Rinban’s Message
for the New Year‘wa’harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

1January 2017

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii
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
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Koen Kikuchi
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Asst. Sec’y & Auditor: Ken Saiki
1685 Alaneo StreetHonolulu, 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 Saiki

H

appy New Year! First of all I would like to express
my sincere appreciation to all of you who
supported the Betsuin over the past year. Without
your support, we could not have such a meaningful year at our temple.
Last year we celebrated our Betsuin’s centennial and observed the750th Memorial Service for our denomination’s founder, Shinran Shonin.
It’s been a hundred years since Higashi Hongwanji Betsuin was establishedin Honolulu and generations have come and gone. Now the Betsuin isbeing sustained largely by our 3rd-generation members who are at thecenter of our temple programs and activities.
The Higashi Hongwanji temples in Hawaii were established by ourmembers’ deepest wishes, which is the same as the Buddha’s innermost
aspiration, HoOgan, the aspiration for awakening to the truth and having ameaningful life. The Buddha’s wish has always been working, allowing ourtemple to exist for over 100 years. We could feel and see the working of
the Dharma and the Buddha’s innermost aspiration in all of our temple
services, activities, and in our daily lives.
“Listening to the Dharma” means listening and revealing this wish,
HoOgan, in our lives. This is the tradition that we must continue and handdown to future generations. This year, we take our first steps towards
ensuring this tradition continues for the next 100 years and beyond.
In Hawaii, traditional temples and churches have been facing adecrease in membership and have a difficult time maintaining theirsangha and congregations. Our Betsuin is facing the same situation. To
help reverse the trend, our District is focusing on raising ministers and layleaders, and providing educational programs, such as the Dobo Retreatprogram, which consists of public lectures and gatherings.
Thus we are working to step forward into a new era to create a new
sangha for the future generations. For the next decade, we will be focusing
on new educational programs for raising home-grown ministers andtemple leaders.
At the same time we will also try to make our temple more open for ourcommunity. We will continue to provide opportunities to share the dharmaand other activities, such as cultural programs and community services,and seek ways to expand our outreach.
For the future activities of the temple, we really need your support
and your participation. Therefore, I would like to ask for your continuous
support of and cooperation with the Betsuin.
I also wish that you will listen to the dharma together with us and havea meaningful year in 2017.
Thank you very much.
In Gassho,Kenjun Kawawata

News on theBetsuin Wireless“Best 10” (#3); 2015 Tama Film, Hochi
Film, Japan Academy and Asia-PacificScreen Best Actress Award (KirinKiki); 2015 Tama Film and Yokohama
Film Festival Best Actor Award(Masatoshi Nagase).
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Jan. 24,
113 min. Color. Japanese audio,
English subtitles. Free admission.
Light refreshments, or bring to share!
あんGetting together to pound mochi is an annual tradition at the Betsuin. John Ishikawa andRev. Kita take turns pounding and turning the mochi. Photo courtesy Rev. Koen Kikuchi
service, when we welcome in the new
Members try mochi pounding
year with resolve. Come check ourthe good, old-fashioned wayozōni out and see how it compares
Early Saturday morning Dec. 24,
as the mochi rice steamed merrily in with the soup Mom used to make.
It’s the perfect complement to thetheir pots, the wooden usu and kine
were soaking in water in preparation toshikoshi soba we hope you enjoyedafter our bell-ringing and Jōya-efor the day’s mochi pounding.
service on New Year’s Eve.
Members and friends joined in
the fun of fulfilling their annualJan. movie Sweet Bean confronts
mochi needs this traditional way,heartbreak with compassion
supplemented by a pair of
The 2015 movie, Sweet Bean (alsoconvenient, back-saving electric
known as Sweet Red Bean Paste, Azuki
mochi-making contraptions.
and An) begins with the elderly
By the end of the morning, we had Tokue (Kirin Kiki) begging for aenough mochi for all to take home,part-time job at a struggling dorayaki
decorate the temple altar and use forstore run by debt-laden Sentaro
ozōni after the Shūshō-e service.
(Masatoshi Nagase). As a result of theNothing’s wasted, of course, asdelicious an, or bean paste, thatany leftovers and scraps are turned
Tokue boils down while talking to
into kakimochi, a popular snack item the azuki beans, the store becomes
during our Tuesday movie nights.
very popular and thrives.
Tokue learned how to make sweets
Get youS fix of Mom’s homemade
while living in a leprosy sanatorium.
ozōni after New Year’s service
Her bent fingers, however, arouse
What could be more traditional forsuspicion. Rumors about her illness
many Hawaii families on New Year’sspread, the store’s customers flee andDay than a steaming hot bowl ofozōni? Whether your family’s favorite Tokue has to quit. One day, Sentaroand Wakana (Kyara Uchida), a juniorrecipe features chicken, pork, fish,shrimp, clams or just veggies, a chewy high school student and regularcustomer, decide to visit Tokue...
mochi treat will be waiting for you at
The movie earned numerous
the bottom of the bowl.
domestic and international awards,Homemade ozōni is also a Betsuin
tradition following our Jan. 1 Shūshō-e including the 2015 Kinema Junpo

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刑務所から出所したのち、どら焼き屋「どら春」の雇われ店長となった千太郎（ 永瀬正敏 ）の店に、徳江（樹木希林）という女性がやって来る。その店で働くことを強く希望した徳江を千太郎は採用。徳江が作る粒あんが評判となり、店は大繁盛。そんな中徳江は、つぶれたどら焼きをもらいに来ていた女子中学生のワカナ(樹木の孫、内田伽羅 )と親しくなる。ところがある日、かつて徳江がハンセン病を患っていたことが近所に知れ渡り…。
賞歴： 第89回キネマ旬報ベスト・テン 第3位 、第7回TAMA映画賞、 第40回
報知映画賞、 第39回日本アカデミー賞、第9回アジア太平洋スクリーンアワー
ド： 女優賞（樹木希林）、 第7回TAMA映画賞、 第37回ヨコハマ映画祭： 男優賞（永瀬正敏）、その他 。
監督：河瀬直美、 公開 : 2015年、カラー 、言語 : 日本語、 字幕 : 英語 、
映時間 : 113分、1月24日(火)午後6:30
時 、入場無料。

HIGASHI HONGANJI HAWAII DISTRICT2017 DOBO RETREAT PROGRAM

District Dharma Gathering
We wish to invite you to attend the 2017 District Dharma Gathering of Higashi Honganji
Hawaii District. We will invite Dr. Nobuo Haneda, the head of the Maida Center, Berkeley as ourguest speaker. The theme of the Gathering is “Awakening to Your Deepest Wish” Please send
the application form below to the Hawaii District office or to ministers of your local temple.
Date:
Time:
Speaker:
Location:
Theme:
Fee:

Saturday, February 4, 2017
10:00 am — 4:00 pm
Dr. Nobuo Haneda (Maida Center of Buddism)
Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin
1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone: (808) 531-1231, Fax: (808) 531-1231“Awakening to Your Deepest Wish”$10.00 (payable to Higashi Honganji Hawaii District)

Dr. Nobuo Haneda Biography
1946 Born in Nagano, Japan.
1968 Read Shuichi Maida’s work and became interested in Buddhism.
1969 Graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
1971 Studied under Revs. Gyomei Kubose and Gyoko Saito.
1979 Received Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin.
1979 Lecturer, Otani University, Kyoto, Japan.
1981 Lecturer, Buddhist Educational Center, Chicago, IL.
1984 Head Professor, Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley, CA.
1987 Researcher, Numata Center, Berkeley, CA.
1997 Director, Maida Center of Buddhism, Berkeley, CA.

If you have any questions, please contact your local temple or the district office at:
Higashi Honganji Hawaii District Office1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817Phone: (808) 531-1231, Fax: (808) 531-1231, Email: adminaloha@higashihonganji.org
Detach HereI would like to participate in the 2017 District Dharma Gathering.
NameTemple

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GO GREENin 2017!
Most of us have implemented
several ways of “going green” athome to help reduce the impact on
our envirionment. In many cases
we save money at the same time.
At the Betsuin we, too, have joined
the cause, practicing recycling andswitching to energy-saving lighting
where possible.
Getting your monthly WA
bulletin by email instead of onpaper may be another way toconserve resources.
To switch to an electronic
version of our WA newsletter,
send an email, with subject line
“Email WA,” including your nameand addresses, to the Betsuin at
betsuin@hhbt-hi.com.
Then starting next month, yourWA will arrive in your email inbox
instead of your regular mailbox.
BONUS...it’ll be in color, too!

Special Anniversary
Memorial Services for 2017

A

ccording to Buddhist tradition, special anniversary memorial services,or nenki hoyo, are observed during certain auspicious years following
an individual’s death. In 2017, the following anniversary memorial services
are traditionally held for those who passed away in these years:
2016
2015
2011
2005
2001
1993
1985
1968

1st anniversary
3rd year memorial
7th year memorial
13th year memorial
17th year memorial
25th year memorial
33rd year memorial
50th year memorial

一周忌

isshuuki

三回忌

sankaiki

七回忌

nanakaiki

十三回忌

jyuusankaiki

十七回忌

jyuunanakaiki

二十五回忌

nijyuugokaiki

三十三回忌

sanjyuusankaiki

五十回忌

gojyuukaiki

Anniversary services may be held at the temple or some other more
appropriate location of your choosing, such as at your home. Holding theservice at home is especially convenient for people who may have health ortransportation issues. In fact, home services are very common in Japan. Ourministers will be happy to accommodate your preference.
Please call the Betsuin office at 531-9088 if you’d like more information
about scheduling anniversary memorial services.

Shotsuki Observance for JanuaryO4

ur monthly shōtsuki service in remembrance oftemple family members who passed away in themonth of January of a previous year will be held thismonth on Sunday, January 8.

The following list includes temple members whose
deaths occurred this month during the past 25 years.
Please call the office at 531-9088 if you have any
questions about the listing.

Edward K. Anami
Kazuko Arakawa
Janet Emiko Cho
Shirley Shizue Curek
Nobuyuki Fukunaga
Harold Katsumi Hamamoto
Darrell Kazumi Higa
Masaichi Higa
Rose Chieko Hirata
Arthur T. Hiroshima
Shigeko Hosaka
Betty Midori Hoshino
Sadami Ikeda
Dorothea Fujiko Inoshita
Sadame Ishida
Yoshie Ishimatsu
Harry Yukiya Iwanaga
Yuhiro Iwasaki

James Shigeru Murotake
Masao Nakahara
Gary Tadashi Nakasato
Shizuko Nakasone
Shigeto Nishimura
Colleen Chizuko Nishiyama
Neil Hichiyoshi Nishizawa
Leatrice Sakayo Nomura
Toyome Ogata
Ichiji Okamoto
Elsie Tokie Takafumi Okawa
Hiromu Okihiro
Shizuka Onishi
Isamu Oshiro
Masao Oshiro
Shizue Otsuka
Sadao Shinkawa
Kiyoshi Shinsato

Takumi Kajioka
Dwight Kalani Kamae
Harriet Ichiko Kawakami
Mabel Shinano Kihara
Tetsuo Koga
Kimiko Kubo
Takeo Maekawa
Tamiko Koshobu Mashima
Naka Mesaku
Yuiko Michioku
Jitsuo Mimuro
Grace Tamie Mitsuka
Masayuki Miyasato
Seiyei Miyasato
Jane Nobuko Miyashiro
Sharie Keiko Miyazaki
Noboru Miyazaki
Masayuki Mori

Akino Shirabe
Itoko Sueyoshi
Alice Hatsumi Sur
Hideko Takaki
Nobuyo Tanaka
Jean Tanaka
Tome Tokunaga
Tadakazu Tsuda
Richard Masato Uchida
Violet Shigeko Uyesato
Richard Yoshio Wataru
Jean Toshiko Yamamoto
Kikumi Yamato
Susumu Yamauchi
William Hideo Yamura
Elsie Kaoru Yoshimura
Lester Saburo Yoshino

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

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
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Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...
t3JOCBOT/FX:FBSNFTTBHFp. 1t/FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTTp. 2t.PDIJQPVOEJOHUSBEJUJPOp. 2t0[POJBU/FX:FBST%BZTFSWJDFp. 2t+BOVBSZNPWJFSweet Bean (An) p. 2t%JTUSJDU%IBSNB(BUIFSJOHp. 3t(P(SFFOJOp. 4t Anniversary memorial services p. 4t January shotsuki service p. 4t Acknowledgments p. 5tTemple activities calendar p. 6Temple Activities Calendar
1/1
1/8
1/8
1/10
1/12
1/15
1/151/17
1/22
1/22
1/24
1/24
1/28
1/29

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JANUARY

Sun 10 am New Year’s Day service - Shūshō-eOzōni after service
Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Fukuhara conference room
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara conference roomSun 10 am New Year’s family service
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Fukuhara conference roomTue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
led by Jeanne Kawawata
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Sweet Bean (2015)
Fukuhara conference roomSat 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school

2/4
2/5
2/5
2/9
2/12
2/12
2/14
2/19
2/19
2/21
2/26
2/26
2/28
2/28
2/28

FEBRUARY

Sat 10 am Joint Dharma Gathering
Betsuin Otani Center
Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service/
Sunday school
Sun 12 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Fukuhara conference roomThu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara conference roomSun 10 am New Year’s family service
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
led by Jeanne Kawawata
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceSun 10 am Nirvana Day service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingTue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
Sun 11 am General membership meeting &New Year’s party at Otani Center
Tue 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Our Little Sister (2015)

Everyone is welcome to join the morning chanting held at 7 am daily (except on Sundays & the 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin main hall.

5