Volume 4 Issue 2

Kanreki Blessing

February 2014

In Asian cultures, the aging process is celebrated with the honor and recognition itdeserves. In the U.S., we worship youth and looking young and entering our 60s is
approached with dread and humor about being “over the hill” or having one’s “footin the grave.”Entering 60 gives us an uneasy feeling that they have moved into unknown territory.
For most of us, the first half of life was defined by our work; in the second half, wemay not have a clue as to who we really are.
Kanreki is a time to re-evaluate our lives, when we may begin to face our mortality,
get serious about what we want our lives to be about, make transformative changesand reaffirm a sense of gratitude for the goodness and richness of our years.

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu

WHERE ANCIENT TRADITIONS THRIVE

The 60s also heralds the need for us to cultivate new relationships to our bodies. For
many of us, our bodies no longer do what they used to. They don’t respond with thegrace and ease they once did.
Kanreki is a time to take stock of how life is working for you let go of what no longer
serves you to create your legacy.
The Kanreki Blessing can be wonderfully life-affirming. Instead of seeing the 60s as
a time of loss, see it is a time to listen the callings of your soul.
Embrace the blessings of life – it is a time of personal renewal and empowerment.
Now is the time to continue on your miraculous journey living life by your heart.
Celebrate Life !!
The annual Kanreki and Yakudoshi blessings were performed on Sunday, February
16.

View more shrine photos at www.flickr.com/photos/kotohira-dazaifu

MAHALO for your generous donations
Christa Adams
Thomas & Linda Agawa
Aloha Koi Appreciation Society
Daniel & Chie Arakami
Ken Barnes
Douglas & Ai Cheung
Yukari Ervin
Aiko Everet
Clark & Gayle Fujihara
Ayako Fukuda
Ben & Linda Goda
Bryson Goda
Lisa Hagiwara
Bob Harada
Yoshiko Hasegawa
Mariko Hatae
Chiaki Hayashi
Naomi Iho
Eiji Kato
Hiroyuki Kikuchi
Kiyomi Kise
Amy Kwong

Ikuyo Maki
Shinken & Marilyn Naitoh
Keiko Nakamitsu
James Nelson
Craig & Diane Nishida
Nana Nishimura
Jay Norris
Geraldine Ochikubo
Gladys Okamura
Maiko Oshima
Robert Piemme
Fumiko Sakakibara
Jay & Pauline Sakashita
Toshiko Ogura
Charles Shimata & Ohana
Alice Sugimoto & Ohana
Nga Lei Sui
Yuko Suzuki
Keith Tanigawa
Sharon Tanigawa
Tokushima-ken Jinjacho
Krysten Torigoe

House Blessing

Bruce Yonemoto
Glenn & Junko Yonemura
Jane & Janelle Yoshida
Damian & Sara Zukeran

Mahalo to Bob Harada forshampooing the rugs in theshrine, hall and meeting room.

Setsubun Bean Throwing
Setsubun is the day before thebeginning of Spring in Japan and literally means “seasonal division.”
Setsubun or Tsuina was celebrated
at the shrine on Sunday, February 16.
Roasted soy beans
were thrown to
expel negative energies and welcome
positive energies forthe year.

First graders from Hanahauoli School were invited by the owner of thehome to participate in the House Blessing performed on January 21.
Page 2

H A W A I I KO T O HI R A J I NS H A

AKAS Koi Exhibition
The popular International Aloha Koi Show sponsored by theAloha Koi Appreciation Society(AKAS) in conjunction with theJapan Nishiki Koi Expo was heldat the Waikiki Aquarium onSaturday, February 15.
Rev. Takizawa performed theopening blessing attended by
AKAS President James Kinney,Dr. Andrew Rossiter of theWaikiki Aquarium andNobuyuki Hiroi of theHiroi Koi Farm ofOjiya-city, Niigata.

For more info on AKAS, visit www.alohakoi.org

Dr. Jay Sakashita and his Religion classstudents from Leeward Community College visited
the shrine on Thursday, February 6 for Seishiki
Sanpai and lecture on Shinto.

Shrine Visitors
Eleven members of the Tokushima-ken Jinjacho led by
Ikuyo Maki of O-Asahiko Jinja visited the shrine onTuesday, February 4.
The Tokushima-ken Jinjacho is a religious administrative organization that oversees the 1,300 or so Shinto
shrines within Tokushima prefecture.

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2Page 3

Toshi Iwai - Special Years
In Shinto, there are many passages of later life rituals that
support and guide people through the spiritual dimensions of
those passages.
KOKI 古希 70 years oldColor: Navy blue, Purple
Koki originated from a famous Chinese poem by To Po which
expresses how rare it was for people to live until 70. It is a time
for a new focus in life - to see the value, quality and meaning ofour lives even in the face of illness or declining physical orcognitive capacity.
KIJU 喜寿 77 years oldColor: Purple
The kanji characters for Ki means happiness and is written using
the characters for seven, ten, seven or 77. Ju means longevity.
BEIJU 米寿 88 years oldColor: Yellow
Bei, the Kanji character for rice is written using the characters for eight, ten, eight and is often referred to as the "ricebirthday". Ju means longevity.
SOTSUJU 卒寿 90 years old Color: GoldThe character sotsu can be rearranged as 九十 or 90.
HYAKUJU 百寿 100 years old Color: White
Literally means “hundred celebrations.” In Japan, centenarians
receive a silver cup and a certificate from the Prime Minister ofJapan upon their 100th birthday.

Visit www.e-shrine.org
for updated
information on events