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

New Year’s Greetings#JTIPQ,PJ4BUPP

Address Service Requested

Chief Administrator
Shinshū Ōtani-ha (Higashi Honganji)

In this issue of WA...

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

1

January 2014

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
JANUARY 2014

1/5

Wed 10 am New Year service (Shusho-e)Ozoni served after service
Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class

1/9

Thu 7 pm

1/1
1/5

1/12
1/14
1/18
1/19
1/19
1/21
1/26
1/28
1/28
1/28
1/28

ਠ৻ୁदบઇ॑ୂऒअFEBRUARY 2014
2/2
2/2
2/8
2/9
2/11
2/13

Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sat 10 am Joint Retreat at Betsuin
Sun 10 am Joint Retreat at HiloSun 10 am Nirvana Day service & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingTue 7 pm O-ko: dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Sun 11 am General membership meeting &New Year’s party at Otani Center
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: TBA
Fri 10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
Fri 11 am Recitation circle

led by Rinban Kawawata in JapaneseABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sun 10 am Sunday service
2/15
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice2/16
Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
2/16
led by Rev. Frank Childs
2/16
Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
2/18
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
2/23
Tue 7 pm O-ko: dharma discussion at Kaneohe
2/23
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Tue 10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
2/25
Tue 11 am Recitation circle
2/25
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice2/28
Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Ikiru
2/28
Fukuhara Conference Room
Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we
remain true 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

President: Faye Shigemura
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Makoto Honda
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: hhhb@me.com
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

I

wish to take this opportunity to wish all of you in the South America,
Hawaii and North America overseas districts a Happy New Year.
I would also like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the
support and understanding you continue to give to our Sangha.
Upon reflection, it seems that the entire world is enmeshed in
unstable political conditions, in situations where ethnic groups stand in
opposition to each other, the world falling
deeper into a state of stupor with norelease in sight.
In our Sangha as well, the current stateof affairs has created challenges that wemust face. We see an increase in those
who no longer consider religion to benecessary in one’s life. We see large
numbers of people cutting their ties with
their family temples.
At the Diet sessions last year, I
proposed that we reconsider the deep
wish of Dharmākara Bodhisattva andestablish the idea of “transmitting” as our focus for today. “To hand over
the teaching of Nenbutsu of the Primal Vow,” “to share that whichshould be transmitted faithfully”…this, I believe, should be the basis
upon how we proceed.
We must engage in today’s world which can only be describedusing the words of the sutra, “the world of defilement,” by reevaluating
how we have been making the effort to “transmit” the teachings, andthen open up new and more effective ways to make our temples places
where the Buddhadharma can be “transmitted” faithfully.
Related to this plan is the work to reactivate the Shinshu Center ofAmerica in the North America district. In addition to the current effort
to translate and publish works of our tradition, other important goals
are to nurture potential ministers, to work together with the Hawaii andSouth America districts to conduct training sessions for ministers who
are active overseas, to promote programs for members and the public,
and to increase relationships with academic entities.
In this way, we commit ourselves to the fundamental idea of“transmitting” the teachings actively so that they can be made available
to those we live together with today. This year again, we ask for yoursupport and cooperation in this endeavor.

New Year Greetings

Rinban Kenjun KawawataI’d like to express my sincere appreciation to allof you who supported this Betsuin over the past
year. Without your support, we could not havesuch a successful year at our temple.
I also would like to thankour board of president,
Mrs. Faye Shigemura, andour board members, who
enthusiastically led thissangha for the past year. We
really had a wonderful 2013.
I wish that we will also havea successful and wonderfulyear in 2014.
As you may have already heard, we willcelebrate our Betsuin’s centennial in the year
2016 and our Hawaii District will observe 750th
Memorial Service for our founder, Shinran
Shonin, at the same time. The Betsuin willcommence preparations for this historical eventand service this year.

ৗফभओቂቇ ୽୞‫ؙ‬ఖਮিཛྷ࿖

຦஘ৗফ৥ऐऽखथउीदधअओकःऽघ‫؛‬આফরमશ੹पৌखऽखथ੗পऩॊओ੍ର॑ःञटऌऽ
खञহੱेॉ౪຀ணख঱ऑऽघ‫؛‬຦஘भओੈৡप
ेॉશ੹भ১ਏ‫ؚ‬ઇ৲হ঵ధल౾ষহऋણ৅
पষॎोৰॉँॊফधऩॉऽखञ‫؛‬੔୍पয়ढथઇ੮॑Ꮛਬऔोञ੎੨৶হশధल
৶হभ຦஘‫ؚ‬ऽञओ୅െ຦‫ر‬஘भउྔदಞอैखः঳ফ॑ૌओऔचथः
ञटऌऽखञ‫؛‬औथ‫ؚ‬ফमஎनुपधॉऽखथनभेअऩফप
ऩॉऽखॆअ‫؛‬ ຦஘ुओோੴभ஘पગਟফ‫ؚ‬ফमશ੹൉য়ఢফ॑ಶइऽघ‫؛‬ऽञঁডॖઇય஡∹ຟয৚౪೫ᅏउඐीಱखऽ
घ‫؛‬શ੹दऒभഄఴ৓ऩফ॑ాপपउ໑ःघस
ऎ‫ؚ‬जभ૆૟॑ਤीथষऎਚோदघ‫؛‬શ੹मऒभ

2

For a hundred years now, this Betsuin has
been serving as a place for listening to the dharma
and a gathering place for our Japanese-American
community. However, our community has
undergone marked changes and we really have torethink our future.
I am certain that the Betsuin will continue toserve as a place for listening to the dharma. We takethis celebration of our centennial as an opportune
occasion to pose the question, “What is our deepest
aspiration?” As we ponder our individual lives, weneed to think about what it really means to have
our temple here and picture its future.
The temple board is considering repair andrenovation for the occasion of our centennialcelebration because our hondo is already 30 years
old, needing repair and some restoration for thealtar and the building itself.
So from this year, we will step forward to ourcentennial celebration in year of 2016. I would liketo ask for your support and cooperation throughthis coming year, too.
And I wish that you will listen to the dharma
together with us and have a meaningful year.
Thank you very much.
In Gasshoফभ৑຦஘भบ১ലୂभৃ‫ؚ‬जखथ঩௺॥঑গ
ॽॸॕ‫ش‬भরੱधखथभ૽સ॑ટञखथ૞ॉऽख
ञ‫؛‬ऒोऊैुบ১॑রੱधखथ‫ؚ‬उ஁भ૽સ॑ટ
ञखथॅऌञःधઅइथउॉऽघ‫؛‬खऊखओோੴभ
஘प঩௺঺ভु૗৲ख‫ؚ‬उ஁भँॉ্॑ઌ໐पગઅ
खऩऐोयऩैऩःৎधऩॉऽखञ‫؛‬ऒभఢফ
॑ओ໿पَஎनुभমਊपൢःधम‫ُء‬धःअਖः
॑ൕऑ‫ؚ‬঳য঳যभःभठ‫ؚ‬যে‫ؚ‬ऽञजोप
ൣअઌभउ஁भँॉ্॑ਖअथষऌञःधउ
ुःऽघ‫؛‬ ऽञ৶হভदम੶୛হ঵धखथउ஁
भ૚ਚभଓఊధल੝ఊহ঵॑અइथ
उॉऽघ‫؛‬মফेॉফभ஡∹ຟয৚౪೫ᅏధलશ੹൉য়
ఢফप਱ऐৗञऩॊ঳నऋ઩ऽॊ
ऒधदघ‫؛‬মফुओ঳คपบ১ലୂऔो຦஘प
धॉऽखथಞอैखः঳ফधऩॉऽघ
஘୛गऽघ‫؛‬ऽञશ੹पৌख຦஘भओੈ
ৡ‫ؚ‬ओ੍ର॑࿤खऎउൢःணख঱ऑऽघ‫়؛‬რ

MahaloGozaimasu

We gratefully acknowledge the following for their generous
contributions. If we’ve missed any donor’s name, please accept
our apologies and let us know by calling the Betsuin at 531-9088
so we can make corrections to our records.

4)0546,* .&.03*"- '6/&3"- */63/.&/5#63*"-4&37*$&
John Shojinaga
Kent Tobara
Dennis & Debra Saiki James Hirakawa
Family of Stefanie Kimiyo Abergas

Betty Suzuki
Atsuko Nonaka
Leslie Kobata

Harvey & Norma Shima
Kazue Uechi
Chieko Nishimura
Cynthia Nishimura Albert Yamada#0%)*%":4&37*$&
Kazue Uechi

Helen & Carol Suzuki Jonathan Tani

Atsuko Nonaka

Dennis & Debra Saiki,:0%"/%0/"5*0/(including columbarum, Otani Center)
Rev. Senei Suzuki
Catherine Moribe
Manabu & Norman Watanabe
Arthur Haruki
Geraldine Tanoue

Clement Fujimoto
Sharon Torikai
Barbara Shioi
Patrick Miyamura
Dawn Hirakawa
Kenneth & Susan Archer
Ray Shiramizu
Fusako Hanai Robinson
James Hirakawa & Palolo Auto(0+*,"*.&.#&34)*1Grace Kogami
Gerald KogamiFlorence Sueyoshi Wallace & Jane Naito Kiyoko Moriyama
Franklin & Carol Suenaga

Thomas & Mildred Yamada)*("4)*)0/(8"/+*)"8"**%*453*$5$"-&/%"3
Mildred ImaiKenneth Kimoto
Florence Matsuura James Hirakawa
Julia Fujioka
Marilyn YonekuraFrances Maekawa
Jane Wataru
Richard Shozuya
Grace Sugimoto
ArleneYoneyama
Viola Uyeno
Howard Nikaido
Lowell Arakaki
Chieko Sugimoto
May Uyeda
Edith Endo
Yuko Oshiro
Judith Kaneshiro
Eileen Uchida
Florence Kanno
Amy AbeJunko Tomida-Wong Beatrice Nakano
Jan Lee
Sadie Sakai
Katherine Kurakake Wayne & Violet Harada Chieko Nishimura Annie Uyema
Harvey & Norma Shima
Lynn Murakami-Akatsuka
Bert & Millicent Yamamoto
Stanley & Ann Miyasato
Richard & Jane Kaneshiro
Jon & Cynthia Nishimura
Patricia Nitta
Joyce Masaki
George & Katherine Nakamura
Shirley Nishizawa Paul Nishida
Robert & Edwina Takayama
Satsuye Tanaka
Shizuno Miyazaki
Carol Kawamoto
Betty Nishida
Leslie & Sandy Kawahara
Karl & Louise Kawamoto
Eiko Yoshida
Edith Yoshida
George & Jane Lau Mark & Shigeko Tsuchida
Moriso Teraoka
Rev. Hosen Fukuhara Ed Nakano
Robert & Frances Makiyama
Alan & Grace Matsumura
Leatrice Omiya
Mildred Abe
Thomas & Peggy Ishida
Marilyn Kuroda
Bert Maekawa
Cynthia Oda
Stanley Kono
Michael & Marian Uyeno
Robert & Shizue Okazaki
Lillian Akizuki
Roy Nakamoto
Takeo Harano
Annie Malama
Haruo & Edith Tanida Kiyoko Moriyama
Jonathan Tani
Hideo Fukunaga
Michael Sawai
Jerry & Claire Suginaka
Collin & Loreen Segawa
Evelyn Ujimori
Jane WatanabeCharlene Watanabe Keizaburo Tsuji
Nancy Nakatsu
Marian Tsuji
Eleanor Yamashita
Kazuto & Lynn Shimizu
Faye Shigemura
Dennis & Debra Saiki
Cy & Jean Shishido Tadao Iwasaki
Ralph & Bette Nishida Herald & Hilda Takehiro
Jean Hayashi
Albert Yamada
Ryde & Jeanne Haruno
We wish to extend our deepest
James & Jean Tanouye Doris Hanai
Patrick Ohara
Sasayo Okazaki
sympathy to the families of the lateKenneth & Kumiko Saiki
Mr. Charles Sakachi Yoshida (87)
NEWSLETTER MAILING & DONATIONS
November 6, 2013
Margaret Hamachi
Debra Saiki
Faye Shigemura
Atsuko Nonaka
Mrs. Miyoko Duesing (83)
Takafumi Bansaka
Kenjun Kawawata
Jeanne Kawawata
Makoto Honda
November 29, 2013
Kumiko Saiki

In Memoriam"-5"3'-03"-%0/"5*0/4"33"/(&.&/54
Minako Ito

Kumiko Saiki

Mrs. Hanae “Daisy” Kobata (92)
December 13, 2013

7

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M

any people make New Year’s
resolutions and most of us fail,often making the same ones year after
year and failing year after year.
Among the most popular
resolutions include losing weightand improving finances, but as theold joke goes, instead of achieving aslimmer waistline and a fatter wallet,
it’s usually the other way around.
From the Interdependence
Project (IDP), a Buddhist study centerin New York committed to personal
development, comes the following
dharmically based New Year’s
resolutions you may wish to consider:4FUBTJEFBUMFBTUBGFXNJOVUFTBEBZUPCFTUJMMBOETJMFOU
Give yourself time for some clarity andpeace of mind every day.
1SBDUJDFHFOFSPTJUZFWFOXIFOZPVSFOPUJOUIFNPTUHFOFSPVTPGNPPETThis entails offering morethan just money—your time, a smile
or a compliment—especially when
you are feeling sorry for yourself.
 %POUJOEVMHFUIFJOOFSWPJDFTBOEUIPVHIUTUIBUDSJUJDJ[FZPVSTFMG
BOEPUIFSTAvoid being stuck in thepast and worrying about the future.
 3FDPHOJ[FUIFQPXFSPG

TQFFDIBOEVTFXPSETXJTFMZThe
words we use have a real impact onourselves and others.
 -PPLQFPQMFJOUIFFZFBOE
TNJMFBUUIFNFWFOJGZPVUIJOLUIFSFTBCTPMVUFMZOPDIBODFZPVMM
FWFSTFFUIFNPSOFFEUIFNBHBJOTry this with a store clerk, a homelessperson or just about anyone. Do it
without expecting a return smile.
 1BZBUUFOUJPOKeep an open
and curious attitude toward thephysical experience of each moment.
 3FNFNCFSUIBUZPVBSF
OPUTFQBSBUFGSPNBOZPOFFMTF
Recognize the worth and goodness
in every living thing.
 %POUNBLFBOZUIJOHIf you
make something, you have something.
If you don’t make anything, you haveeverything. Keep your mind open.
 "QQSFDJBUFZPVSMJGFThe more
you appreciate what you have in yourlife right now, the happier you can be.
To avoid setting yourself up for
failure, IDP suggests that instead ofviewing resolutions as self-improvement
projects, you look at them as something
you can work with throughout eachday, as best as you can.
— Ken SaikiGOLDEN DEER SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday, January 5Children of all ages are welcome to join in!
Meet at 10:00 am at the temple
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6.BIBMPGPS:PVS.FNCFSTIJQ%VFT

To individuals and families
who have recently joined or
already taken care of renewing
their annual gojikai membership,
thank you very much for yoursupport.
Timely submission of annual
gojikai dues supports our temple
activities, such as our weekly
Sunday services, youth programs,
study classes and various othercommunity services, and helps
sustain them into the future.
For those who have not sent their$75 annual membership dues
yet, we would appreciate yourtaking care of it at your earliest
convenience. Better yet, resolve
to do it today.
Payment of annual gojikai
membership dues also allows
you to maintain a niche in ourcolumbarium.
If you’re not a member
yet, please consider joining.
Your membership will help us
continue our mission in serving
the community.

(FU:PVS8BCZ&NBJM

H

ere’s how to unclutter yourmailbox and switch to anelectronic version of our monthly
Wa newsletter. Simply send an
email, with subject line “Email Wa,”
including your name and address, to
CFUTVJO!IICUIJPSH
 Then, starting next month, yourWa will arrive in your email inbox
instead of being delivered to yourmailbox by your mail carrier.
You’ll be helping us save some
paper and receive a bonus while at it.
Your bonus? The emailed version of
Wa comes in color!

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii
Chairperson’s
New Year Message
Faye ShigemuraWhooh, the Year of the Snakejust slithered by quickly.
We say this year after year, and it
frequently feels that the Earth isspinning faster. With many science
fiction ideas becoming more like areality, I can imagine ourselves flying
off the globe, eventually.
2013 was a year of new activities
and new ideas with more than one
which would be considered “major.”
Dobo Convention
The first major was the Dobo
Convention in Kyoto in May.
Approximately 20 Hawaii participants
flew to Japan and met participantsfrom the U.S. mainland, SouthAmerica and Japan. The highlight
was our hula performance of The
Hukilau Song on banquet night. The
beauty of our presentation was thatevery single one of our group was
full of excitement, and participatedin weekly rehearsals and the actual
performance.
Even with five temple locations,some on neighbor islands, we neverthought that logistics would be a
problem with rehearsals. Of course,
it helped that our Hawaii delegation’s
performance was the best andthe most exciting, with many
enthusiastic audience participants.
We were g-o-o-d!
Joint Retreat
The next major was the Joint
Retreat with Rev. Ken Yamada fromBerkeley as the speaker. Many things
can make an event a major: thenumber of participants, the cost andeven the preparation.
What made this activity a major
was the speaker. Rev. Ken touched
our hearts deeply by sharing his

relationship with his deceased
brother, after experiencing a feelingof personal defeat with Jodo Shinshu.
He hit a wall and ricocheted backto Jodo Shinshu with the help ofsomeone he deeply loved. The story
he shared gave us a valuable lessonin jiriki and tariki. Unfortunately, helost his brother, but he still retained
the strength and desire to go on.
Bon Dance
Our 2013 Bon Dance was a major,
one we could call our most successful
Bon Dance, ever. It started with a
Manto-e service, a new additional
activity to us, but a traditional
Jodo Shinshu service. Everyone
had an opportunity to purchase a
special manto-e lantern, which was
decorated with their names andthose of deceased family members.
The lanterns were hung high above
the dancers and could later be taken
home by the families.
We ran out of our popular foodchoices fairly early in the evening
on both Friday and Saturday nights.
With fish pond games and facepainting for the kids, we saw lotsof new faces and received nicecomments.
Dharma Study Center
A definite major was our new
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Dharma Study Center. Bishop Ken
Kawawata started a new lecture
series, which was well-attended
and had participants clamoring for
more. Dr. George Tanabe was the
speaker at our first lecture series.
There are few who can compare withthe knowledge and charisma of Dr.
Tanabe, and we were very fortunatethat he was able to be part of ourinaugural program.
Bishop Kawawata and Rev. FrankChilds also conduct weekly classes
including Basic Buddhism and “What
On Earth is Namuamidabutsu?” Basic
Buddhism is conducted in English
and Japanese, on separate days.
Golden Deer Sunday School
Jeanne Kawawata and Debra
Saiki oversee our Golden Deer

Sunday School program. It’s a good
way to introduce children to religion,and teach discipline and respect, nomatter what religious practice they
may choose later in life.
Fun activities are there for youryoung children to enjoy whilelearning life-long lessons. No
learning experience is ever wasted.
The role of teachers is just as
important as the role of parents.
Passing of Key Members
Along with all our activities,
we recently experienced some sadlosses of key members of Higashi
Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. Kalvin
Shimazu, sadly passed away at the
too-early age of 58. Miyoko Duesing
died suddenly at age 82. We lost
Hanae Kobata, widow of Rev. David
Kobata, in mid-December at age 92.
All three were familiar faces in ourhallways. Although we can’t list byname everyone in our temple family
whom we lost in 2013 in this article,
we offer our sincere condolences togrieving family members.
What brought me back to thistemple after a long hiatus of childbearing and a work career, was thepassing of my mother. I wanted
to be close to her, so I started
coming to the temple, where I
found comfort in the kindnessof the ministers and a better
understanding of life and death as
I sat through dharma lessons andlectures and discussions.
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii is open to all who would liketo come. If you wish to find comfort
through the temple and learn
more about Jodo Shinshu, pleaseattend any of our public classes. If
you would like help in discussing
issues, you may call the temple
at 531-9088 and speak with Rev.
Makoto Honda, resident minister,or Rinban Ken Kawawata to makean appointment or confirm theministers’ availability. This is yourtemple. Just do it!
Have a safe 2014, and see you at
the temple!

3

/FXTPOUIF

)PO[BO)ǯTIJEBOSFUVSOFFTTQFBLBU#PEIJ%BZTFSWJDF

 Three Betsuin representatives
returning from the 2013 Honzan
Hōshidan in Japan during Hō-on-ko
in late November related theirexperiences the Betsuin’s Dec. 15
Bodhi Day service.
Debra Saiki and brothers Johnand Ridge Ishikawa each spent a
few minutes describing theirexperiences at the annual
pilgrimage to Kyoto.
They were unanimous on three
things: it was very cold during
early morning services even withmultiple layers of clothing, foodeverywhere in Japan is great andRev. Michael Conway’s dharma
study lessons were presented inunderstandable terms and easily
digestible concepts.

For John and Ridge, it was also
their first trip to their ancestral
homeland, so for them the hōshidan
was a real adventure. They evenextended their stay in Japan to
explore Osaka and Tokyo.
All three from the Betsuin hope
to apply the newly foundknowledge acquired during thehōshidan to their everyday lives.
The Honzan Hōshidan is agroup pilgrimage and tour that
includes a three-day study retreat
at our denomination’s main temple
in Kyoto as well as visits to otherhistoric sites.
The hope is that the Honzan
Hōshidan participants will be able toexperience temple life and feel thelong history of the Jodo Shinshu
tradition through the hōshidan
activities and the special atmosphereof the Hō-on-ko services.
"LJSB,VSPTBXBDMBTTJD*LJSVGFBUVSFEPO.PWJF/JHIU

Top: Debbie Saiki talks about her hoshidan
impressions. Bottom: Ridge (left) and John
Ishikawa describe their adventures on theirfirst-time trip to Japan.

4

Little Differences:#FUTVJO8JSFMFTT

Ikiru, (“To Live”) is a 1952
Japanese film co-written anddirected by Akira Kurosawa. The
award-winning black-and-white film
examines the struggles of a Tokyo
bureaucrat and his final quest formeaning. The film is inspired by the
Leo Tolstoy short story “The Death ofIvan Ilyich.”
Stars Takashi Shimura as Kanji
Watanabe. 143 minutes. Japaneseaudio with English subtitles.
The late film critic Roger Ebert
called it Kurosawa’s greatest film
and watched it time and time again.
He famously said, “The older I get,the less Watanabe seems like apathetic old man, and the more heseems like every one of us.”Free admission. Showtime is
6:30 pm on Tuesday, January 28.
Ample seating in the Fukuhara
Conference Room.

েऌॊ‫ق‬ःऌॊ‫ك‬ফपਁ৫औोञ঩ম಩઺
दँॊ‫؛‬૰୚मహ᫖৥‫ؚ‬਌౰मಂ੨ዒपेॊ‫؛‬ਯँॊహ᫖૰୚
੿ષभরदु‫ؚ‬जभ঄গ‫ش‬ঐॽ६঒ऋຘਡप୸खञ੿ષध௬੼औो
ॊ੡੿‫؛‬जभ਻੡ৢॉَেऌॊُ
धःअ൤቞৓ऩॸ‫ش‬ঐपઌढ਱ऊ
ैજॉ੢॒ट੿ષदँॉ‫ؚ‬ৎ৻แभഀ଴ऋਘःహ᫖भ‫ؚ‬ਠ৻แदभ
৻਀੿दँॊ‫؛‬࿄মमঞই‫ॺ؞‬ঝ५ॺॖभَॖডথ‫؞‬ॖজॖॳभଈُऋ
ৣഢऌपऔोथउॉ‫੿ؚ‬রपजो॑พ
ંघॊचॉऴुాॉ੢ऽोथःॊ‫؛‬ ੉ୁ঩মୁ‫ؚ‬ஊొஶୁ঱
಩ৎ৑ী‫ؙ‬োৃ૮મা঩
‫كౌق‬ଏ৏ৎ

Fruits, Vegetables, Culture & PeopleArriving in England to study, I
experienced severe culture
shock. One of my first big surprises
was when I went to a supermarket
and saw that the produce on display
weren’t uniform in size and shape.
Misshapen and smaller than usual
fruits and vegetables were stacked in
the same bin and sold together with
the normal ones.
In Japan I was used to seeing
them all the same size and same
shape. I never had any question
about it because that is how it$MBTTTDIFEVMFDIBOHF
 Rev. Frank Child’s What on

Earth is Namuamidabutsu? class for
January, normally held on thesecond Saturday, has been
rescheduled to Saturday, Jan. 18,
at 10 am because of a wedding
being held at the temple on
January 11.

.POUIMZ4IJOSBO4IPOJONFNPSJBMTFSWJDFPOUI

Shinran Shonin, the founder of
our Jodo Shinshu denomination,
was born in 1173 and died at age
90 on November 28, 1262.
Thus the 28th day of every
month is observed as Shinran’smeinichi, or death anniversary
memorial date.
You are welcome to attend
the monthly memorial service for
Shinran Shonin, starting at 10 amon the 28th day of every month.
Our monthly “recitation circle”
will be held following thememorial service, at about 11 am.
At our recitation circle, groupmembers take turns reading
passages from a dharma text orother publication. We welcome
you to drop by and join our circle.

2014 ANNIVERSARYMEMORIAL SERVICES

The various fruits displayed at a Sapporo
fruit stand are uniform in size and shape.

always was. So when I saw veggies
and fruits in England, they did notlook yummy at all.
I once saw a Japanese TV
program about a farmer growing
grapes. He only sold the ones thatpassed a high standard in the shapeof the bunch and the size of eachgrape. Only then did the grapes
qualify to be sold at a good price.
So if even one grape drops frombunch, then that bunch of grapes is
no longer considered good enoughto fetch market price. Any bunches
that fail to meet the standard will
be disposed of or sold at a reallycheap price, even if they taste
exactly the same.
If you have the opportunity to
go to Japan, please take a look in asupermarket. You’ll notice that allof the veggies and fruits are exactly
the same size and same shape. I
think that supermarkets in Hawaii
are somewhere between Japan andEngland, not as strict as Japan but
not as accepting as England.
– Rev. Makoto Honda

S

pecial anniversary memorialservices are observed duringcertain auspicious years following
the passing of an individual.
This year we will observe special
anniversary memorial servicesof those who passed away in thefollowing years:  TUanniversary  SEZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  SEZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial
To schedule an anniversary
memorial service, please call the
Betsuin office at 531-9088.

"UIPNFTFSWJDFTBWBJMBCMF
Whether it’s because mobility
difficulties, convenience or justpreferring the comfort of your own
home, ministers can also conduct
services at your location.

O

ur monthly shotsuki remembrance service will be held on Sunday, January 5, to allow family members to
express thanks to those who preceded them and, at the same time, have an opportunity to listen to thedharma. Following is a list which includes Betsuin members who passed away in January of a past year:
Edward K. Anami
Kazuko Arakawa
Tomi Asato
Janet Emiko Cho
Shirley Shizue Curek
Nobuyuki Fukunaga
Harold K. Hamamoto
Darrell Kazumi Higa
Masaichi Higa
Arthur T. Hiroshima
Shigeko Hosaka
Betty Midori Hoshino
George Shinichi Ige
Sadami Ikeda
Dorothea F. Inoshita
Sadame Ishida

Yoshie Ishimatsu
Harry Y. Iwanaga
Yuhiro Iwasaki
Takumi Kajioka
Kenneth K. Kawada
Harriet I. Kawakami
Mabel Shinano Kihara
Tetsuo Koga
Kimiko Kubo
Takeo Maekawa
Tamiko K. Mashima
Naka Mesaku
Yuiko Michioku
Jitsuo Mimuro
Rihachi Mitomi
Grace Tamie Mitsuka

Jane N. Miyashiro
Sharie Keiko Miyazaki
Noboru Miyazaki
Masayuki MoriJames S. Murotake
Masao Nakahara
Gary T. Nakasato
Shizuko Nakasone
Shigeto NishimuraFred M. Nishiyama
Colleen C. Nishiyama
Neil H. Nishizawa
Leatrice S. Nomura
Tsuya Oasa
Robert Mamoru Oba
Toyome Ogata

Ichiji Okamoto
Hiromu Okihiro
Shizuka Onishi
Isamu Oshiro
Shizue Otsuka
Sadao Shinkawa
Kiyoshi Shinsato
Akino Shirabe
Itoko Sueyoshi
Alice Hatsumi Sur
Hideko Takaki
Ethel T. Takamatsu
Nobuyo Tanaka
Tome Tokunaga
Tadakazu Tsuda
Richard M. Uchida

Violet S. Uyesato
Richard Y. Wataru
Jean T.Yamamoto
Kikumi Yamato
Susumu Yamauchi
William H. Yamura
Elsie K.Yoshimura
Lester S. Yoshino
Hisao Yukawa
Shizuko Yamanuha
Sumiko Yamashita
Ethel H. Yamashita
Shizuko Yonemura(Listing includes past
25 years only)5

/FXTPOUIF

)PO[BO)ǯTIJEBOSFUVSOFFTTQFBLBU#PEIJ%BZTFSWJDF

 Three Betsuin representatives
returning from the 2013 Honzan
Hōshidan in Japan during Hō-on-ko
in late November related theirexperiences the Betsuin’s Dec. 15
Bodhi Day service.
Debra Saiki and brothers Johnand Ridge Ishikawa each spent a
few minutes describing theirexperiences at the annual
pilgrimage to Kyoto.
They were unanimous on three
things: it was very cold during
early morning services even withmultiple layers of clothing, foodeverywhere in Japan is great andRev. Michael Conway’s dharma
study lessons were presented inunderstandable terms and easily
digestible concepts.

For John and Ridge, it was also
their first trip to their ancestral
homeland, so for them the hōshidan
was a real adventure. They evenextended their stay in Japan to
explore Osaka and Tokyo.
All three from the Betsuin hope
to apply the newly foundknowledge acquired during thehōshidan to their everyday lives.
The Honzan Hōshidan is agroup pilgrimage and tour that
includes a three-day study retreat
at our denomination’s main temple
in Kyoto as well as visits to otherhistoric sites.
The hope is that the Honzan
Hōshidan participants will be able toexperience temple life and feel thelong history of the Jodo Shinshu
tradition through the hōshidan
activities and the special atmosphereof the Hō-on-ko services.
"LJSB,VSPTBXBDMBTTJD*LJSVGFBUVSFEPO.PWJF/JHIU

Top: Debbie Saiki talks about her hoshidan
impressions. Bottom: Ridge (left) and John
Ishikawa describe their adventures on theirfirst-time trip to Japan.

4

Little Differences:#FUTVJO8JSFMFTT

Ikiru, (“To Live”) is a 1952
Japanese film co-written anddirected by Akira Kurosawa. The
award-winning black-and-white film
examines the struggles of a Tokyo
bureaucrat and his final quest formeaning. The film is inspired by the
Leo Tolstoy short story “The Death ofIvan Ilyich.”
Stars Takashi Shimura as Kanji
Watanabe. 143 minutes. Japaneseaudio with English subtitles.
The late film critic Roger Ebert
called it Kurosawa’s greatest film
and watched it time and time again.
He famously said, “The older I get,the less Watanabe seems like apathetic old man, and the more heseems like every one of us.”Free admission. Showtime is
6:30 pm on Tuesday, January 28.
Ample seating in the Fukuhara
Conference Room.

েऌॊ‫ق‬ःऌॊ‫ك‬ফपਁ৫औोञ঩ম಩઺
दँॊ‫؛‬૰୚मహ᫖৥‫ؚ‬਌౰मಂ੨ዒपेॊ‫؛‬ਯँॊహ᫖૰୚
੿ષभরदु‫ؚ‬जभ঄গ‫ش‬ঐॽ६঒ऋຘਡप୸खञ੿ષध௬੼औो
ॊ੡੿‫؛‬जभ਻੡ৢॉَেऌॊُ
धःअ൤቞৓ऩॸ‫ش‬ঐपઌढ਱ऊ
ैજॉ੢॒ट੿ષदँॉ‫ؚ‬ৎ৻แभഀ଴ऋਘःహ᫖भ‫ؚ‬ਠ৻แदभ
৻਀੿दँॊ‫؛‬࿄মमঞই‫ॺ؞‬ঝ५ॺॖभَॖডথ‫؞‬ॖজॖॳभଈُऋ
ৣഢऌपऔोथउॉ‫੿ؚ‬রपजो॑พ
ંघॊचॉऴुాॉ੢ऽोथःॊ‫؛‬ ੉ୁ঩মୁ‫ؚ‬ஊొஶୁ঱
಩ৎ৑ী‫ؙ‬োৃ૮મা঩
‫كౌق‬ଏ৏ৎ

Fruits, Vegetables, Culture & PeopleArriving in England to study, I
experienced severe culture
shock. One of my first big surprises
was when I went to a supermarket
and saw that the produce on display
weren’t uniform in size and shape.
Misshapen and smaller than usual
fruits and vegetables were stacked in
the same bin and sold together with
the normal ones.
In Japan I was used to seeing
them all the same size and same
shape. I never had any question
about it because that is how it$MBTTTDIFEVMFDIBOHF
 Rev. Frank Child’s What on

Earth is Namuamidabutsu? class for
January, normally held on thesecond Saturday, has been
rescheduled to Saturday, Jan. 18,
at 10 am because of a wedding
being held at the temple on
January 11.

.POUIMZ4IJOSBO4IPOJONFNPSJBMTFSWJDFPOUI

Shinran Shonin, the founder of
our Jodo Shinshu denomination,
was born in 1173 and died at age
90 on November 28, 1262.
Thus the 28th day of every
month is observed as Shinran’smeinichi, or death anniversary
memorial date.
You are welcome to attend
the monthly memorial service for
Shinran Shonin, starting at 10 amon the 28th day of every month.
Our monthly “recitation circle”
will be held following thememorial service, at about 11 am.
At our recitation circle, groupmembers take turns reading
passages from a dharma text orother publication. We welcome
you to drop by and join our circle.

2014 ANNIVERSARYMEMORIAL SERVICES

The various fruits displayed at a Sapporo
fruit stand are uniform in size and shape.

always was. So when I saw veggies
and fruits in England, they did notlook yummy at all.
I once saw a Japanese TV
program about a farmer growing
grapes. He only sold the ones thatpassed a high standard in the shapeof the bunch and the size of eachgrape. Only then did the grapes
qualify to be sold at a good price.
So if even one grape drops frombunch, then that bunch of grapes is
no longer considered good enoughto fetch market price. Any bunches
that fail to meet the standard will
be disposed of or sold at a reallycheap price, even if they taste
exactly the same.
If you have the opportunity to
go to Japan, please take a look in asupermarket. You’ll notice that allof the veggies and fruits are exactly
the same size and same shape. I
think that supermarkets in Hawaii
are somewhere between Japan andEngland, not as strict as Japan but
not as accepting as England.
– Rev. Makoto Honda

S

pecial anniversary memorialservices are observed duringcertain auspicious years following
the passing of an individual.
This year we will observe special
anniversary memorial servicesof those who passed away in thefollowing years:  TUanniversary  SEZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial  SEZFBSmemorial  UIZFBSmemorial
To schedule an anniversary
memorial service, please call the
Betsuin office at 531-9088.

"UIPNFTFSWJDFTBWBJMBCMF
Whether it’s because mobility
difficulties, convenience or justpreferring the comfort of your own
home, ministers can also conduct
services at your location.

O

ur monthly shotsuki remembrance service will be held on Sunday, January 5, to allow family members to
express thanks to those who preceded them and, at the same time, have an opportunity to listen to thedharma. Following is a list which includes Betsuin members who passed away in January of a past year:
Edward K. Anami
Kazuko Arakawa
Tomi Asato
Janet Emiko Cho
Shirley Shizue Curek
Nobuyuki Fukunaga
Harold K. Hamamoto
Darrell Kazumi Higa
Masaichi Higa
Arthur T. Hiroshima
Shigeko Hosaka
Betty Midori Hoshino
George Shinichi Ige
Sadami Ikeda
Dorothea F. Inoshita
Sadame Ishida

Yoshie Ishimatsu
Harry Y. Iwanaga
Yuhiro Iwasaki
Takumi Kajioka
Kenneth K. Kawada
Harriet I. Kawakami
Mabel Shinano Kihara
Tetsuo Koga
Kimiko Kubo
Takeo Maekawa
Tamiko K. Mashima
Naka Mesaku
Yuiko Michioku
Jitsuo Mimuro
Rihachi Mitomi
Grace Tamie Mitsuka

Jane N. Miyashiro
Sharie Keiko Miyazaki
Noboru Miyazaki
Masayuki MoriJames S. Murotake
Masao Nakahara
Gary T. Nakasato
Shizuko Nakasone
Shigeto NishimuraFred M. Nishiyama
Colleen C. Nishiyama
Neil H. Nishizawa
Leatrice S. Nomura
Tsuya Oasa
Robert Mamoru Oba
Toyome Ogata

Ichiji Okamoto
Hiromu Okihiro
Shizuka Onishi
Isamu Oshiro
Shizue Otsuka
Sadao Shinkawa
Kiyoshi Shinsato
Akino Shirabe
Itoko Sueyoshi
Alice Hatsumi Sur
Hideko Takaki
Ethel T. Takamatsu
Nobuyo Tanaka
Tome Tokunaga
Tadakazu Tsuda
Richard M. Uchida

Violet S. Uyesato
Richard Y. Wataru
Jean T.Yamamoto
Kikumi Yamato
Susumu Yamauchi
William H. Yamura
Elsie K.Yoshimura
Lester S. Yoshino
Hisao Yukawa
Shizuko Yamanuha
Sumiko Yamashita
Ethel H. Yamashita
Shizuko Yonemura(Listing includes past
25 years only)5

/FX:FBS3FTPMVUJPOT %IBSNB4UZMF

M

any people make New Year’s
resolutions and most of us fail,often making the same ones year after
year and failing year after year.
Among the most popular
resolutions include losing weightand improving finances, but as theold joke goes, instead of achieving aslimmer waistline and a fatter wallet,
it’s usually the other way around.
From the Interdependence
Project (IDP), a Buddhist study centerin New York committed to personal
development, comes the following
dharmically based New Year’s
resolutions you may wish to consider:4FUBTJEFBUMFBTUBGFXNJOVUFTBEBZUPCFTUJMMBOETJMFOU
Give yourself time for some clarity andpeace of mind every day.
1SBDUJDFHFOFSPTJUZFWFOXIFOZPVSFOPUJOUIFNPTUHFOFSPVTPGNPPETThis entails offering morethan just money—your time, a smile
or a compliment—especially when
you are feeling sorry for yourself.
 %POUJOEVMHFUIFJOOFSWPJDFTBOEUIPVHIUTUIBUDSJUJDJ[FZPVSTFMG
BOEPUIFSTAvoid being stuck in thepast and worrying about the future.
 3FDPHOJ[FUIFQPXFSPG

TQFFDIBOEVTFXPSETXJTFMZThe
words we use have a real impact onourselves and others.
 -PPLQFPQMFJOUIFFZFBOE
TNJMFBUUIFNFWFOJGZPVUIJOLUIFSFTBCTPMVUFMZOPDIBODFZPVMM
FWFSTFFUIFNPSOFFEUIFNBHBJOTry this with a store clerk, a homelessperson or just about anyone. Do it
without expecting a return smile.
 1BZBUUFOUJPOKeep an open
and curious attitude toward thephysical experience of each moment.
 3FNFNCFSUIBUZPVBSF
OPUTFQBSBUFGSPNBOZPOFFMTF
Recognize the worth and goodness
in every living thing.
 %POUNBLFBOZUIJOHIf you
make something, you have something.
If you don’t make anything, you haveeverything. Keep your mind open.
 "QQSFDJBUFZPVSMJGFThe more
you appreciate what you have in yourlife right now, the happier you can be.
To avoid setting yourself up for
failure, IDP suggests that instead ofviewing resolutions as self-improvement
projects, you look at them as something
you can work with throughout eachday, as best as you can.
— Ken SaikiGOLDEN DEER SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday, January 5Children of all ages are welcome to join in!
Meet at 10:00 am at the temple
3YV¿VWX+SPHIR(IIVEGXMZMX]JSVXLIRI[]IEVMWERSYXMRKXS2YYERY:EPPI]4EVO 5YIIR)QQE
7YQQIV4EPEGI 4EGOEPYRGLERHPIX·WIRNS]
REXYVI-RGEWISJVEMR[I[MPPPEQMREXIHVMIH
ÀS[IVWXSQEOIFSSOQEVOW*SVQSVIMRJSVQEXMSRGEPP

6.BIBMPGPS:PVS.FNCFSTIJQ%VFT

To individuals and families
who have recently joined or
already taken care of renewing
their annual gojikai membership,
thank you very much for yoursupport.
Timely submission of annual
gojikai dues supports our temple
activities, such as our weekly
Sunday services, youth programs,
study classes and various othercommunity services, and helps
sustain them into the future.
For those who have not sent their$75 annual membership dues
yet, we would appreciate yourtaking care of it at your earliest
convenience. Better yet, resolve
to do it today.
Payment of annual gojikai
membership dues also allows
you to maintain a niche in ourcolumbarium.
If you’re not a member
yet, please consider joining.
Your membership will help us
continue our mission in serving
the community.

(FU:PVS8BCZ&NBJM

H

ere’s how to unclutter yourmailbox and switch to anelectronic version of our monthly
Wa newsletter. Simply send an
email, with subject line “Email Wa,”
including your name and address, to
CFUTVJO!IICUIJPSH
 Then, starting next month, yourWa will arrive in your email inbox
instead of being delivered to yourmailbox by your mail carrier.
You’ll be helping us save some
paper and receive a bonus while at it.
Your bonus? The emailed version of
Wa comes in color!

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii
Chairperson’s
New Year Message
Faye ShigemuraWhooh, the Year of the Snakejust slithered by quickly.
We say this year after year, and it
frequently feels that the Earth isspinning faster. With many science
fiction ideas becoming more like areality, I can imagine ourselves flying
off the globe, eventually.
2013 was a year of new activities
and new ideas with more than one
which would be considered “major.”
Dobo Convention
The first major was the Dobo
Convention in Kyoto in May.
Approximately 20 Hawaii participants
flew to Japan and met participantsfrom the U.S. mainland, SouthAmerica and Japan. The highlight
was our hula performance of The
Hukilau Song on banquet night. The
beauty of our presentation was thatevery single one of our group was
full of excitement, and participatedin weekly rehearsals and the actual
performance.
Even with five temple locations,some on neighbor islands, we neverthought that logistics would be a
problem with rehearsals. Of course,
it helped that our Hawaii delegation’s
performance was the best andthe most exciting, with many
enthusiastic audience participants.
We were g-o-o-d!
Joint Retreat
The next major was the Joint
Retreat with Rev. Ken Yamada fromBerkeley as the speaker. Many things
can make an event a major: thenumber of participants, the cost andeven the preparation.
What made this activity a major
was the speaker. Rev. Ken touched
our hearts deeply by sharing his

relationship with his deceased
brother, after experiencing a feelingof personal defeat with Jodo Shinshu.
He hit a wall and ricocheted backto Jodo Shinshu with the help ofsomeone he deeply loved. The story
he shared gave us a valuable lessonin jiriki and tariki. Unfortunately, helost his brother, but he still retained
the strength and desire to go on.
Bon Dance
Our 2013 Bon Dance was a major,
one we could call our most successful
Bon Dance, ever. It started with a
Manto-e service, a new additional
activity to us, but a traditional
Jodo Shinshu service. Everyone
had an opportunity to purchase a
special manto-e lantern, which was
decorated with their names andthose of deceased family members.
The lanterns were hung high above
the dancers and could later be taken
home by the families.
We ran out of our popular foodchoices fairly early in the evening
on both Friday and Saturday nights.
With fish pond games and facepainting for the kids, we saw lotsof new faces and received nicecomments.
Dharma Study Center
A definite major was our new
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Dharma Study Center. Bishop Ken
Kawawata started a new lecture
series, which was well-attended
and had participants clamoring for
more. Dr. George Tanabe was the
speaker at our first lecture series.
There are few who can compare withthe knowledge and charisma of Dr.
Tanabe, and we were very fortunatethat he was able to be part of ourinaugural program.
Bishop Kawawata and Rev. FrankChilds also conduct weekly classes
including Basic Buddhism and “What
On Earth is Namuamidabutsu?” Basic
Buddhism is conducted in English
and Japanese, on separate days.
Golden Deer Sunday School
Jeanne Kawawata and Debra
Saiki oversee our Golden Deer

Sunday School program. It’s a good
way to introduce children to religion,and teach discipline and respect, nomatter what religious practice they
may choose later in life.
Fun activities are there for youryoung children to enjoy whilelearning life-long lessons. No
learning experience is ever wasted.
The role of teachers is just as
important as the role of parents.
Passing of Key Members
Along with all our activities,
we recently experienced some sadlosses of key members of Higashi
Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. Kalvin
Shimazu, sadly passed away at the
too-early age of 58. Miyoko Duesing
died suddenly at age 82. We lost
Hanae Kobata, widow of Rev. David
Kobata, in mid-December at age 92.
All three were familiar faces in ourhallways. Although we can’t list byname everyone in our temple family
whom we lost in 2013 in this article,
we offer our sincere condolences togrieving family members.
What brought me back to thistemple after a long hiatus of childbearing and a work career, was thepassing of my mother. I wanted
to be close to her, so I started
coming to the temple, where I
found comfort in the kindnessof the ministers and a better
understanding of life and death as
I sat through dharma lessons andlectures and discussions.
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii is open to all who would liketo come. If you wish to find comfort
through the temple and learn
more about Jodo Shinshu, pleaseattend any of our public classes. If
you would like help in discussing
issues, you may call the temple
at 531-9088 and speak with Rev.
Makoto Honda, resident minister,or Rinban Ken Kawawata to makean appointment or confirm theministers’ availability. This is yourtemple. Just do it!
Have a safe 2014, and see you at
the temple!

3

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U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
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Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

New Year’s Greetings#JTIPQ,PJ4BUPP

Address Service Requested

Chief Administrator
Shinshū Ōtani-ha (Higashi Honganji)

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

1

January 2014

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
JANUARY 2014

1/5

Wed 10 am New Year service (Shusho-e)Ozoni served after service
Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class

1/9

Thu 7 pm

1/1
1/5

1/12
1/14
1/18
1/19
1/19
1/21
1/26
1/28
1/28
1/28
1/28

ਠ৻ୁदบઇ॑ୂऒअFEBRUARY 2014
2/2
2/2
2/8
2/9
2/11
2/13

Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sat 10 am Joint Retreat at Betsuin
Sun 10 am Joint Retreat at HiloSun 10 am Nirvana Day service & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingTue 7 pm O-ko: dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Sun 11 am General membership meeting &New Year’s party at Otani Center
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: TBA
Fri 10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
Fri 11 am Recitation circle

led by Rinban Kawawata in JapaneseABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sun 10 am Sunday service
2/15
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice2/16
Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
2/16
led by Rev. Frank Childs
2/16
Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
2/18
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
2/23
Tue 7 pm O-ko: dharma discussion at Kaneohe
2/23
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Tue 10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
2/25
Tue 11 am Recitation circle
2/25
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice2/28
Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Ikiru
2/28
Fukuhara Conference Room
Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we
remain true 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

President: Faye Shigemura
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Makoto Honda
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: hhhb@me.com
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

I

wish to take this opportunity to wish all of you in the South America,
Hawaii and North America overseas districts a Happy New Year.
I would also like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the
support and understanding you continue to give to our Sangha.
Upon reflection, it seems that the entire world is enmeshed in
unstable political conditions, in situations where ethnic groups stand in
opposition to each other, the world falling
deeper into a state of stupor with norelease in sight.
In our Sangha as well, the current stateof affairs has created challenges that wemust face. We see an increase in those
who no longer consider religion to benecessary in one’s life. We see large
numbers of people cutting their ties with
their family temples.
At the Diet sessions last year, I
proposed that we reconsider the deep
wish of Dharmākara Bodhisattva andestablish the idea of “transmitting” as our focus for today. “To hand over
the teaching of Nenbutsu of the Primal Vow,” “to share that whichshould be transmitted faithfully”…this, I believe, should be the basis
upon how we proceed.
We must engage in today’s world which can only be describedusing the words of the sutra, “the world of defilement,” by reevaluating
how we have been making the effort to “transmit” the teachings, andthen open up new and more effective ways to make our temples places
where the Buddhadharma can be “transmitted” faithfully.
Related to this plan is the work to reactivate the Shinshu Center ofAmerica in the North America district. In addition to the current effort
to translate and publish works of our tradition, other important goals
are to nurture potential ministers, to work together with the Hawaii andSouth America districts to conduct training sessions for ministers who
are active overseas, to promote programs for members and the public,
and to increase relationships with academic entities.
In this way, we commit ourselves to the fundamental idea of“transmitting” the teachings actively so that they can be made available
to those we live together with today. This year again, we ask for yoursupport and cooperation in this endeavor.