ಟ॑໿धखथไেखऽखञ‫؛‬ऒभ໿॑ຘऎऒध
म୳൸ुणऊऩःऺनൌऩऒधदघ‫؛‬टऊैऒभ਼पে॑
ຘऎহमপ૗๑ःऒधऩभदघ‫؛‬उ๸⌣஘मजभऒधَ॑
೑঳য๑खُध੉ॎोञभदघ‫؛‬जखथःञटःञध๑ः
ःभठ॑िऩखऎଛॉञऎऩः‫ؚ‬जोऋഊःधౙभ਼ੀ‫ؚ‬౽੊୽ီभ਼ੀ॑தइथ‫ؚ‬औधॉभ਼ੀपనि‫ڳ‬న৯भనा॑਀खथःॊभदघ‫؛‬‫ؙ‬எनुয৑मেऽोथघए৿੟भेअपमనऐऽच॒
ख‫ؚ‬ऽञਵघহुदऌऽच॒‫؛‬ၹপऩ্भ౪ไে॑ऒभे
अऩਵ॑ुढथዜइथऌञभदघ‫؛‬‫ؙ‬൤ৢ஧ठू॒ऋেऽोञৎ‫ؚ‬஧ठू॒मপଢ॑লखथ༤
ऌ࿍लऽघ‫ؚ‬जभপଢम‫ؚ‬০ऒभ਼पপহऩ๑ःःभठ॑
ःञटःधःअ࿍लदँॉ‫ؚ‬ऽञপ৉ऋ൜इॊधमजभ૎
৿दँॉऽखॆअ‫؛‬எनुমਊप૎৿खञৎஎनु৸ମऋ
൜इ‫ؚ‬৸਼ੀऋณो৿ऎभदघ‫؛‬

2‫ؙ‬ऒभไেभ૎৿मஎनुभൢःभँैॎोदघ‫؛‬ৰमஎभःभठमেऽोदघ৐ेॉেऽोञःधൢढथःञधบ
ઇदमઅइॊभदघ‫؛‬टऊैেऽोञৎ‫ؚ‬পऌऩଢद༤ऌ
जभ૎৿॑ँैॎघभदघ‫؛‬जखथไে৏ुஎनुमऒभ
ൢःप৏౒खऔोऩऋैেऌॊभदघ‫؛‬ःभठ॑૮ྤपच
ङেऌञः‫ؚ‬ःभठ॑௥ଌऔचञः‫؛‬ऒभेअऩൢः॑ु
ठ‫ؚ‬ऽञऒभेअऩൢः॑ऊऐैोেऌथःॊभदघ‫؛‬जोऋ౽੊୽ီ॑தइॊనा‫ؚ‬ౙ॑ଭॉ௭इथেऌॊనा‫ؚ‬घऩॎठমਊभহ॑ੴढथॅऒअधघॊనाधऩॉ‫ؚ‬ઌৰभ਼ੀषనा‫ڳ‬న৯भనाधऩॊभदघ‫؛‬எनुमऒभे
अऩൢःपेढथেऊऔोथःॊभदघ‫؛‬ऒभൢः॑মൢ
धணखऽघ‫؛‬ઌৰप৯ಁीथেऌेधൢःऋऊऐैोथः
ॊभदघ‫؛‬जोऋउ୛บ‫ؚ‬વ૮඾໲ሢบधऩढथँैॎो
थःॊभदघ‫؛‬दघऊैেऽोञໍ৑भَउऍू‫ُش‬धःअ૎৿भ਀ਠम‫ؚ‬মൢप๴ढञधःअउ୛บभ࿍लध৊ग
ऒधदघ‫؛‬‫ؙ‬຦஘धधुपउ๸⌣஘भउไে॑उ໑ःख‫ؚ‬எनुभَ
ไেभਔ௡॑‫ؚ‬जखथেऌॊಜलُपणःथୂःथऌञः
धઓःऽघ‫؛‬‫ؙ‬नअझ‫ڰ‬া‫ڰڭ‬঩ଏ৐‫ڬڭ‬ৎेॉશ੹୨ऽणॉ১ਏऋउ
ඐीऔोऽघ‫؛‬ओੇఔउ⑫ःदउ૞ॉऎऔटः‫؛‬

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়რ‫ؚ‬ఖਮিཛྷ࿖

MahaloGozaimasu

We gratefully acknowledge the following for their generous 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 make corrections to our records.

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

Hanae Kobata
Karl & Susan Kobata Craig & Gale Kobayashi family
Florence Ikari family Masao Oshiro family Chuck & Jeanette Silberstein

4)0546,*.&.03*"-4&37*$&
Leatrice Omiya
Kenneth Shinbara

Frances Makiyama Mildred Tashiro
Dennis & Debra Saiki Jan Lee(0+*,"*.&.#&34)*1
Meuki Amaral
Lawrence Ujimori

Haruko Yoshioka
Robert & Iris Ueki

Kimie Sugimoto
Tatsuo Kubota,:0%"/%0/"5*0/(including columbarium, Otani Center)
Marilyn Kuroda
Moriso Teraoka

Meuki Amaral
Dale Oishi

Christine Imoto
Bert Maekawa

413*/(0)*("/4&37*$&
Anonymous
Viola Uyeno
G. T. Tanoue
Edith Endo
Marion Kanemori
Masago Asai
Minako Ito

Betty Koizumi
Frances Maekawa
Wallace Naito
George Higa
ChIeko Sugimoto
Eiko Yoshida
Dorothy Tanaka
Helen Suzuki
Keizaburo Tsuji
Tsutomu Oi
Mildred Tashiro
Betty Nishida
Mr. & Mrs. R .Takayama)*("4)*)0/(8"/+*$"-&/%"3Marilyn Kuroda

Masayuki Miyasato

Kimiko Kawamoto

Tsutomu Oi
Masayuki Miyasato

Joan YoshinoKazuo Kono
Donald Murakami family

Tsutomu Oi
Kimiko Kawamoto

Emerick Konno
Jane Okazaki
Masao & Miyoko Kimishima

Kikue Kaneshiro
Miyoko Duesing
Lynn Murakami Shoda

he difference between
Buddhist temples in Hawaii
and those in Japan is more thanjust a matter of having pews
instead of tatami.
How a temple is run is entirely
different. Here in Hawaii, themembers, through its board of
directors, take on the responsibilityof fundraising and the day-to-day
temple operations. The ministers
focus on conducting services andspreading the dharma. Ministers
in Japan must handle both thefinancial and educational side ofrunning a temple. In cases where
the temple membership is small,ministers often have second jobs
to earn their own everyday living
expenses.
Here members come to theWilliam Higuchi

June Omura
Florence Sugitaya
Harumi Fuchikami
Roy Nakamoto
Ken & Kumiko Saiki
Atsuko Nonaka

Harold Kudo
Florence Sueyoshi
Haruo Tanida
Charlotte Tsukamoto
Jan LeeFlorence Kanno
Bert Kaizuka
Tadao Iwasaki
Florence & James Hirakawa
Harriet Natsuyama Peggy Arita

Kimie Sugimoto

Masao & Miyoko Kimishima

Little Differences: Hawaii and Japan

T

Wallace Shimabuku Bill Toma family

temple for weekly Sunday services
and for nenki hoyo, or deathanniversary memorial services.
In Japan most families have theirown butsudan, or altar, so ministers
visit members’ homes on meinichi
memorial dates every month.
Anniversary memorial services also
are usually done at the members’
homes.
Funerals are done differently,
even if the traditional chanting
and offering of incense part are
essentially the same. In Hawaii,
the funeral service is usually
held after cremation and on aconvenient date when key people
can participate in the service. In
Japan the service is held right away,
within three to seven days, prior tocremation.

In Memoriam
We wish to extend our deepest
sympathies to the families of the lateThomas Kaoru Kono (87)
February 10, 2013
Florence Tomoye Ikari (81)
February 18, 2013
Lillian Michiko Yoneda (76)February 24, 2013
Shigeko Shimabuku (93)
February 24, 2013
One thing that’s part of every
service here that I’ve neverencountered in Japan is the eulogy.
What’s more, here they sometimes
even include musicians and singing
as part of the service program.
The first time I experienced that, it
shocked me big time!
Notice I didn’t say one way
was better than the other. Whichway do you think is better?
- Rev. Makoto Honda

5

News on the

Betsuin WirelessShotsuki:
8IBUEPFTJUNFBO

Florence Hirakawa, Sadao & Kazue
Uechi and Dennis & Debra Saiki fordoor prizes (Dennis also for bingo
and karaoke and the Uechis for thesake); and the Daruma Serenaders
for the entertainment.
There are many more people
who contribute to the success ofan event like this and we apologize
if we failed to include yourcontribution. We’d like to see moremembers attend this annual event.
Plan to keep the last Sunday in
February next year open and meetyour fellow temple members.
Betsuin board members flanked by temple ministers: From left: Rev. Makoto Honda, Treasurer Ed
Nakano, Vice Chair Jonathan Tani, Chair Faye Shigemura, Secretary Debbie Saiki, Directors Ken
Saiki, Peggy Arita and Jim Hirakawa, and Bishop Ken Kawawata.

General Membership Meeting& Shinnen Enkai held Feb. 24
The first order of business at theGeneral Membership Meeting wasa revision of the by-laws to include
the address of our honzan, or head
temple, in Kyoto to avoid confusion
with any other group which might
be known as Higashi Hongwanji.
Next was the election of officers
and board members. Re-elected
were Chairperson Faye Shigemura,Vice Chair Joanathan Tani, Secretary
Debra Saiki, Treasurer Edmund
Nakano and Assistant Treasurer Faye
Shigemura. Advisor is Bishop Kenjun
Kawawata.
New members elected to theboard of directors were Kenneth
Saiki, James Hirakawa and Debra
Saiki, joining old board members
Peggy Arita and Jean Tanaka.
The officers and board members
offered incense to confirm, before allmembers present, their commitment
to serving in their respective offices.
Members wishing to bring any
concerns before the board should
contact the temple office. We urge
everyone to participate in temple
activities and operations. After all,this is your temple.
Following adjournment we dinedon Chinese dishes catered from the
popular Golden Lion Restaurant inPearl City.
Mahalo to Jan Lee for the dessert
and also for the decorations andphotography; Miki Kishida, James &E

Oahu retreat at Palolo temple
Check the enclosed flier for theregistration details for the upcoming
local retreat for members andfriends from all temples on Oahu.
The retreat will be held on Saturday,
April 13, with a start time of 10 am at
Palolo Hongwanji. Lunch is included.
Call the Betsuin if you needtransportation to Palolo.

Classic Movie Night returns!

Above: Faye Shigemura, Kei Tsuji, Bishop
Kawawata & Rev. Maeda led group singing
of Japanese doyo children’s melodies. Below:
Tables completed for prizes in the ball toss game.

Tired of shelling out from $7.50
to $10.75 at your nearest multiplex
just to watch a movie?
Come to our Classic Movie Nightto be entertained by somewonderful favorites from the past,movies that you are sure to enjoy
seeing again (or watch for the firsttime, if you missed them backwhen)! Best of all, admission is FREE!
First up on Tuesday, April 23, isthe hilarious 1985 ramen shop
comedy, Tampopo ॱথএএ),directed by Juzo Itami and starring
Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko
Miyamoto, Koji Yakusho & Ken
Watanabe. Japanese sound trackwith English subtitles. Showtime is
6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome.
Watch for more classic Oldies
but Goodies, coming soon to ascreen near you!

3

very month at the Betsuin, wehold a shotsuki service to allow
family members to honor and pay
respects to loved ones who passed
away in that month in a past year. It’s
usually held on the first Sunday but
because of Buddha Day celebrationsin April, this month’s shotsuki service
is on the third Sunday.
But what is shotsuki
anyway? Shotsuki means
month of a person’s death.
The kanji characters thatmake up shotsuki are“shō” (໋ , which means“happiness” or “good4IǯUTVLJ
fortune,” and “tsuki” (া ,or “month.” In other words, “happy
month.”
But is it really OK to consider themonth we lost a loved one a happy
month?
Actually, annual shotsuki services
provide a fortuitous opportunity
for families to gather together eachyear to remember family members
who came before us—our parents,
grandparents and others who passed
away—and show our gratitude forbeing on the receiving end of thewonderful gift of life. If it weren’t forthem, we wouldn’t even exist.
And as we remember and honor
our loved ones, regardless of ourown personal religious preferenceor beliefs, we have the good fortune
and opportunity to receive Buddhist
teachings simply because we are inattendance at the shotsuki service.
What better way is there tokeep their memories alive than byremembering and appreciating theircontributions to our lives today. Yes,celebrating the lives of those we lostis truly something to be happy about.

໋
া

4

O

ur April 21 shotsuki service is our monthly remembrance of ourtemple family members who passed away in April of a past year. At
this month’s shotsuki service we honor and pay respects to:

Henry K. Fukunaga

Clarence T. Motoyama

Richard O. Sorida

Kingo Gushikuma

Henry K. Mukai

Laura Sugai

Harriet Y. Gushikuma

Myles M. Nakatsu

Yutaka Sumida

Chotaro Hane

Mitsue Nakayama

Lorraine T. SumiyeSuna M. Harada

Violet Y. Nakayama

Francis Torao Suzuki

Yoshiko Harauchi

Juka Nishimura

Marian Taguma

Shizuko Hayase

Mume Nishimura

Tatsue Takeshita

Yoshimi Hayashi

Shizue Nishioka

Shigeru Tanaka

Takeo Higa

Yuku Ohara

Takeshi Tanaka

Harue Iwaki

George M. Omura

Umeno Tanijo

Ralph Kikuo Kaizuka

Rodney Yuji Oshiro

George M. Tokunaga

Dennis K. Kanemori

Takashi Otsuka

Edward M. Tokunaga

George Makoto Kaya

Ruth Ayako Pacheco

Dorothy F. Torikawa

Jean Misao Kobata

Alice Sueko Ramos

Robert K. Toyama

Uto Koja

Kiyoto Saiki

Haruko Tsuda

Herbert S. Kondo

Keith Mitsugi Sato

Matsue Tsuji

Harry M. Kumamoto

Chieko Sekiya

Richard M. Tsukiyama

Edwin S. Matsuoka

Take Serikawa

Koichi Uesato

Classie A. McForland

Ushi Shimabukuro

Jean Shizuko Uyema

Harue Miike

Miyoko O. Shinkawa

Mitsuyo Watanabe

Misue Miyamoto

Shigeru Shirabe

Thomas M. Yamamoto

Chieko Moriguchi

Miyoko Shiramizu

Tamayo K. Yoshimoto(Listing includes members from past 25 years only)

While shotsuki services are observed every year, special nenki hoyo
memorial services are held during certain auspicious years. These years
include the 1st anniversary, followed by memorial services for the 3rd,
7th, 13th, 17th, 25th, 33rd and 50th years, held during the year pror to theactual anniversary date.

Did you know?

Memorial services can be held at your home.
In Hawaii, people usually schedule their memorial services to be heldat the temple. In Japan, however, most people choose to have memorialservices conducted at their homes.
Whether it’s because of health, mobility difficulties, lack of transportation,
convenience or just preferring the comfort of your own home, the ministers
will be more than happy to accommodate your preference and come to
you to conduct services at your location.
Either way is fine. Please call the Betsuin office at 531-9088 for
information about or assistance with scheduling a memorial service.

News on the

Betsuin WirelessShotsuki:
8IBUEPFTJUNFBO

Florence Hirakawa, Sadao & Kazue
Uechi and Dennis & Debra Saiki fordoor prizes (Dennis also for bingo
and karaoke and the Uechis for thesake); and the Daruma Serenaders
for the entertainment.
There are many more people
who contribute to the success ofan event like this and we apologize
if we failed to include yourcontribution. We’d like to see moremembers attend this annual event.
Plan to keep the last Sunday in
February next year open and meetyour fellow temple members.
Betsuin board members flanked by temple ministers: From left: Rev. Makoto Honda, Treasurer Ed
Nakano, Vice Chair Jonathan Tani, Chair Faye Shigemura, Secretary Debbie Saiki, Directors Ken
Saiki, Peggy Arita and Jim Hirakawa, and Bishop Ken Kawawata.

General Membership Meeting& Shinnen Enkai held Feb. 24
The first order of business at theGeneral Membership Meeting wasa revision of the by-laws to include
the address of our honzan, or head
temple, in Kyoto to avoid confusion
with any other group which might
be known as Higashi Hongwanji.
Next was the election of officers
and board members. Re-elected
were Chairperson Faye Shigemura,Vice Chair Joanathan Tani, Secretary
Debra Saiki, Treasurer Edmund
Nakano and Assistant Treasurer Faye
Shigemura. Advisor is Bishop Kenjun
Kawawata.
New members elected to theboard of directors were Kenneth
Saiki, James Hirakawa and Debra
Saiki, joining old board members
Peggy Arita and Jean Tanaka.
The officers and board members
offered incense to confirm, before allmembers present, their commitment
to serving in their respective offices.
Members wishing to bring any
concerns before the board should
contact the temple office. We urge
everyone to participate in temple
activities and operations. After all,this is your temple.
Following adjournment we dinedon Chinese dishes catered from the
popular Golden Lion Restaurant inPearl City.
Mahalo to Jan Lee for the dessert
and also for the decorations andphotography; Miki Kishida, James &E

Oahu retreat at Palolo temple
Check the enclosed flier for theregistration details for the upcoming
local retreat for members andfriends from all temples on Oahu.
The retreat will be held on Saturday,
April 13, with a start time of 10 am at
Palolo Hongwanji. Lunch is included.
Call the Betsuin if you needtransportation to Palolo.

Classic Movie Night returns!

Above: Faye Shigemura, Kei Tsuji, Bishop
Kawawata & Rev. Maeda led group singing
of Japanese doyo children’s melodies. Below:
Tables completed for prizes in the ball toss game.

Tired of shelling out from $7.50
to $10.75 at your nearest multiplex
just to watch a movie?
Come to our Classic Movie Nightto be entertained by somewonderful favorites from the past,movies that you are sure to enjoy
seeing again (or watch for the firsttime, if you missed them backwhen)! Best of all, admission is FREE!
First up on Tuesday, April 23, isthe hilarious 1985 ramen shop
comedy, Tampopo ॱথএএ),directed by Juzo Itami and starring
Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko
Miyamoto, Koji Yakusho & Ken
Watanabe. Japanese sound trackwith English subtitles. Showtime is
6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome.
Watch for more classic Oldies
but Goodies, coming soon to ascreen near you!

3

very month at the Betsuin, wehold a shotsuki service to allow
family members to honor and pay
respects to loved ones who passed
away in that month in a past year. It’s
usually held on the first Sunday but
because of Buddha Day celebrationsin April, this month’s shotsuki service
is on the third Sunday.
But what is shotsuki
anyway? Shotsuki means
month of a person’s death.
The kanji characters thatmake up shotsuki are“shō” (໋ , which means“happiness” or “good4IǯUTVLJ
fortune,” and “tsuki” (া ,or “month.” In other words, “happy
month.”
But is it really OK to consider themonth we lost a loved one a happy
month?
Actually, annual shotsuki services
provide a fortuitous opportunity
for families to gather together eachyear to remember family members
who came before us—our parents,
grandparents and others who passed
away—and show our gratitude forbeing on the receiving end of thewonderful gift of life. If it weren’t forthem, we wouldn’t even exist.
And as we remember and honor
our loved ones, regardless of ourown personal religious preferenceor beliefs, we have the good fortune
and opportunity to receive Buddhist
teachings simply because we are inattendance at the shotsuki service.
What better way is there tokeep their memories alive than byremembering and appreciating theircontributions to our lives today. Yes,celebrating the lives of those we lostis truly something to be happy about.

໋
া

4

O

ur April 21 shotsuki service is our monthly remembrance of ourtemple family members who passed away in April of a past year. At
this month’s shotsuki service we honor and pay respects to:

Henry K. Fukunaga

Clarence T. Motoyama

Richard O. Sorida

Kingo Gushikuma

Henry K. Mukai

Laura Sugai

Harriet Y. Gushikuma

Myles M. Nakatsu

Yutaka Sumida

Chotaro Hane

Mitsue Nakayama

Lorraine T. SumiyeSuna M. Harada

Violet Y. Nakayama

Francis Torao Suzuki

Yoshiko Harauchi

Juka Nishimura

Marian Taguma

Shizuko Hayase

Mume Nishimura

Tatsue Takeshita

Yoshimi Hayashi

Shizue Nishioka

Shigeru Tanaka

Takeo Higa

Yuku Ohara

Takeshi Tanaka

Harue Iwaki

George M. Omura

Umeno Tanijo

Ralph Kikuo Kaizuka

Rodney Yuji Oshiro

George M. Tokunaga

Dennis K. Kanemori

Takashi Otsuka

Edward M. Tokunaga

George Makoto Kaya

Ruth Ayako Pacheco

Dorothy F. Torikawa

Jean Misao Kobata

Alice Sueko Ramos

Robert K. Toyama

Uto Koja

Kiyoto Saiki

Haruko Tsuda

Herbert S. Kondo

Keith Mitsugi Sato

Matsue Tsuji

Harry M. Kumamoto

Chieko Sekiya

Richard M. Tsukiyama

Edwin S. Matsuoka

Take Serikawa

Koichi Uesato

Classie A. McForland

Ushi Shimabukuro

Jean Shizuko Uyema

Harue Miike

Miyoko O. Shinkawa

Mitsuyo Watanabe

Misue Miyamoto

Shigeru Shirabe

Thomas M. Yamamoto

Chieko Moriguchi

Miyoko Shiramizu

Tamayo K. Yoshimoto(Listing includes members from past 25 years only)

While shotsuki services are observed every year, special nenki hoyo
memorial services are held during certain auspicious years. These years
include the 1st anniversary, followed by memorial services for the 3rd,
7th, 13th, 17th, 25th, 33rd and 50th years, held during the year pror to theactual anniversary date.

Did you know?

Memorial services can be held at your home.
In Hawaii, people usually schedule their memorial services to be heldat the temple. In Japan, however, most people choose to have memorialservices conducted at their homes.
Whether it’s because of health, mobility difficulties, lack of transportation,
convenience or just preferring the comfort of your own home, the ministers
will be more than happy to accommodate your preference and come to
you to conduct services at your location.
Either way is fine. Please call the Betsuin office at 531-9088 for
information about or assistance with scheduling a memorial service.

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Honolulu, HI
Permit No. 693

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

Hanamatsuri

Buddha Day Celebration

Address Service Requested

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Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
APRIL 2013

MAY 2013

HBC Buddha Day service
Joint Hawaii Buddhist Council service
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
4/11 Thu 7 pm Basic & Shin Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
4/13 Sat 10 am Local retreat at Palolo Hongwanji
Betsuin, Palolo & Kaneohe temples,Call Betsuin office if you need a ride.
4/14 Sun 10 am Hanamatsuri service (Buddha Day)
4/14 Sun 12 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class

5/5 Sun 10 am Shotsuki service
5/6 - 5/12
11th World Dobo Convention/Tour
Kyoto - Shinhodaka Onsen Shirakawa-go - Hida-Takayama
5/11 Sat 10 am Study class:
What on Earth is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
Fukuhara Conference Room
5/12 Sun 10 am Mother’s Day family service
5/16 Thu 7 pm Basic & Shin Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata
Fukuhara Conference Room
5/19 Sun 10 am Shinran Shonin’s Birthday service
5/19 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Fukuhara Conference Room
5/21 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Informal dharma discussion
Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji
5/26 Sun 10 am All War Victims’ Memorial service
5/28 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Letters from Iwo Jima
(140 min.)Japanese audio/English subtitles
Fukuhara Conference Room

4/7

Sun 9 amਠ৻ୁदบઇ॑ୂऒअ‫ ؙ‬঩মୁ

4/16
4/21
4/21
4/23
4/28

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Fukuhara Conference RoomTue 7 pm O-ko: Informal dharma discussion
Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji
Sun 10 am Shotsuki service
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Fukuhara Conference RoomTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Tampopo (115 min.)Japanese audio/English subtitles
Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Sunday service
Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we
remain true 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

President: Faye Shigemura
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Makoto Honda
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: hhhb@me.com
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

Did you walk and talk at birth?
Rinban Kenjun KawawataAs you know, April is Buddha Day month and we celebrate Buddha’s
birth. Shakyamuni Buddha was born in a place called Lumbini
Garden, where many trees, plants and flowers bloomed in glory. So we callthe celebration of Buddha’s birth “Hanamatsuri,” or Flower Festival.
Also it is said that when the Buddha was born, heavenly beings
appeared and poured sweet rain from the sky to bless his birth. That’s why
we celebrate Buddha’s birth by decorating a Hanamido altar and pouring
sweet tea during Hanamatsuri.
This is one sign that spring hascome. Also this is a time to celebrate
our own birth and life, and think
about the meaning of birth and life.
It is said that when Buddha wasborn, he walked seven steps andsaid, “Above the heaven and below
the heaven, I am the only noble one.”
Are you surprised? Buddha
walked and talked right after he was born! Usually newborn babies don’t
walk and talk. Do you remember when you were born? Did you walk? Did
you talk?
I do not think that Buddha walked and talked at birth, either, but hewas such a great teacher for everybody, people who listened and followed
his teaching made up this story praising him for his achievement.
Walking seven steps signifies achieving the purpose of life. Saying“Above the heaven, below the heaven, I am the only noble one” means “I
received precious life.” It is very hard to receive human life. From the Three
Treasures: “Difficult
is it to receive life inhuman form, now
we are living it.”
Our lives share the same quality as Buddha’s life. Each life is precious
and important because we get only one chance to live it right now. There
are no other chances.
In tea ceremony, there is a saying, “Ichi-go ichi-e” (঳਋঳ভ), literally,“one chance, one meeting,” or a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. People
meeting for tea will say they share that time only once and cannot
experience that same time again. That time will never come back.

“Above the heaven, below theheaven, I am the only noble one.”(Continued on next page)