Expressing Gratitude
at ObonPost Event‘wa’harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

8August 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 SaikiThanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers, our Betsuin’s 2017bon dance turned out to be another successful weekend of mirth,
merriment and remembering our ancestors.
To everyone, otsukaresama deshita! Thank you for your hard work anddedication. Repeated over and over again, these words become routine andwe wish there was another way to express our gratitude. For now, pleaseknow that the temple wholeheartedly appreciates everyone’s efforts, notonly for this bon season, but for your support throughout the years.
The first obvious sign that a bon dance is being held at a temple during
the upcoming weekend is the magical appearance of the red-and-white
striped yagura, the tower where the musicians perform, in the middle ofthe parking lot. Once that’s in place, volunteers can start preparing thelines for both electrical power and stringing lanterns to create a festive
structure to dance around.
Through the week, volunteers help by bringing out equipment sitting
patiently on the shelves, waiting to be called upon for the next bon dance.
Volunteers donate their time to cheerfully polish altar accessories, set
up chairs in the dining room and benches around the yagura, drop off
donated supplies for the food concessions, plan the menu, string barbecue
sticks, chop vegetables, finesse their recipes and finally, a few hours before
show time, fire up the burners and fill the air with the aroma of all thosenostalgic bon dance food items.
Volunteers and temple friends are there to provide you with bon dance
towels and fans with your donation, take and fulfill your food orders which
also help us raise needed funds, clean and pick up trash and take care ofany emergency that may present itself.
Meanwhile, the bon dance clubs throughout the state are going fullspeed ahead during the obon season as they do every year, practicing andteaching steps to eager learners, creating playlists and performing at thevarious temples throughout the islands. We see the fruits of their labor on
the faces of every participant.
It really takes a village to get though this important time of year, andwe can be proud of our heritage. We are thankful to our local community,
whether Buddhists or not, who come full-force to celebrate obon with usand help perpetuate this great island tradition.
Doomo arigato gozaimashita!

MahaloGozaimasu

We gratefully acknowledge the following for theirgenerous contributions and assistance. If we’ve missed
any names, please accept our apologies and let us know
by calling the Betsuin at 531-9088 so we can makecorrections to our records. For donations of $250 or more,
receipts/acknowledgment will be issued in compliancewith current IRS regulations. Thank you.

Betsuin bon dance acknowledgments

HIGASHI HONGWANJI HAWAII BETSUIN
Peggy Arita
Carl Okuda
Kelli Ebata
Craig Kagawa
Karen Hayashida
Margaret Hamachi
Rev. Koen Kikuchi
Mai Kikuchi
Stephen Downes
Keizaburo Tsuji
Kelly Nakano
Michael Leong
Chelsie Hakkei
Susan Tanigawa
Ray Uyema
Fay Uyema
Shimazu Shave Ice
Lanakila School
Honolulu Fukushima Bon Dance Club
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
THE AIKIDO OHANA
Jim S.
Alan Nagahisa
Rory Enomoto
Lawrence Doi
Bill Doi
Ron Tagami
Roger
HiroshiNobukoJonelleMattCassandra
ClariseFaustine
DarynDavidThe Changs
ElsaCharlie Watanabe
Courtney
Dayna
Zachary
Kevin
Rick
Aaron Park
Donn NagamineDavid Nakashima
Steve
FARRINGTON CLASS OF ‘64
Susan Kanemoto
Gayle Rich
Carole Iha
Karen Hatakeyama
Kevin Tanaka
Veda Tokashiki
Pat Davison
Patsy Chung
REIGI KAI (TAI CHI)
Carey Tanaka
Sumie Suenishi
Marj Au
Jonathan Tani
LANAKILA KITCHEN
Cara Fujishige
Celeste Kajimoto
Sheldon Uchiyama Phyllis Ishiki
KANEOHE HIGASHI HONGWANJI
Susan Ng
Jim Dote
Rev. Nishihori
CharlAnn Nakamoto
HARADA NAOATSUSA KAIAtsuko Nonaka
Chisato Yato

Jimmy Hirakawa
Dennis Saiki
Debra Saiki
Nancy LightJohn Ellis
Keith Ikeda
Jeanne Kawawata
Kevin Kawawata
Rev. Ken Kawawata
Ren Kikuchi
Rev. Hidesato Kita
Marian Tsuji
Jojo
Ed Nakano
Diane Nakano
Colleen Sakuma
Jeri Nagata
Jason Nagata
Vivian Takagaki
Kenneth Saiki
Wendy Ann Kuwahara
Karen Kamihara
Linda HigaDavid Leung
Lanakila KitchenIwakuni Odori Aiko Kai Honolulu Police Dept.
Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii

Photo courtesy of James

Selma Kelley
Roy Hatakeyama
Craig Tokashiki
Lynn Shigemoto

Joe Nunogawa
Sheila Okamura
Stella Shinkoethe

Alice Nunogawa
Risa Tanaka
Shelly Kanemoto

Linda Honda

Annie Malama

John Morris

Dee Dee Barnett
Sally Ilustrado

Ryan Nishikawa
Jojo Abinales

Agnes Tesaro

Eleanor Tokunaga
Gladys Sakata

Wende Tachikawa
Jane Sasabuchi

Mary Matsuda
Liane Briggs

Yoshiko Bailey

Kumiko Sakai

Hatsuko Nakazato

Look for our regular monthly donor listing and additional bon dance volunteers in the September issue of Wa

2Dote!
nBo
Clockwise, from top left: Margaret
prepares the batter for her popular
Toll House cookies in advance while
Jane and Kumiko help organize
and chop ingredients; early arrivals
stake out prime seating areas
hours before the actual dancing
begins; Rinban Kawawata remounts
a Manto-e lantern plate whichfamilies requested in memory of a
loved one; Emi and Steve start a pot
which will eventually become partof a curry plate lunch; hundredsof people from the community ofvarious backgrounds came to dance,watch, eat and otherwise enjoy thefestivities; following a candlelightprocession, Rev. Kikuchi, Rinban
Kawawata and Rev. Kita chant theTanbutsuge sutra at the Manto-e
service before the bon dance;
Mai, Ren, Kokoro and Hana of thephotogenic Kikuchi family attract
the bon dance “paparazzi.”

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News on theBetsuin Wireless
Key of Life, 2012 Japan Academy Award winner,
is “intelligent, amusing and casually touching”

Members gathered after Sunday service to categorize ideas
brought up in brainstorming to help the Betsuin focus on waysthe temple might be able to better position itself for the future.

Betsuin implementing new planning process		With more member input, the Betsuin is adopting astructured strategic planning process that may help thetemple better prepare itself for future changes.
The tested process, known as Hoshin Kanri, or “policymanagement,” is a method for organizing efforts to focus
on critical issues impacting an organization’s success.
Facilitating the effort for the Betsuin is Fay Uyema, who
has helped implement the process at her workplace and atother non-profit organizations. Fay’s husband, Ray, is one of
the newest members of the temple’s board of directors.
The board invited temple members to participate inbrainstorming and learn more about the process after theJuly 30 Sunday service. Several members decided to joinin the preliminary session. Another session will be
conducted on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 12 noon, and again,
members are invited to partcipate.

WERE YOU BORN IN THE YEAR 1937?
Betsuin members who have celebrated or will becelebrating their 80th birthday this year have a special
surprise awaiting them, courtesy of the United JapaneseSociety of Hawaii (UJSH).
Since our temple is part of UJSH, Betsuin members
who turn 80 in 2017 will be treated to a day of musicalentertainment, lunch and special gifts at a Senior
Citizens Festival at the Japanese Cultural Center ofHawaii Manoa Grand Ballroom on Sat., Sept. 23,
starting at 10 am. Keiro no Hi (Respect for the Aged Day)is a holiday in Japan, celebrated this year on Mon., Sept. 18.
If you are 80 and would like to attend the festival atno charge, you must first call the temple at 531-9088
and provide name, birthdate and contact information.
We will forward the names of eligible members to UJSH,
who will then send an invitation. Others who may wantto accompany you may do so at $40 per person.
Hurry, deadline to register is Monday, Aug. 14!

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A case of stolen identity and one determined bride-to-beintersect in this 2012 comedic escapade from Japanesefilmmaker, Kenji Uchida.
Struggling actor Sakurai is out of work, out of luckand can’t even succeed at taking his own life. When amysterious man slips and falls at the bathhouse, Sakurai
switches locker keys and identities with the man, who turns
out to be a hit man named Kondo. His memory lost in thefall, Kondo begins piecing his life as Sakurai back together
with the help of Kanae, a young woman he meets in thehospital, who is determined to find a husband.
Meanwhile, Sakurai, posing as Kondo, incurs the wrath ofornery gangsters. As the truth about Kondo and Sakurai
comes to light, they must
scramble to resolve thechaos of this topsy-turvy
chain of events.
2012 Japan AcademyAwards: Best Screenplay(Uchida), Best Actor(Masato Sakai), BestSupporting Actor (TeruyukiKagawa) & Actress (RyokoHirosue) nominations.
2015 Blue Ribbon DirectorAward (Uchida) &Supporting Actress Award(Hirosue), among others.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Aug. 22, 128 min. Color.
Japanese audio, English subtitles. Free admission. Light
refreshments, or bring to share!
鍵泥棒のメソッド (かぎどろぼうのメソッド)

ひょんなことから人生が入れ替わってしまった対照的な２人の男と婚活中の女性が巻き起こす奇想天外な物語の行方を、内田けんじ監督ならではの予測不能の展開と巧みな構成で軽妙かつスリリングに描き出していく。
自殺願望のある売れない役者・桜井武史。ある日、銭湯で羽振りのいい男が転んだはずみに頭を強打して記憶を失う現場に居合わせる。とっさにロッカーの鍵をすり替え、彼になりすます桜井。ところが、その男が誰も顔を見たことがない伝説の殺し屋コンドウだったことから窮地に陥ってしまう。
一方、自分を貧乏役者の桜井だと思い込んでしまったコンド
ウは、真面目に演技の勉強に取り組み始める。すると、そんなコンドウの姿に女性編集者の水嶋香苗が好意を持ってしまう。
やがて、婚活に必死な彼女からプロポーズされてしまうコンドウだったが…
賞歴： 第36回日本アカデミー賞最優秀脚本賞：内田けんじ、優秀主演男優賞：堺雅人 、優秀助演男優賞：香川照之 、 優
秀助演女優賞：広末涼子 。 第55回ブルーリボン賞 監督賞：内田けんじ 、助演女優賞：広末涼子 、その他 。
公開 : 2012年、カラー 、言語 : 日本語、 字幕 : 英語 、映時間 : 128分、8月22日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

Now it’s easier		than ever before			for every hometo have a Honzon

In the past, every Shin Buddhist home had a family altar
with a Honzon within, either as a statue of Amida orscroll with Amida’s image or the words “Namu AmidaButsu” written on it. Today many homes—especiallycondominium units and rental apartments—just don’t
have enough space for a Buddhist altar.
That’s why a new type of Honzon, introduced
at our main headquarters temple in Kyoto a few
months ago, has gained in popularity in Japanand is such a right fit for the times today. It iscompact, measuring only 8-1/4” tall by 4-1/2”
wide and just 2” deep.
The lacquered wood Honzon fits in any
home decor. The base is removable to display
the Honzon on a wall or elsewhere with theD-ring hanger and matching black hanging cord
included in the case.
The portable-sized Honzon are also ideal foryoung people moving away from home.
In our daily lives, we all encounter
sufferings and troubles at some time oranother. When we do not get our own way,
we ask ourselves why we have suchsufferings and troubles.
Buddha hopes that we accept such things asprecious opportunities, and we do not want to losethat preciousness. This is a wish for us to live without
losing the truth.
A Honzon at home is an important reminder to us.
You see Amida with a raised right hand and a lowered left
hand to liberate us from our sufferings and show us
infinite wisdom and compassion.
Additionally, the rays of light in the backgroundindicate how Amida Buddha illuminates all of us. “Amida” isoriginally from two Indian words “Amitayus” and“Amitabha.” They mean infinite life and infinite
light, or in other words, knowledge. Also, Buddha(Nyorai) means a truthful and enlightening
essence for us. Amida Buddha saves us at anytime, in any place and no matter who we are.
Having a Honzon at home with its image of
the Amida Buddha is a constant reminder of what
is precious in our lives, and now you can have onethat is not much larger than the size of your palm.
In Japan, they are available at our Higashi
Hongwanji denomination offices and temples for¥10,000. The price in Hawaii is $100 each.
If you’d like to purchase one or just want tosee what it looks like up close, please contact Rev.
Hidesato Kita at the Hawaii District office byphone at (808) 531-1231 or by email at
hawaiikantokubu@gmail.com. Or ask any
Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii District minister.

Shotsuki Observance for AugustOur monthly shōtsuki service in remembrance oftemple family members who passed away in themonth of August of a previous year will be held thismonth on Sunday, August 6.

The following list includes temple members whosedeaths occurred this month during the past 50 years.
Please call the office at 531-9088 if you have any
questions about the listing.

Nathan Choy Akee
Hatsuo Ishii
Reiko Arakaki
Shigeru Ishimura
Harumi Fuchikami
Toyomi Iwasaki
Irene Masako FujikiFrank Minoru Kaito
Raymond Minoru Hamamoto Jack Shigeru Kaneshiro
Lorraine Yukie Hanai
Harry Toshio Katsumoto
Hisae Hebaru
Leatrice Namie Kimura
Ruth Tatsuyo Hiraki
Sayo Kinoshita
Masano Hirashima
Koto Kodama
Janice Motoko Hirata
James Kiyoshi Kodama
Hiroko Hiroi
Yoshimi Kubota
Patricia K Hiroshima
Mabel Tora Kurisaki
Yoneko Ihara
Helen Tamae Marques
Tatsue Ikeda
Jean Katsuko Matsuwaki
Mitsuye Ikuta
Thomas Mimuro
Lawrence Masaru Imai
Yukie Minatoya
Jack Tatumi Ishida
Kameo MiyahiraRichard Hiroki Ishida Jr.
Mae Mitsue Kikuchi Miyasato
Mitsuko Ishii
Haru Moribe
Gilbert Masami Ishii
Haruo Nagashima
Kenzo Ishii
Kiyoshi Nakagawa

Toshikatsu Nakahara
Kenji Nakahara
Ryoki Nakama
Paul Naoto Nishida
Shigeru Ogawa
Susan Yoshie Oi Moody
Herbert Shunji Okamoto
Thomas Yoshio Okuda
George Minoru Sagawa
Shigeru Saida
Robert Masahiro Sakamoto
Ruth Natsuko Sasabuchi
Helen Yoshie Shimamura
Hellen Fumiko Shimazu
Alfred Sadamu Shimoda
Jane Masuyo Shimogawa
Masao Shimomura
Shizuko Sumiye
John Choong Sur
Harry Tatsuo Tagomori
Tomonosuke Takahashi

Matsue Takayama
Hilda Hideko Takehiro
Moriso Takenaka
Tomie Tanijo
Hatsuko Tsunoda
Tomochika Uyeda
Florence Chiyoko Uyeno
Adeline Sugai Ventura
Chiyoko Watanabe
John Masami Yamada
Bernard Katsuyoshi Yamamoto
Janet Setsuko Yamauchi
Wayne Atsushi Yamauchi
Chiyoyasu Yano
Roy Masami Yasuda
Ethel Matsue Yasuda
Fumie Yoshida
Eiko Yoshida
Hitoshi Yoshimura
Kimiyo Yoshino
Stanley Kiyoshi Yoshioka58/Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo StreetHonolulu, Hawaii 96817

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In this issue of WA...
• Expressing gratitude at obon II p. 1
• Bon dance Mahalo Gozaimasu p. 2
• Bon! p. 2
• News on the Betsuin Wireless p. 3
• Planning for the future p. 3
• Senior Citizens Festival p. 3
• August movie: Key of Life p. 3
• Compact Honzon available p. 5
• August shōtsuki service p. 5
• Temple activities calendar p. 6

Temple Activities Calendar
AUGUST
8/5 Sat 10 am Oahu MAP class
8/6 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki service/Sunday school
8/7 Mon 10 am Betsuin study class
8/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
8/10 Thu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class			 led by Rinban Kawawata in English			
Fukuhara conference room
8/13 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
8/13 Sun 12 pm The Larger Sutra study class			 led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese			
Fukuhara conference room
8/13 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
8/15 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
8/19 Sat 10 am District meeting at Betsuin
8/20 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
8/20 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting			Fukuhara conference room
8/21 Mon 10 am Betsuin study class
8/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
8/22 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Key of Life - 鍵泥棒のメソッド
8/27 Sun 10 am BBQ chicken & musubi sale			 (no Sunday service - volunteers needed)
8/28 Mon 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service

64SEPTEMBER
9/3 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki service/Sunday school
9/3 Sun 12 pm Omigaki polishing of altar accessories			
Volunteers needed
9/4 Mon 10 am Betsuin study class
9/9 Sat 1 pm District Hoonko gathering			 Guest speaker: Rev. Tatsuo Muneto
9/10 Sun 10 am Hōonko service/Sunday school
9/12 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
9/14 Thu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class			 led by Rinban Kawawata in English			
Fukuhara conference room
9/16 Sat 10 am Oahu MAP class
9/17 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
9/17 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
9/18 Mon 10 am Betsuin study class
9/19 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
9/24 Sun 10 am Ehime Maru Memorial cleaning			 at Kakaako Waterfront Park			 Sunday service & picnic lunch to follow			(no service at Betsuin)
9/26 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
9/26 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Hāfu - ハーフ (2016)9/28 Thu 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service

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.

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