VOLUME IIDecember 2005

a place where ancient traditions thrive

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu
Preparing for the New YearThe holiday season is a time of family rituals and traditions. Families gather formeals, religious observances, gift sharing, and other special events that are eagerly anticipated all year round. These annual traditions take on deep meaning for family members
as they are repeated and built upon year after year.
Rituals and traditions strengthen families, and can give family members a senseof roots and history that lasts for generations. When you think about your favorite
memories as a child, many center around rituals of one sort or another.
Each new year, millions of people make resolutions, vowing to do things differently. That's not surprising since the New Year is an opportunity to begin anew; it's theperfect time to look at areas that need adjustment. But it's important to remember that we must participate in rituals of
closure before we can bring a new vision into being.
As we move into the year 2006, we can focus on bringing positive energies into our lives and on imbuing thecoming year with the qualities we most desire. We can also set the intention to appreciate the present moment, which, inturn, brings sacred meaning to our daily rituals.
To restore meaning to our New Year's traditions, we can look to our own roots, exploring the practices of ourancestors and borrowing from ancient cultures. We live in a time when people are feeling the lack of meaningful culturalcelebrations. Let 2006 be a living ritual to understanding and appreciating the culture and traditions of our forefathers.
Here are several Japanese traditions embraced by the Issei.
ClosureIn Japan, the year end ritual begins by cleaning or Susubarai. Throw away broken items and dead plants. Make
sure everything is clean. Symbolically, you are creating a fresh space for new things to come into your life. Donate tocharity items that you no longer need.
Take inventory
Make a list of all your debts then pay off as many bills as possible or at least send something to symbolize yourintention to be debt free. Year’s end is also a perfect time to conduct a mindful life review. Several weeks before New
Year’s Eve, try going into retreat mode and examine each part of your life: acknowledge your accomplishments, see
where you departed from your mission, evaluate what works, what doesn’t, think about what needs to be changed. Then
you will be truly prepared to plan for the upcoming year.
Make a special effort to bring symbols of health, happiness, and prosperity into your living space. Try someJapanese ornaments or objects that are uplifting and culturally significant.
Hatsumode
Take the time to receive positive blessings for the coming year and to create aconscious foundation for “good luck” in the New Year. Write down your goals on a Ema tablet, which symbolizes the start of a new cycle.
Observing cultural rituals honor and connect us with our ancestors and allows us toexperience, preserve and perpetuate the rich traditions for present and future generations.
Enter the new year, cleansed, renewed, and with a clear intent on traveling the path tofulfillment, and prosperity. Commit yourself to being the best you can be. Be a star in 2006
and shine!

MAHALO SUPPORTERS for your generous donations
Keiko AsaiSteve Brown
Steve & Reiko Caires
Velvet Agena-Chee
Cheryl Castillo
Robert & Satomi Chevrette
Celina Chow
Reid & Deane DeCastro
Yukiko Downs
Brian & Shelley Enoka
Toshiko Fujisaki
Nathan Gudoy
Bob HaradaCharles & Sei Hataishi

Leanne Hayashi
Timmy & Lisa Hirano
Jennifer HolmKyoko Isa
Karl & Yumiko Katsube
Kalman Kecskes
Sachiko Kele
Keith & Kazuko Kotani
Carol Kramer
Alvin & Lily Kumura
Joe & Yuki Lileikis
Dean & Stacey Matsuoka
Yoshiko Matsuoka
Mochihara Family

Albert & Laura Morinaka, Jr
Roy Morioka
Ron & Cynthia Nagamine
Nakasato Family
Masateru & Hatsuko Nakazato
Shinken & Marilyn Naitoh
Nihon Shukyo Iin-kai
Jared & Trisha Nomura
Deborah Okada
Marlene Okahara
Leslie & Dale Ota
Al & Chris Sasaki
Paul & Suzanne Sasaki
Robert & Miyono Shimoda

Lawrence & Claire Shiroma
Lois Spence
Bunzan Suzumasa
Sharon Tanigawa
Nobutaka & Megumi TairaThomas & Minh Tanita
Renee Teruya
Yoshiko Tokuda
Terri Watts
Victoria Yogi

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha－Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit church.
All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extend allowed by law.

December is called shiwasu, which literally means "teachers runaround." This word reflects the busiest month of the year in Japan
where the passage of the old year is marked by cleaning, from top tobottom, in every nook and cranny. Nothing escapes the fanatical cleaning in order to welcome the new year with a clean slate.
The extended family of Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha - Hawaii
Dazaifu Tenmangu gathered to perpetuate the traditions of New Yearsfor two consecutive weeks in December. A special Mahalo to Richard
Sakai and Kyoko Isa for washing the mochi mochi rice a day before inpreparation of the mochi pounding and Miyono Shimoda for preparing
lunch for the volunteers. The mochi will be used in the Ozoni served tovisitors on New Years day.

Mochi Pounding
andSusubarai Clean-up
MAHALO
Bob Harada
Emi Igarashi
Kai Igarashi
Pam Igarashi
Arthur Isa
Juston Isa
Kyoko Isa

Brandon Lee
Shinken Naitoh
Fumiko Nishimura
Richard Sakai
Miyono Shimoda
Robert Shimoda
Yasuko Yokoyamaおせち料理Osechi Ryori - New Years Delicasies

To the Japanese the first day of the New Year is the most important and auspicious day of the year. Since it
symbolizes the start of a new year , the day should be full of joy and void of any stress, conflict or anger. In times past
no work was to be done by anyone; this included cleaning, washing dishes and other household tasks. So in order for
wives and kitchen staff to enjoy the festivities, osechi ryori, or special New Year cuisine, was developed. Most items
are prepared in such a way that they can be stored without refrigeration for the up to five days.
While each household used to prepare its own osechi ryori with preparations starting as early as December 25,
nowadays many restaurants and department stores offer a wide variety of osechi ryori to make it a truly work-freeNew Year.

黒豆

家族みんなが今年も1年まめに（元気に）過ごせますように、まめに働けますようにという意味があります。関西風は丸くふっくらと煮ますが、関東風は「しわの寄るまで長生きできるように」としわができるように煮上げます。Kuromame (Black beans) is eaten for health and to work hard and diligently.

昆布巻

こんぶは｢よろこぶ｣と同音になることから、おめでたい食材とされています。Konbu or Kobu is said to be an auspicious
dish because it sounds like yorokobu or happiness.

煮物

大切りにした野菜などを鍋に入れていっしょに煮しめていく「お煮しめ」は、家族が仲良くいっしょに結ばれるという意味があります。Nishime is eaten for harmony within the household.
ごぼう…（根野菜なので）一家の土台がしっかりするように。
根に穴があるので、見通しがよいという意味もあります。
さといも…親いもになると根元に小いもがたくさんできることから、子だくさんを願うお祝い事に使われます。Eating Gobo is said

to create a firm foundation for the family.

なます

色の白い大根は清らかな生活を願っていただきます。また、大地に根をはるので、家の土台がしっかりして栄えるとも言われています。The daikon radish in Namasu signifies a pure and unblemished life.

数の子

ニシンの卵。ニシンのことを｢カド｣というので、カドの子がなまって数の子になったと言われています。数の子には、子がたくさん生まれて代々栄えますようにという願いがあります。Kazunoko or
herring roe signifies fertility.

きんとん「金団」と書き、財宝という意味があります。 今年も豊かな生活が送れますようにとの願いが込められています。Kinton (mashed sweet potato) signifies fortune and wealth

雑煮

地方では大晦日の夕食にお膳を神様にお供えしているところもあります。これは神饌（しんせん）と呼ばれ、１月１日の朝、その神饌を下ろし、神様からのお下がりを、ごった煮にして食べるのがお雑煮の由来です。 Offerings were given to the Toshi-gami or new years
gods to wish for a safe and prosperous year. The offerings were taken down on themorning of January 1 and used in the traditional New Years dish, Ozoni.

Kyudo - Japanese Archery 弓道
The bow has always had a deep historical and cultural significance for the Japanese.
Since earliest times the Japanese bow has served both the sacred and the functional. The bow
has been revered as a sacred instrument and was believed to have the power to destroy evil,
cleanse the spirit and to bestow magical powers. Hama-Yumi, the "evil-destroying bow" isused in numerous ceremonies in Shinto shrines, and is set up in a place of honor on the homeshrine where it protects private households from negative influences. Even throughout its long
history as a weapon of war, the bow was still seen as a symbolic and aesthetic object.
Kyudo, which literally means “the way of the bow” is considered by many to be thepurest of all the martial arts. In the past, the Japanese bow was used for hunting, war, court
ceremonies, games, and contests of skill. The old word for Japanese archery was kyujutsu
which encompassed the skills and techniques of the warrior archer. Some of the ancientschools, survive today, along with the ancient ceremonies and games, but the days where the Japanese bow was used asa weapon are long past.
When the bow became obsolete as a weapon, the spiritual aspect of archery was developed as a discipline forpeace and self-cultivation. This was achieved by uniting the vigor of the warrior tradition with the dignity of ceremonial
ritual. As a path for personal growth and development, the concept of Reisetsu - respect for the other, became the moral
discipline which united these two aspects and formed the foundation for the practice of Kyudo - the Way of the Bow.
Modern kyudo is practiced primarily as a method of physical, moral, and spiritual development. No one knows
exactly when the term kyudo came into being but it was not until the late 19th century when practice centered almost
exclusively around individual practice that the term gained general acceptance. The essence of modern kyudo is said tobe synonymous with the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
Truth in kyudo is manifested in shooting that is pure and right-minded, where the three elements of attitude,
movement, and technique unite in a state of perfect harmony. A true shot in kyudo is not just one that hits the center of
the target, but one where the arrow can be said to exist in the target before its release.
Goodness encompasses such qualities as courtesy, compassion, morality, and non-aggression. In kyudo, goodness is shown by displaying proper attitude and behavior in all situations. Beauty both enhances life and stimulates thespirit. In kyudo, truth and goodness, themselves, are considered beautiful. Beauty can also be found in the exquisite
grace and artistry of the Japanese bow and the elegance of the traditional archer's attire. It is also present in the refined
etiquette that surrounds the kyudo ceremony. Etiquette, which is simply common courtesy and respect for others, is an
essential element of kyudo practice. In Japan the bow has also long been considered to be the ultimate weapon of the warriors and its mastery was the highest achievement ofthe Samurai.
While kyudo is not a religion it has been influenced by Shinto andZen. Of the two, the influence of Shinto is much older. In Shinto, the bow isused to protect, purify, remove obstacles and attract good fortune. The
ceremonial aspects, the etiquette and the respect given to the bow, the arrows
and the dojo, are all reflections of Shinto thought. Ritualistic use of the bow
and arrows have been a part of Shinto for over two thousand years. Much of
the kyudo ceremony, the attire worn by the archers, and the ritual respect
shown for the equipment and shooting place are derived from Shinto.
The influence of Zen, on the other hand, is more recent, dating back to
the 12th century when the warrior archers adopted Zen as their preferred
method of moral training. Zen's influence on kyudo became even greater inthe 17th and 18th centuries when Japan experienced a period of civil peace.
During that time the practice of kyudo took on a definite philosophical leaning.
The key to understanding kyudo is to keep an open mind and realize that any
style of kyudo you see or practice is but a small part of a greater whole, andthat each style has its own history and philosophical underpinnings whichmake them all equally interesting and important.

Sensei Rick Beal, 4th dan studied
Kyudo for more than two years before heshot a single arrow. For months he swept
and mopped the hardwood floors of his
teacher's East L.A. gym. He set up themakiwara, drumlike targets consisting oftightly bound stalks of rice straw, andmade tea for his instructors. Later, Sensei
Beal learned to sit and walk and practiced
his sport's relatively simple movements-eight in all, from setting the feet to final
release--without a bow. During breaks hesneaked glances at the advanced students
as they fired their seven-foot weapons.
Patience is a necessity in kyudo, anancient martial art that values form above
all else, even accuracy. The best practitioners are deadly shots, but a bull's-eye is almost an afterthought; the target isimportant only as a way to check one's technique. In fact, when archers get really good, they sometimes get worse athitting the makiwara because they have moved beyond the egotistical desire for precision. Kyudo is rich in such contradictions: Every aspect of the sport was designed to maximize a warriors efficiency on the battlefield, yet it often isstudied as a means of spiritual improvement. Once performed at heart-stopping speed by samurai riding at full gallop,
it now is practiced at a slow, tai chi-like pace. The basics can be learned in a day, but one can spend decades trying toperfect the tiniest detail.
This complex blend of physical and mental disciplines has attracted a small, ardent following in Japan and asmaller if no less ardent one at the Los Angeles Kyudo Kai in Southern California. Most students are culturally curious Japanese Americans and judo or kendo black belts searching foranother martial art to master.
Historically, Japanese American communities favored sports such as baseball, sumo, andjudo. Kyudo, however, had its proponents, and the Los Angeles Kyudo Kai was formed in1916, when 40 gardeners, merchants, and farmers gathered to shoot bows they had brought fromJapan. They practiced at a community center on what is now San Pedro Street in Little Tokyoand in Griffith Park.
Rick Beal Sensei
After Pearl Harbor many Japanese artifacts, particularly martial arts weapon, became
contraband. People would break their swords and family heirlooms, bows were burned or hidden, and the downtown L.A. gym was closed. The group disbanded in 1942, when its members were sent to internment camps.
All Nippon Kyudo Federation, which has more than 150,000 members is a tiny part of Japan’s martial arts
scene; more than half of the junior high schools offer kendo classes, while 2 percent teach kyudo

Rick Beal Sensei will be performing a very special ritual - Yumi Hajime or the firstdraw of the new year on Sunday, January 1 at 10:00 am at the shrine.
元旦の午前10時より伝統的な神事「弓はじめ」がカリフォルニアの南加弓道会のリック・ビール先生（弓道四段）により神社の境内で執り行なわれます。
弓始めの歴史は大変古く、『日本書紀』の大化3年（647）1月の記事に朝廷で行われたことが記されています。平安時代の貴族の遊びから、鎌倉時代には武士の武芸を兼ねた行事になります。江戸時代には瀬戸内沿岸などで、大勢で弓を射る百手（ももて）といわれる庶民の祭りに受け継がれます。

New Years Schedule 神社スケジュール
12/31 Saturday

11:00 pm Toshi-koshi no O-oharae - Yearend Purification Ceremony 年越しの大祓

1/1

Midnight - 5:00 pm Hatsumode 2006 - First shrine visit of the new year
10:00 am Hatsu-yumi - First Bow draw of the New Year 初弓神事

Sunday•Complimentary Ozoni soup served on 1/1 from Midnight - 2:00 am 9:00 am - 2:00 pm•Parking on 1/1 between 9:00 am—3:00 pm will be at Damien School
Free Shuttle service between Damien School and the Shrine•Shishimai performances throughout 1/1

初詣

Welcome to Hawaii
Members of the Nihon Shukyu Iinkai or World
Religion Committee made their annual visit to theshrine on Monday, December 5.
This is the committee’s 24th consecutive visit
to Hawaii to participate in the Pearl Harbor Memorial
Ceremony on December 7.
Members include priests from Kawasaki
Daishi, the Catholic Diocese of Japan, Iwashimizu
Hachimangu, Rissho Kosei-kai, Tendai-shu andShingon-shu.
Mahalo to Vice-President Robert Shimoda,Fujin-kai President Miyono Shimoda and Kyoko Isa
for their kokua in extending our local hospitality tothe visitors.

SAGICHO
Burning of the old omamori and ofuda
January 22, 2006
2:00 pm

Sagicho, also known as Dondo-yaki,Ombe-yaki, Sankuro-yaki and Hochoji is anancient ceremony to express appreciation toand purify by burning, old ofuda, omamori
and Shogatsu decorations. Sagicho will beheld at the shrine on Sunday, January 22
from 2:00 pm.
Please bring all old ofuda and omamori to the shrine on or before your first
visit of the new year as our volunteers must
prepare the old omamori and ofuda for burning by removing plastic, metal and othernon-burnable items to prevent toxic fumes
from harming the environment.
All items deposited into the Kosatsu
box after Sagicho will be stored and burnedin 2007.