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

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

On Living Life B-I-I-G!
&ENVOE/BLBOPEd Nakano, Betsuin treasurer and board member for the past 24 years, was our lay
speaker for the Sept. 27 Sunday service. Here is a transcript of his message on hisquest to ovecome challenges, passing values on and achieving balance in life.

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

10
October 2015

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
OCTOBER 2015
10/4 Sun 10 am Eitaikyo/Perpetual memorial service
Shōtsuki memorial service (Rinban
Kawawata) & Sunday school
10/4 Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Car Care class
led by Jim Hirakawa
10/8 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
10/10 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10/11 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/11 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
10/11 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting class
led by Jeanne Kawawata at Otani Center
10/13 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
10/18 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/18 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
10/20 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
10/25 Sun 10 am Hō-on-kō service at Kaneohe temple(no service at Betsuin)
10/27 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
10/27 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Spirited Away
10/28 Wed 10 am Onicchu Shinran Shonin service

NOVEMBER 2015

11/1 Sun 10 am Hō-on-kō service at Palolo temple(no service at Betsuin)
11/8 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service(Rinban Kawawata)
Sunday school
11/8 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
11/10 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
11/12 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
11/14 Sat 1 pm Ho-on-ko gathering
followed by dinner and evening service
11/15 Sun 10 am Hō-on-kō service at Betsuin
11/16 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
11/21 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
11/22 Sun 10 am Sunday service
11/22 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
11/22 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting class
led by Jeanne Kawawata at Otani Center
11/24 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
11/24 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: TBA
11/28 Sat 10 am Onicchu Shinran Shonin service
11/29 Sun 10 am Sunday service

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
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Auditor: Ken Saiki
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
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 SaikiMy Issei paternal and maternal grandparents immigrated from Fukuoka
and Kumamoto, Japan, respectively, to work on the Hakalau and Honomu
plantations. Both of my Nisei parents were raised in these plantation villages andwere members of large families, with my dad being the eldest
of six children and my mom the second eldest of five.
Being the elder children, they were required to help
support their large, financially strapped families and went towork after completing 8th grade. My mom was shortchanged
in her education because she was intelligent enough to skipa grade and complete the minimum required educationin seven years. Had she continued her education, I’msure she would have had better employment opportunities.
Ed Nakano
Their younger siblings, however, were able to obtain higher
education and take advantage of more financially rewarding employment
opportunities because of the sacrifices my parents made for them.
-JGFMPOHWBMVFT*MFBSOFEGSPNNZ/JTFJQBSFOUTXIJMFHSPXJOHVQJO)JMP
My parents compensated for their financial hardships and lack of education
with a strong work ethic and resilience: both values I cherish and live by. They alsopreached to me to place a high value on education and to embrace a lifelong
learning attitude.
My father worked as a carpenter, painter, construction laborer and retired as aState of Hawaii highway maintenance person. He was a workaholic, often working
various jobs seven days a week. This was the work-to-live ethic, which many of us
baby boomers live by. My mom was, for most of her career, a housewife since herpoor health did not allow her to maintain steady employment.
Our family’s lifestyle was simple, and living frugally, we managed to survive.
My mom told me that we probably were eligible for, but she was too embarrassed
to seek, welfare assistance. To give you an idea of where our family’s socioeconomic status was, I will use Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs to illustrate. Picture a
triangle where the Food and Water stage is at the bottom of the triangle. The socioeconomic stages of the triangle progresses upwards to levels of Safety, Love, Self
Esteem and ends with Self Actualization at the top. Although we owned our home,relative to our neighbors, our family socio-economic status was slightly above theFood and Water stage.
We were fortunate to live in a Hilo upper middle-class neighborhood acrossthe Hilo Higashi Hongwanji temple, where our neighbors were very understanding
and supportive to our family. I knew that we were definitely the poorest in thisupper middle-class neighborhood since we initially had no car, telephone and TV
when everyone else did. In spite of these limited resources and challenges, I neverwas envious of my neighbors.
Given these humbling growing up experiences, I have strived all my life toensure that my own family will enjoy a better life through embracing the values of
hard work, resilience, lifelong learning and family support.
My strong work ethic began when I delivered the Honolulu Advertiser ona bicycle from 6th through 9th grade with my partner, waking up at 5 am,
365 days a year. While in high school, I worked part time as a janitor, delivery
person and typewriter repairman at the Moses Company, where Betsuinboard member Jonathan Tani and his mother also worked. I also worked as a
bag boy at Food Fair Super Market.
(cont’d on p. 2)

On Living Life B-I-I-G (cont’d from p. 1).BLJOHB1PTJUJWF%JòFSFODF
During my 2nd semester at UH-Hilo while pursuing an
Education degree and in good academic standing, severalof my college classmates and I decided to join the Hawaii
Army National Guard (HARNG) to avoid being drafted andearn part-time income. During our 3rd semester at UH-Hilo,after returning from Basic & Advanced Infantry Training at
Fort Ord, CA (first time I traveled to the mainland) the HARNG
29th Brigade was activated. My original Military Occupation
Specialty (MOS) was an infantryman, which was basically tofight and kill. However, since I had several semesters of college
education, multi-skilled with an attitude to learn, I was sent tosmall arms repairman school, graduated with honors and had
my MOS changed to what at that time was called an armorer.
I was soon sent to Vietnam, stationed at a relatively safe andwell-protected ammunition depot in Qui Nhon. I was able toreturn to Hawaii quickly due to an “early out” and good student
standing program and continued my college education at UHManoa with the assistance of the GI Bill.
When I returned to UH-Manoa in 1969, there were very few
employment opportunities for teachers. With guidance from myuncle in Hilo, who was an accountant, and several high schoolclassmates who were accounting graduates at UH-Manoa, I
decided to pursue a degree in Accounting. I was wisely advisedby my UH classmates that excellent grades were required tobe hired by the top“Big Eight”national CPA firms. Heeding theadvice—and for the first time since the 6th grade not having
to work due to the financial assistance from the GI Bill.—I wasdetermined to study hard and obtain the best grades possible.
I became a nerd and dedicated myself to study diligently
and only obtain good grades during my last three years incollege. In the difficult and competitive field of accounting
and with minimal academic and career guidance from myfamily, through hard work, dedication to study and learn, I
was on the Dean’s List at the University of Hawaii for six of mylast semesters and graduated with a 3.8 GPA in Accounting.
In 1972 I was hired as an auditor at a “Big Eight”
international CPA firm, Coopers & Lybrand, which hired only
the top 2% of accounting graduates. I was driven, worked
hard, promoted rapidly, took on many challenging andtough assignments others did not want and achieved myinitial career goal of receiving a CPA certificate in 1974.
Becoming a CPA in 1974 and gaining valuableknowledge and experience at Coopers & Lybrand broughtme to my current employer of 37 years, C. S. Wo & Sons, Ltd.,as Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer. I am truly fortunate
to ba a member of a successful 3rd-generation team ofwell-educated and forward-thinking owners of a 109-yearold family business with $70 million in annual revenues. My
work responsibilities includes executive management of theaccounting, human resources, information technology andinventory control functions. I am also personally involved
with most legal, property management, property, casualty
and life insurance and investment matters.
I am also blessed that my health has been good, am
continuing to learn and enjoying this journey of making
a positive difference by sharing my knowledge and2experience with my employer, its employees, my family
and with the Betsuin.
-JWJOHB#BMBODFE-JGFTUZMFXIJMF4IBSJOH7BMVFT*-FBSOFE
Although having to directly and indirectly care for myparents for nearly 25 years until their passing, assisting my wife
through two serious health challenges with cancer, maintaining
a 50- to 60-hour workweek schedule, providing volunteer
community service as Betsuin treasurer and a board member
for the Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants, among
other community activities, our family relationship with my wifeand two daughters remains strong. While we don’t agree on
everything, we agree to share family activities, help each other,
continue to be good citizens and be
the best that we can be. We have a
comfortable lifestyle and home, traveloccasionally and enjoy casual dining
at local restaurants.
I am also able to find time toplay in the Meija Fast Pitch Sofballleague six months of the year for the
past eight years and enjoy my otherpassion, which is to attend weekly
karaoke classes. I am also proud tonote that my two daughters attended
public schools, graduated Magna
Ed delights New Year party
Cum Laude from Aiea High School,atendees with a karake song.
both graduated from UH-Manoa withAccounting degrees, and both have their MBAs.
My older daughter graduated with honors from the
UH undergraduate and MBA programs and younger
daughter graduated with honors from the HPU graduate
program. My oldest daughter is a CPA and worked six
years as an auditor at my former employer, known today as
PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is now working as a controller
for United Laundry. My youngest daughter is currently
working as an accountant at the City & County of Honolulu
Treasury Department. My older daughter and her husband
have two sons, whom we all cherish and enjoy.
(cont’d on p. 4)

From left, Daughter Kelly, Ed and wife, Diane, daughter Kristi Saiki, grandson
Trevor Saiki & son-in-law, Landon Saiki. Inset: Trevor with Conner Saiki.

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. For donations of $250
or more, receipts/acknowledgment will be issued in compliancewith IRS regulations. For other amounts receipts will not be issued
unless requested. Thank you.

.&.03*"- '6/&3"- */63/.&/5#63*"-4&37*$&
Agnes MatsuuraAlex Matsuwaki
David Fujihara
James Hirakawa
Raymond/Carolyn Ikeda
Steve/Susan Arbuthnot0)*("/

Anonymous
Florence Kanno
Kathryn Kurakake
Robert Takayama

Atsuko Nonaka
Frances Maekawa
Keizaburo Tsuji
Takuo/Sadie Sakai

Amy AbeArlene Ebisuya
Mike Uyeno
Millicent Yamamoto
Robert Takayama
Roy/Pearl Kurihara
William/Jeri Sue Wilson

Carol Okamoto
Mitsuko Yukutake
Stanley Tsumoto

Charlotte Tsukamoto Collin Segawa
Harold/Jane Kudo
Iris Kubota
Minako Ito-Song
Mitsue Ikari
Wallace/Jane Naito Yasuko Kawada

Edith Endo
Eiko Yoshida
Jane Kaneshiro
June Omura
Patricia Nitta
Ray Moribe
Lynn Murakami-Akatsuka,:0%"/%0/"5*0/(including Otani Center, nokotsudo, altar supplies, parking)
Atsuko Nonaka
The Aikido Ohana
Moriso Teraoka
Shinshu Otani-Ha
Beta Beta Gamma Sorority$)*$,&/464)*'6/%3"*4&3
Anonymous
Harlen Duesing
Larry Tsuchiyama
Rebecca Pang
Vincent Akamine(0+*,"*%6&4
Henry Sakai

0#0/

Dr. Timothy Lau
Walter Yamada

Harlen Duesing
Briana Sugai

Carol Matsunaga
Jane Okazaki
Michael Sawai
Richard Kudo
Vivian Chang

Corrie Saiki
Denis Kawamoto
Kazuo Kono
Kenneth Kihara
Mildred Tashiro
Miyoko Hebaru
Shizuno Miyazaki
Theda Murata
Wallace/Jean Haruki

Marian Tsuji

The Aikido Ohana

Gilbert/Juliet Fujimoto







Charles Nishida
Peggy Arita
Wave USA Inc.









Faye Kimura
Kenneth Saiki
Ralph Tanijo
Toshimasa Arai

G.T. TanoueKenneth Sakamoto
Raymond/Fay Uyema
Tsutomu Oi

Manabu/Chiyoko Watanabe Family
Christina Fulton
Jonathan Tani"-5"3'-03"-"33"/(&.&/54

Harold/Jane Kudo

Marilyn Kuroda

Rowan/Jane Watanabe

Minako Ito-Song

Everything’s

BIG this year

The Nakano family and friends,
Colleen and Mike, came to help withthe cashiering and filling orders.
Wayne Shinbara held signs at theroadside. Next year, we’ll think about
dressing Wayne up as a chicken.
Several seniors supplied quiet
moral support to the workers.

In addition to packing this year’s
meatier chicken and sushi, temple
members and volunteers greeted
customers, directed traffic and helped
prepare lunch for the workers.
Jim Hirakawa of Palolo Auto
Service left his golf game early totake orders. The businessman that heis, he was also checking for expiringsafety check stickers. Wot service!
Let’s not forget that the hot
and humid weather on that Aug. 30
Sunday was very unforgiving. Even
my birds were panting.
Arigato, arigato, arigato to all,especially after a busy bon weekend
in July! I hope most of us lost somewater weight and now enjoy cleaner
pores as a result.
A resounding i%BJ.BIBMPw to all!

Takusan arigatos to all thefamilies and friends of Higashi
Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii who
helped with our barbecue chicken
and maki-sushi sale again this year. It
was a great year for our fundraiser.
Without knowing another special
word to use, I always say “successful,”
but this year, I want to emphaticallysay, i%BJ4FJLP wwhich means“Great Success!”
Without fail, we need to thankour volunteers, especially from themartial arts groups, which brought
their muscle and manpower early inthe morning to help set up the tables
and tents, and unload the chickenfrom our truck.

Martial arts volunteers provided muscle powerand dexterity help at the chicken fundraiser.

Joyce Masaki— Faye Shigemura

5W

hen I was a small kid and leftfood on my plate, my momalways used to say, “Mottainai! You
have to eat up all your food. If you
don’t, you’re wasting food. Mottainai!”
When we eat something,whether it’s a vegetable, fish, oranimal, whatever we eat sacrificed its
life for us. If we don’t finish our food,we waste their sacrifice. We should
not waste food that we receive. We
also don’t want to waste our time andour life, too. So don’t forget the spritof mottainai.
One of the Issei ladies I know
always used to say, “Mottainai no,
Namu Amida Butsu” and “Arigatai no,
Namu Amida Butsu.”
Mottainai has two meanings.
The mottainai we use in generalterms means “wasteful.“ Mottainai
also translates into “I do not deserve
this opportunity, or I don’t deserve
to receive it,” which expresses

mottainai
もったいないappreciation, similar to arigato, or“thank you.”
Therefore, my mom always
said, “Mottainai”, whenever I leftsomething on my plate at the dinner.
When she found just one grain ofrice in my chawan bowl, she said,“Mottainai” and “Eat it.”
Remembering these words, I
still feel guilt when I leave food on
my plate at restaurants or at thedinner table at home. I still hear thenagging voice of my mother, saying,“Mottainai, you are wasting food.”
The word arigatai comes fromaru, which means “to be,” or “being.“
The second part, gatai, or katai,

On Living Life B-I-I-G (cont’d from p. 2)

The challenge to balance work and family activities
continues and I feel that we are working diligently
together as a family to achieve those goals. Although
my daughters are very busy with their careers and family,
they also find time to assist me in Betsuin activities suchas during obon and other fundraising activities.
If there was one thing I could do over again, I
would have made an effort to learn to develop stronger
people relationships at an early age since I was shy andintroverted. Through my work experience the past 43
years, I observed how effective others were when they
had the interpersonal skills to engage with all types ofpeople. Working with my positive influencing peers andmentors who had these skills throughout my businesscareer, I have learned and still am learning to become aneffective, engaging person and leader.
As a youth, I enjoyed being able to be in anenvironment that I could use all the skills I had, given
my limited tangible and financial resources. I am
fortunate that I was somewhat better than average
academically and in art, music, several sports and withsupportive and understanding neighbors, friends anda positive external environment to utilize my skills, wasable to participate and enjoy in these activities. Theseexperiences were personally fulfilling, fostered my self
esteem, made me feel that I did the best I could withwhat I had and helped me endure the financial andfamily hardships during my early childhood.
If I had to describe myself in one sentence, I would
say resourceful, hard working, resilient, driven, always
desiring to learn and doing my best, striving to makea positive difference, sharing my knowledge and skills

4means “hard.” In other words, “It isvery hard to be.”
It is very hard to receive a humanform or this life. It is very hard tohave a chance meeting with yourfriend. It is very fortunate to haveeverything you experience. Arigatai is
an expression of our gratitude.
That’s why the Issei lady said,“Arigatai no, Namu Amida Butsu” atthe temple, because she felt that it
is very hard to be at the temple andlisten to Buddha’s teaching there. For
her it was very fortunate to be at the
temple. She was expressing gratitude
for every condition that allowed her
to be there and brought Buddha’s
teaching to her.
So we can use arigatai andmottainai for anything when
you express your gratitude. This
expression then is essentially thesame as Namu Amida Butsu.
— Rinban Kenjun Kawawata

with others willing to use them.
My advice to others would be: always do your best,treat others with dignity and respect and treat them
how they want to be treated. Take pride in what you do,don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from themand always have a positive attitude and with a lifelong
quest for learning. Be humble, take care of your family,
friends and co-workers and they will support you.
Finally, practice the Buddhist 'PVS.BSLTPG
&YJTUFODF-JGFJT#**(t-JGFJT#a#6.1:road, and therefore, you needto have a positive attitude and be resilient.
t-JGFJT**.1&3."/&/5 and therefore, you needto live life to its fullest daily in a positive manner since,
as we are reminded in Rennyo Shonin’s “White Ashes”
letter, we could be gone tomorrow.
t-JGFJT**/5&3%&1&/%&/5, where we need
to work with and help others to live and function
harmoniously as a team. This is the “I” that has
made the most impact in my life journey. I am very
fortunate to have many family, friends, former
neighbors, teachers, co-workers and mentors who
have all contributed to my fulfilling and learning
life journey, where I am able to now give backby sharing my knowledge and experiences withothers, a form of Self Actualization. It’s a verysatisfying experience for me, especially since early
in my life, I was on the receiving end while living
slightly above the Food and Water stage.
t-JGFJT((00% if you are able to live the B, I and I
effectively.
So let’s all -*7&-*'&#**(News on the

Betsuin WirelessThe Inouye sculpture, “Hawaii,” is prominently displayed on the wall in the Betsuin’s nokotsudo.

"SUXPSLEFEJDBUJPOTFSWJDF
IFMEBU#FUTVJODPMVNCBSJVNA ceramic sculpture entitled,“Hawaii,” by the late Higashi
Hongwanji minister Rev. Shugen
Inouye, was dedicated at a shortservice held in the columbarium on
Sept. 6, immediately following theregular Sunday service.
The art piece was gifted to the
Betsuin last year by Irene Muramotoand her late husband, Paul.
The sculpture was created by Rev.
Inouye, a Kyoto native and graduateof Farrington High School with amaster’s degree from the Universityof Hawaii. Rev. Inouye was arecognized ceramics instructor andpottery maker in addition to serving
as a minister at the Betsuin.
Between 1961 and 1963, Rev.
Inouye’s pottery was exhibited atseven shows in Hawaii, California and
New York, including a one-man

Irene Muramoto and Faye Shigemura at the
dedication ceremony for the “Hawaii” sculpture.

exhibition at New York’s Museum ofContemporary Crafts between
September and November of 1963.
Another was scheduled for May 1964
in Detroit, Michigan, but was canceled
due to his untimely death at age 29.

の町」。町の屋台にあった料理を勝手に食べた両親は、豚に姿をかえられてしまう。ひとりぼっちになってしまった千尋
は、「千尋」という名を奪われ「千」と呼ばれながら、生き残るためにその町を支配する強欲な魔女・湯婆婆の下で働き始める。湯屋とは、この日本に棲むいろんな神様やお化けが疲れと傷を癒しに通うお風呂屋さんのこと。 そこで、千尋は怪しい神様やお化けに交じって生まれて初めて懸命に働く。 ハクや河の神などと出会い、様々な経験とふれあいを重ねる
うちに、千尋は徐々に成長していく。
受賞 ： 第25回日本アカデミー賞 最優
秀作品賞、会長功労賞、協会特別賞（主題歌、第75回米国アカデミー賞 アカデミ
ー長編アニメ映画賞、第52回ベルリン国際映画祭 金熊賞、その他。
言語 : 日本語, 字幕 : 英語 、映時間 :125分、10月27日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

0DUPCFSNPWJFASpirited Away’JT
NPTUTVDDFTTGVM+BQBOFTFöMNFWFS Box office smash hit Spirited Away is
a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film
directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It tells thestory of 10-year-old Chihiro Ogino, who,
while moving to a new neighborhood,enters the spirit world. After her parents
are transformed into pigs by the witch
Yubaba, Chihiro takes a job working in
Yubaba’s bathhouse to find a way tofree herself and her parents and returnto the human world.
The film won a U.S. Academy
Award for Best Animated Film, Japan
Academy Award for Best Picture and aGolden Bear in Berlin for Best Picture,among dozens of other awards.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Oct. 27 ,125 min.. Free admission. Bring yourown popcorn or you’re welcome toshare in our light refreshments.

千と千尋の神隠し t 「せんとちひろのかみかくし」は 、スタジオジブリの長編アニメーション映画。監督は宮崎駿。2001年7月20日に日本公開。興行収入300億円を超えた日本歴代興行収入第1位の大ヒット作品である。
10歳の女の子、千尋は、無愛想でちょっとだるそうな、典型的な現代っ子。 両親とともに車で引っ越し先の家へと向かう
途中に、いつの間にか迷い込んだ「不思議Mrs. Nonaka is congratulated by UJSH President
Cyrus Tamashiro and 2015 Cherry Blossom Queen
Kimberley Takata at the Senior Citizens Festival.

/POBLBSFBDIFTUINJMFTUPOF
 At the annual Senior Citizens
Festival held by the United JapaneseSociety of Hawaii at the Manoa Grand
Ballroom, Betsuin member Atsuko
Nonaka was among 31 local Nikkei
honorees from UJSH member
organizations attaining the age of 80
this year.
She gave a thank you message
on behalf of all the honorees andwas also part of the entertainment
program with her minyo group,
Harada NaoAtsusa Kai.
On hand from the Betsuin at theSept. 27 festival luncheon to present
her with lei and congratulations were
Faye Shigemura and Ken Saiki.

3

W

hen I was a small kid and leftfood on my plate, my momalways used to say, “Mottainai! You
have to eat up all your food. If you
don’t, you’re wasting food. Mottainai!”
When we eat something,whether it’s a vegetable, fish, oranimal, whatever we eat sacrificed its
life for us. If we don’t finish our food,we waste their sacrifice. We should
not waste food that we receive. We
also don’t want to waste our time andour life, too. So don’t forget the spritof mottainai.
One of the Issei ladies I know
always used to say, “Mottainai no,
Namu Amida Butsu” and “Arigatai no,
Namu Amida Butsu.”
Mottainai has two meanings.
The mottainai we use in generalterms means “wasteful.“ Mottainai
also translates into “I do not deserve
this opportunity, or I don’t deserve
to receive it,” which expresses

mottainai
もったいないappreciation, similar to arigato, or“thank you.”
Therefore, my mom always
said, “Mottainai”, whenever I leftsomething on my plate at the dinner.
When she found just one grain ofrice in my chawan bowl, she said,“Mottainai” and “Eat it.”
Remembering these words, I
still feel guilt when I leave food on
my plate at restaurants or at thedinner table at home. I still hear thenagging voice of my mother, saying,“Mottainai, you are wasting food.”
The word arigatai comes fromaru, which means “to be,” or “being.“
The second part, gatai, or katai,

On Living Life B-I-I-G (cont’d from p. 2)

The challenge to balance work and family activities
continues and I feel that we are working diligently
together as a family to achieve those goals. Although
my daughters are very busy with their careers and family,
they also find time to assist me in Betsuin activities suchas during obon and other fundraising activities.
If there was one thing I could do over again, I
would have made an effort to learn to develop stronger
people relationships at an early age since I was shy andintroverted. Through my work experience the past 43
years, I observed how effective others were when they
had the interpersonal skills to engage with all types ofpeople. Working with my positive influencing peers andmentors who had these skills throughout my businesscareer, I have learned and still am learning to become aneffective, engaging person and leader.
As a youth, I enjoyed being able to be in anenvironment that I could use all the skills I had, given
my limited tangible and financial resources. I am
fortunate that I was somewhat better than average
academically and in art, music, several sports and withsupportive and understanding neighbors, friends anda positive external environment to utilize my skills, wasable to participate and enjoy in these activities. Theseexperiences were personally fulfilling, fostered my self
esteem, made me feel that I did the best I could withwhat I had and helped me endure the financial andfamily hardships during my early childhood.
If I had to describe myself in one sentence, I would
say resourceful, hard working, resilient, driven, always
desiring to learn and doing my best, striving to makea positive difference, sharing my knowledge and skills

4means “hard.” In other words, “It isvery hard to be.”
It is very hard to receive a humanform or this life. It is very hard tohave a chance meeting with yourfriend. It is very fortunate to haveeverything you experience. Arigatai is
an expression of our gratitude.
That’s why the Issei lady said,“Arigatai no, Namu Amida Butsu” atthe temple, because she felt that it
is very hard to be at the temple andlisten to Buddha’s teaching there. For
her it was very fortunate to be at the
temple. She was expressing gratitude
for every condition that allowed her
to be there and brought Buddha’s
teaching to her.
So we can use arigatai andmottainai for anything when
you express your gratitude. This
expression then is essentially thesame as Namu Amida Butsu.
— Rinban Kenjun Kawawata

with others willing to use them.
My advice to others would be: always do your best,treat others with dignity and respect and treat them
how they want to be treated. Take pride in what you do,don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from themand always have a positive attitude and with a lifelong
quest for learning. Be humble, take care of your family,
friends and co-workers and they will support you.
Finally, practice the Buddhist 'PVS.BSLTPG
&YJTUFODF-JGFJT#**(t-JGFJT#a#6.1:road, and therefore, you needto have a positive attitude and be resilient.
t-JGFJT**.1&3."/&/5 and therefore, you needto live life to its fullest daily in a positive manner since,
as we are reminded in Rennyo Shonin’s “White Ashes”
letter, we could be gone tomorrow.
t-JGFJT**/5&3%&1&/%&/5, where we need
to work with and help others to live and function
harmoniously as a team. This is the “I” that has
made the most impact in my life journey. I am very
fortunate to have many family, friends, former
neighbors, teachers, co-workers and mentors who
have all contributed to my fulfilling and learning
life journey, where I am able to now give backby sharing my knowledge and experiences withothers, a form of Self Actualization. It’s a verysatisfying experience for me, especially since early
in my life, I was on the receiving end while living
slightly above the Food and Water stage.
t-JGFJT((00% if you are able to live the B, I and I
effectively.
So let’s all -*7&-*'&#**(News on the

Betsuin WirelessThe Inouye sculpture, “Hawaii,” is prominently displayed on the wall in the Betsuin’s nokotsudo.

"SUXPSLEFEJDBUJPOTFSWJDF
IFMEBU#FUTVJODPMVNCBSJVNA ceramic sculpture entitled,“Hawaii,” by the late Higashi
Hongwanji minister Rev. Shugen
Inouye, was dedicated at a shortservice held in the columbarium on
Sept. 6, immediately following theregular Sunday service.
The art piece was gifted to the
Betsuin last year by Irene Muramotoand her late husband, Paul.
The sculpture was created by Rev.
Inouye, a Kyoto native and graduateof Farrington High School with amaster’s degree from the Universityof Hawaii. Rev. Inouye was arecognized ceramics instructor andpottery maker in addition to serving
as a minister at the Betsuin.
Between 1961 and 1963, Rev.
Inouye’s pottery was exhibited atseven shows in Hawaii, California and
New York, including a one-man

Irene Muramoto and Faye Shigemura at the
dedication ceremony for the “Hawaii” sculpture.

exhibition at New York’s Museum ofContemporary Crafts between
September and November of 1963.
Another was scheduled for May 1964
in Detroit, Michigan, but was canceled
due to his untimely death at age 29.

の町」。町の屋台にあった料理を勝手に食べた両親は、豚に姿をかえられてしまう。ひとりぼっちになってしまった千尋
は、「千尋」という名を奪われ「千」と呼ばれながら、生き残るためにその町を支配する強欲な魔女・湯婆婆の下で働き始める。湯屋とは、この日本に棲むいろんな神様やお化けが疲れと傷を癒しに通うお風呂屋さんのこと。 そこで、千尋は怪しい神様やお化けに交じって生まれて初めて懸命に働く。 ハクや河の神などと出会い、様々な経験とふれあいを重ねる
うちに、千尋は徐々に成長していく。
受賞 ： 第25回日本アカデミー賞 最優
秀作品賞、会長功労賞、協会特別賞（主題歌、第75回米国アカデミー賞 アカデミ
ー長編アニメ映画賞、第52回ベルリン国際映画祭 金熊賞、その他。
言語 : 日本語, 字幕 : 英語 、映時間 :125分、10月27日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

0DUPCFSNPWJFASpirited Away’JT
NPTUTVDDFTTGVM+BQBOFTFöMNFWFS Box office smash hit Spirited Away is
a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film
directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It tells thestory of 10-year-old Chihiro Ogino, who,
while moving to a new neighborhood,enters the spirit world. After her parents
are transformed into pigs by the witch
Yubaba, Chihiro takes a job working in
Yubaba’s bathhouse to find a way tofree herself and her parents and returnto the human world.
The film won a U.S. Academy
Award for Best Animated Film, Japan
Academy Award for Best Picture and aGolden Bear in Berlin for Best Picture,among dozens of other awards.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Oct. 27 ,125 min.. Free admission. Bring yourown popcorn or you’re welcome toshare in our light refreshments.

千と千尋の神隠し t 「せんとちひろのかみかくし」は 、スタジオジブリの長編アニメーション映画。監督は宮崎駿。2001年7月20日に日本公開。興行収入300億円を超えた日本歴代興行収入第1位の大ヒット作品である。
10歳の女の子、千尋は、無愛想でちょっとだるそうな、典型的な現代っ子。 両親とともに車で引っ越し先の家へと向かう
途中に、いつの間にか迷い込んだ「不思議Mrs. Nonaka is congratulated by UJSH President
Cyrus Tamashiro and 2015 Cherry Blossom Queen
Kimberley Takata at the Senior Citizens Festival.

/POBLBSFBDIFTUINJMFTUPOF
 At the annual Senior Citizens
Festival held by the United JapaneseSociety of Hawaii at the Manoa Grand
Ballroom, Betsuin member Atsuko
Nonaka was among 31 local Nikkei
honorees from UJSH member
organizations attaining the age of 80
this year.
She gave a thank you message
on behalf of all the honorees andwas also part of the entertainment
program with her minyo group,
Harada NaoAtsusa Kai.
On hand from the Betsuin at theSept. 27 festival luncheon to present
her with lei and congratulations were
Faye Shigemura and Ken Saiki.

3

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

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

On Living Life B-I-I-G!
&ENVOE/BLBOPEd Nakano, Betsuin treasurer and board member for the past 24 years, was our lay
speaker for the Sept. 27 Sunday service. Here is a transcript of his message on hisquest to ovecome challenges, passing values on and achieving balance in life.

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

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harmonyt0O-JWJOH-JGF#**(p. 1
t /FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTT p. 3
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t 0DUPCFSNPWJFSpirited Awayp. 3t/POBLBDFMFCSBUFTUINJMFTUPOFp. 3
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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

10
October 2015

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
OCTOBER 2015
10/4 Sun 10 am Eitaikyo/Perpetual memorial service
Shōtsuki memorial service (Rinban
Kawawata) & Sunday school
10/4 Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Car Care class
led by Jim Hirakawa
10/8 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
10/10 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10/11 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/11 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
10/11 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting class
led by Jeanne Kawawata at Otani Center
10/13 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
10/18 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/18 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
10/20 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
10/25 Sun 10 am Hō-on-kō service at Kaneohe temple(no service at Betsuin)
10/27 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
10/27 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Spirited Away
10/28 Wed 10 am Onicchu Shinran Shonin service

NOVEMBER 2015

11/1 Sun 10 am Hō-on-kō service at Palolo temple(no service at Betsuin)
11/8 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service(Rinban Kawawata)
Sunday school
11/8 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
11/10 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
11/12 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
11/14 Sat 1 pm Ho-on-ko gathering
followed by dinner and evening service
11/15 Sun 10 am Hō-on-kō service at Betsuin
11/16 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
11/21 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
11/22 Sun 10 am Sunday service
11/22 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
11/22 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting class
led by Jeanne Kawawata at Otani Center
11/24 Tue 3 pm Ukulele practice
11/24 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: TBA
11/28 Sat 10 am Onicchu Shinran Shonin service
11/29 Sun 10 am Sunday service

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
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Auditor: Ken Saiki
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
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 SaikiMy Issei paternal and maternal grandparents immigrated from Fukuoka
and Kumamoto, Japan, respectively, to work on the Hakalau and Honomu
plantations. Both of my Nisei parents were raised in these plantation villages andwere members of large families, with my dad being the eldest
of six children and my mom the second eldest of five.
Being the elder children, they were required to help
support their large, financially strapped families and went towork after completing 8th grade. My mom was shortchanged
in her education because she was intelligent enough to skipa grade and complete the minimum required educationin seven years. Had she continued her education, I’msure she would have had better employment opportunities.
Ed Nakano
Their younger siblings, however, were able to obtain higher
education and take advantage of more financially rewarding employment
opportunities because of the sacrifices my parents made for them.
-JGFMPOHWBMVFT*MFBSOFEGSPNNZ/JTFJQBSFOUTXIJMFHSPXJOHVQJO)JMP
My parents compensated for their financial hardships and lack of education
with a strong work ethic and resilience: both values I cherish and live by. They alsopreached to me to place a high value on education and to embrace a lifelong
learning attitude.
My father worked as a carpenter, painter, construction laborer and retired as aState of Hawaii highway maintenance person. He was a workaholic, often working
various jobs seven days a week. This was the work-to-live ethic, which many of us
baby boomers live by. My mom was, for most of her career, a housewife since herpoor health did not allow her to maintain steady employment.
Our family’s lifestyle was simple, and living frugally, we managed to survive.
My mom told me that we probably were eligible for, but she was too embarrassed
to seek, welfare assistance. To give you an idea of where our family’s socioeconomic status was, I will use Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs to illustrate. Picture a
triangle where the Food and Water stage is at the bottom of the triangle. The socioeconomic stages of the triangle progresses upwards to levels of Safety, Love, Self
Esteem and ends with Self Actualization at the top. Although we owned our home,relative to our neighbors, our family socio-economic status was slightly above theFood and Water stage.
We were fortunate to live in a Hilo upper middle-class neighborhood acrossthe Hilo Higashi Hongwanji temple, where our neighbors were very understanding
and supportive to our family. I knew that we were definitely the poorest in thisupper middle-class neighborhood since we initially had no car, telephone and TV
when everyone else did. In spite of these limited resources and challenges, I neverwas envious of my neighbors.
Given these humbling growing up experiences, I have strived all my life toensure that my own family will enjoy a better life through embracing the values of
hard work, resilience, lifelong learning and family support.
My strong work ethic began when I delivered the Honolulu Advertiser ona bicycle from 6th through 9th grade with my partner, waking up at 5 am,
365 days a year. While in high school, I worked part time as a janitor, delivery
person and typewriter repairman at the Moses Company, where Betsuinboard member Jonathan Tani and his mother also worked. I also worked as a
bag boy at Food Fair Super Market.
(cont’d on p. 2)