Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2015

Happy New Year2015 heralds the sign of theWood Sheep.
Unlike the rollercoaster ride of the2014 Horse Year, the Sheep, Ram or
Goat year will be a more relaxed andentertaining year of extravagant
spending.
Oblivious to the rules of society,
the Sheep is the most eccentric
sign of the Chinese Zodiac but
extremely compassionate, creativeand adaptable.
As such, problems that brewed in
the Snake or Horse years will beresolved under the tranquil anddiplomatic influences of the Sheep.
This year, there will be muchattention paid to ecological issues,environmental protection, andhealthy lifestyles.
2015 is ideal for expanding spiritually or nurturing creativity and we’lltend to focus on the aesthetic thingsin life this year - often neglecting
work, responsibility and routine resulting in dramatic changes inwealth.
This is not a year that will bringfinancial success. The Sheep year is
one of gaining wisdom, happiness,tolerance and performing virtuousactivities.
Those born in the year of theSheep, Ox, Rat, Dragon and Dog
should remain positive, patient,flexible and be prepared for theunexpected. There will be majorchanges - both good and bad affecting various aspects of theirlives.
It will be a year of obstacles,restlessness, anxiety, misunderstandings - especially in the areaof interpersonal relations.
If there is much negativity inyour life and things are not goingyour way - attract positive energies
this year by volunteering , donating
blood or picking up a Sainan Yokeomamori from the shrine.
Whatever you choose to do thisyear, do not give up or be discouraged because the Sheep is not able
to move backwards or sideways - it
can only move forward !!

MAHALO for your generous donations
Thomas & Linda Agawa
Yeiso & Violet Arakaki
Dorothy Ching
Doughty Ohana
Richard & Emily Ebina
Economy Plumbing &Sheet Metal Inc
Jon Faufata & Eri Shimada
Omar & Joyce Faufata
Scott Faufata & Family
Clark & Gayle Fujihara
Mamiko Fujimoto
Toshiko Fujisaki
Hanayagi Dancing Academy
Hawaii Foundation

Bob Harada
Jo Ann Hino
Patrick & Betty Hironaga
Elaine Hirosumi

Mitsuru & Pam Igarashi
In Memory of Eiko Seraglini
Arthur Isa
Arthur Isa, JrKyoko Isa
JAL Pak Hawaii
Japan Airlines
Lorraine & Elsie Kadota
Dean & Carlyn Kagawa
Michael & Sonia Kajiwara
Yoshiko Kawakami
Elaine Komatsu
Kenneth Kunichika
James & Melba Kurashige
Rev Takakazu Maeda
Clara Matsuzaki
Mat & Jen McNeff
Caroline Miyata
Florence Mizuta

Roy Morioka
Kathleen Nagato
Milena Naitoh
Shinken & Marilyn Naitoh
Terry Nakayama
Craig & Diane Nishida
Clyde & Gayle Nishimoto
Joanne Oba
Diane Ogasawara
Gladys Okamura
Earl & Toyoko Okawa
Doris Okawa
Iris Okawa
Lois Okawa
Dennis Oshiro
Peggy Oshiro
Pacific Hi-Tak
Kimi Perez
Kenneth & Kumiko Saiki

Anna Mae Sakaki
Jay & Pauline Sakashita
Akiko Sanai
Danielle Sato
Judy Sekiya
Alice Sugimoto
Sugimoto Ohana
Mikilani Taira
Lucy Tsu
Takenoko Sushi
Edwin & Constance Tanabe
Geraldine TanouePaul Tomita
Kristyn Torigoe
Peggy Tsukida
Judy Usuba
Wasabi International
Edna Yaguchi
Calvin Yamada
Masue Yamada
Barbara Yamashita
Ronald & Emiko Yonemoto

MAHALO Volunteers - Hatsumode & Preparations
Eric Chong
Ricky Crum
Keiko Doughty
Chad Enoki
Alyssa Fujihara
Gayle Fujihara
Jeff Fujioka

Kazuumi Fujioka
Bryson Goda
Bob Harada
Arashi Igarashi
Kai Igarashi
Pam Igarashi
Arthur Isa
Arthur Isa, JrTom Jannuzzio
Lorraine Kadota
Sherrie Kalua
Elaine Komatsu
Galen Komatsu

Kell Komatsubara
Kenneth Kunichika
Kathy Hamada Kwock
Milton Kwock
Mike Lee
Ruth Matsumoto
Marilyn Naitoh
Milena Naitoh
Shinken Naitoh
Hatsuko Nakazato
Craig NishidaDiane Nishida
Jill Nishida

Debbie Nishikida
Diane Ogasawara
Carole Omura
Stuart Pang
Kei Sakamoto
Jay Sakashita
Pauline Sakashita
Skye Sakashita
Stirling Sakashita
Justin Santiago
Rudy Santiago
Gary Shinsato
Danny SongTakumaru Suzuki
Yuko Takahashi
Allan Takeshita
Gail Tamashiro
Nelson Tamashiro
Naomi Teramoto
Sharon Toma
Val Tsutsumi
UH Nice Program
Yasuko Uyehara
Dane Yamada
Hiroshi Yamaji
Richard Yoshinaga

Shrine Visitors
January is a time of private blessings to herald the new yearwith hopes of invoking positive energies and new opportunities.
Rev. Takizawa performed the annual blessing for the Hawaii
branch of Japan Airlines. to bring safety and a favorable year forthe company and its employees.
A company or corporation is called kaisha in Japanese. In theWest, a company is usually a secular entity engaged in economicactivities.
However, in Japan many companies have a spiritual dimension
which is either Shinto or Buddhist. Small Shinto shrines areconstructed on the company compound or on the roof of theheadquarters and religious ceremonies are regularly conducted.

Sagicho - burning of the old omamori
The annual Sagicho was conducted on Sunday, January 18
from 1:00 pm.
Thousands of omamori, ofuda, kumade, hamaya, hamayumi
were burned after a ceremony to express gratitude for theirprotection throughout the year. Volunteers spent weeksremoving plastic and metals from the omamori to prevent
toxic fumes from harming the environment.
Items like kadomatsu, Saiwai-gami paper liners for mochi
should be discarded at home unless it was blessed at a shrineor temple. Place kadomatsu and/or saiwi-gami in a paper bag,sprinkle Hawaiian salt and discard with your household trash.

MAHALO VOLUNTEERS
Gayle Fujihara
Bryson Goda
Bob Harada
Arthur Isa, Jr
Tom Jannuzzio
Lorraine Kadota
Elaine Komatsu
Galen Komatsu
Kell Komatsubara

Mike LeeCraig NishidaDiane Nishida
Marilyn NaitohMilena Naitoh
Shinken Naitoh
Akiko Sanai
Sharon Toma
Val Tsutsumi

MAHALO to Kell Komatsubara for the donation of a steel drum
barrel and Mike Lee for converting the barrels to fire pits forburning old omamori. Stainless steel door s and elevated
Grills were added for safety and proper ventilation.

New Years Omiki

In Japan, sake has been shared byfamily and friends for centuries to celebrate the most important moments in life.
Sake’s association with Shinto is so
fundamental that it’s impossible to thinkof one without the other. Most Shinto
rituals are fueled by sake and when sake isoffered to the kami, it is called Omiki.
In ancient Japanese texts, sake isreferred to as kushi, a word which wasalso used to mean “medicine” and hadconnotations of “wondrous” or“miraculous.” Seemingly, the effect alcohol had on people was regarded as something quite amazing.
Sake still plays a major role spiritually
but also socially - in the enhancement of
the quality of life and as a mental andphysical analgesic that provides relaxation Mahalo to Mike Lee for constructing a collapsible stand for the komodaru barrel
and relief from fatigue and stress .
and to Jill Nishida for making a ti leaf lei to decorate the komodaru.

Shirokiya Ala Moana Center
MAHALOVOLUNTEERS
Bryson Goda
Bob Harada
Marilyn Naitoh
Milena Naitoh
Shinken Niatoh
Diane Nishida
Jill Nishida
Akiko Sanai

The shrine was invited again this year by
Shirokiya Ala Moana to share the spiritualand cultural tradition of the Japanese New
Year with their customers.
Various omamori and auspicious items
were available on the Mall Level of Shirokiya
on January 9 and 10.
Shirokiya was established by Hikotaro
Omura in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyoin August 1662.
It began as a kimono shop called
Shirokiya Gofukuten and eventually expanded into a department store.
Shirokiya overcame a series of natural,
man-made and financial disasters that completely devastated the company’s fortunes.

JCCH New Years Ohana Festival
The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii(JCCH) hosted ts 22nd annual New Years
Ohana Festival on Sunday, January 11.
Two stages, on the Cultural Center'slawn and the adjacent field provided entertainment by various performing arts
groups including the Hanayagi Dancning
Academy Hawaii Foundation.
Food trucks and Kanjin-kai booths provided traditionalfavorites like Okonomiyaki and bentos
Numerous arts and craft vendors andcultural demonstrations were held in theManoa Grand Ballroom .

UPCOMING
EVENTS

Kanreki Kit includes:
Kanreki Blessing Certificate,Omamori, Ofuda and T-shirt.

MAHALOVOLUNTEERS
Bryson Goda
Bob Harada
Shinken Naitoh
Diane Nishida
Jill Nishida

Kanreki literally means "return" and "calendar." The ancient Japanesecalendar was organized on 60-year cycles. The cycle returns to its starting
point in 60 years and as such, Kanreki celebrates that point in our lives when
we return to the Chinese zodiac sign under which we were born.
Kanreki is a time that prompts new beginnings. It is customary for the celebrant to be given a red hat and a red vest - clothes that were worn by babies
and thus symbolize the celebrant's return to their birth.
Rituals afford us a sense of belonging and gives us a way to connect tofamily, past and present. Rituals tie us to our ancestors and to our heritageand helps us to understand where we came from. As a bridge between pastand future, rituals strengthen our own identity.
Complimentary Kanreki blessings are offered once a year in February, to all
those who purchase a Kanreki Kit.
The next complimentary Kanreki Blessing will be held on Sunday, February
16, 2014 at 1:00 pm. Please arrive at the shrine with the Blessing Certificate in
the Kit, by 12:45 pm.