HAWAII KOTOHIRA JINSHAHAWAII DAZAIFU TENMANGU
April 2016
APRIL2016

Sake Appreciation Festival
The annual Sake Appreciation Festival washeld on Sunday, March 6 at the shrine.
Sake, a byproduct of rice has long been avital part of Japanese culture. Sake's strongest
connection with Japanese culture lays in its
traditional indispensability at social gatherings.
Sake has an important place at festivals,ceremonies and rituals. Whether imbibedduring Sansankudo at a Shinto wedding
ceremony or at a festival, sake has symbolized
the miracle of nature.
The shrine's Sake Appreciation Festival was

initiated to acknowledge the gift that alcoholic
beverages made from rice like sake and shochu
are to the world and our lives.
Mahalo to Dance Master Mitsujyuro
Hanayagi for performing the auspicious
Sanbaso, which celebrates the five grainstreasured throughout time by the Japanese.
Mahalo also goes out to The Sake Shop, themany donors of sake and the officers and friendsof the shrine for their kokua.
Our next Sake Appreciation Festival will beheld on Sunday, March 5, 2017.

MAHALOFORYOURGENEROUSDONATIONS
Tom & Linda Agawa
Dean & Natsuko FujimotoAya Furumaki
Bryson Goda
Hanayagi Dancing Academy HF
Bob Harada
Abby Ichino
Kyoko Isa
Rodney & Sharon Isa
Kyle Kawabata
James & Melba Kurashige
Milton & Kathy Kwock

Mike Lee
Shinken & Marilyn Naitoh
Craig & Diane NishidaDiane Ogasawara
Tatiana Omokawa
Akiko Sanai
Gary & Linda Shinsato
The Sake Shop
Lena Takasawa
Wayne Takenaka
Allan Takeshita
Masa & Irene Takizawa

HONOLULUFESTIVAL

The shrine participated in theHonolulu Festival with a booth at theHawaii Convention Center on March
12 & 13.
There were dynamic cultural
performances and over 100 booths allechoing this year 's theme - Cultural
Harmony, Journey to Peace.

MAHALO Volunteers
Bob Harada
Tom Jannuzzio
Marilyn Naitoh
Shinken Naitoh
Mitsunobu Ohashi
Linda Shinsato

Congrat ul at ions !!!
2012 Shrine Scholarship recipient, Tatiana"Tatia" Omokawa visited the shrine on 3/15
to report her acceptance to Hokkaido
University from April.
Tatia has been preparing for theopportunity to immerse herself in Japanese
language and culture for the past 3 years
since participating in an Honor 's program inHokkaido and Okinawa. Ganbatte!!

Shrine volunteer Hanayagi Mitsufujika (AlysssaFujihara) of Hanayagi Dancing Academy Hawaii
Foundation sealed the bonds with Shihan Dancemaster, Hanayagi Mitsujyuro and fellow Natoris
with a Sakazuki ceremony in accordance withancient tradition.
By exchanging sakazuki cups, the senior Natori
instructors pledge their loyalty and support to thenew Natori. This is significant, because thisceremony bonds people who are considered
complete strangers as members of an artistic
family.

View event photos at: www.flickr.com/ photos/ kotohira-dazaifu

Arashi & Pam Igarashi's Takenoko Sushicelebrates their 3rd Anniversary this month.
In its 3 years, Takenoko has positioned itself as
the most popular and iconic sushi restaurant on thebig island.

? ? Rev. Takakzu Maeda of Jinja Shinpo

visited the shrine on 3/ 19. Rev Maeda hasdone extensive research on shrines in Hawaii
which he compiled in his book entitled"Hawaii Jinjashi" or the history of shrines inHawaii. ? ? ?

The pothole patching blitz
continues in the shrine
parking lot.

MAINTENANCE
PROJECTS
Pothole patching blitz continues
in the parking lot 3/18 & 3/19.
MAHALO to Mike Lee, Bob
Harada, Shinken Naitoh & RevTakizawa
Door knob in the kitchen wasreplaced on 3/21 by Arthur Isa.
Trash area upgrades were doneon 3/19 & 3/21 by Mike Lee andRev Takizawa.