Obon: a Summer Tradition in Hawaii

S‘wa’harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

7July 2018

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 Street
Honolulu, 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

ummer signals bon dance season in Hawaii. On any given weekend you’ll
find obon services and bon dances going on somewhere in the Islands.
Many people in Hawaii enjoy the excitement and food at bon dances.
Besides being an opportunity to meet friends, obon is a time to express
gratitude to the people who lived before us. This year we celebrate theanniversary of the arrival of “Gannennmono,” a group of Japanese who cameto Hawaii in 1868 to work on the plantations. Largely as a result of theirefforts and enduring hardships, our generation today can enjoy peaceful
lives in Hawaii. So naturally we bow down our heads, express our deep
gratitude to and respect for the brave pioneers who preceded us.
Obon is a time to remind us of how much our parents and grandparents,
our ancestors have done to help make our lives happy. Okagesama de, we arewhat we are because of them. Obon is an opportunity to rejoice in the life
we enjoy. We express gratitude for all of the causes and conditions, past andpresent, that help sustain our lives.
Expressing our gratitude and respect to our ancestors gives us a chance tothink about our own lives and the kinds of gifts ancestors left for us. We should
also think about the kind of gift can we leave for ourchildren and all the succeeding generations.
Obon is indeed a big celebration of our lives, and ourbeloved ones are giving us a chance to hear the Dharma
for deeper and more meaningful lives.
See you in the bon dance circle!
In gassho,Rinban Kenjun Kawawata

お盆はハワイの夏の風物詩

この７月はお盆の季節であります。毎年６月よりハワ Rinban Ken Kawawata
イでは毎週どこかの寺でお盆法要や盆踊りが行われることです。
お盆は頂いたいのちと生かされている喜びを表し感謝する良き機会です。
お盆法要では先祖方々を偲び、感謝を表し仏法を聴聞させていただくのです。真宗のお盆法要はただ先祖の方々に感謝を表すことに終わらず。仏法聴聞しこの頂いたいのちをより深く、有意義に生きることに重きが置かれております。お念仏の教えにより私どもの生きる方向性がはっきりし、頂いたいのちを無駄にしないことであります。
またお盆には恒例の盆踊りがあります。盆踊りは頂いたいのちと、生る喜びのひとつの表現と言えましょう。私どもの別院ではお盆と共にたくさんの提灯を飾り万灯会法要をお勤めします。一つ一つの提灯の下には亡き方々の名前、法名が書かれております。私どもはその多くの方々の下で盆踊りを踊ります。それは無限なるいのちの流れの中に私どもは生まれ生きて、いまその喜びの踊りを踊っているということです。
また今年はハワイ移民元年者150周年記念の年です。私どものお盆もこれらの先達方のご苦労を偲びまたその偉業をたたえる良き機会であります。私どもの先達は多くのことを日本から伝え、またこちらで多くのことを創造してまいりました。今日の私どもの生活の基礎を築いていただいたことです。
万灯会法要では元年者方たちの追悼法要を共にお勤めいたします。
私共はよく「お陰様で」という言葉を使います。おかげさまでと言う意味は、目に見える、また見えない多くの人々やものやご縁によって私は支えられ生かされておりますということです。「おかげさまでありがとう」という時、この頂いたいのちを一所懸命いきますという気持が起こり、新たなる明日への一歩が歩みだせることです。
このお盆を先祖や亡き方のへの感謝だけですましてしまえば、それはただの先祖 供養、墓守仏教で終わってしまします。真の仏教はどう生きて行くかを問うてゆくことでありましょう。私共はいつも宝物の入った蔵の前におります。教えという宝であります。その蔵を開ける鍵は私共一人一人であり、この七月にお迎えするお盆がその蔵を開けるご縁なのではないでしょうか。亡き方々が私どもに教えを供げて下さるお盆であります。
合掌輪番 河和田賢淳

The Manto-e Tradition:
Decorating the summer sky
with “10,000 lanterns”

2018 Higashi Hongwanji Betsuin

Bon FestivalFriday, July 20 & Saturday, July 21
5:30 - 10 pm

SOOD BOOTH
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Sushi (maki & in &niaorlifCae
Beef curry platersveRerolls
Chili rice plate
Spicy tuna handeatplrkpou
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ShPoke bo
Unagi donburi
Ramune sodase
Gourmet burger
plus other all-tim!
esritvoenRam
festival fa
YakitoriL

ong ago in India, wherever the Buddha delivered asermon, the sangha—those who came to listen—would each light a candle. The sangha became sonumerous that on these occasions, the lights came to becalled Manto, or 10,000 lights.
The tradition of Manto-e was started in Japan about
1,200 years ago during the reign of Emperor Shomu.
Once a year 10,000 lights were lit in honor of the Buddha
around the Todaiji Temple in Nara.
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii celebrates thetradition of the Manto-e at our bon dance. Our Manto-e
service is held at 6:30 pm on July 20 and 21 at the foot ofthe yagura. This year we will also pay special tribute to theGannenmono pioneers who arrived 150 years ago.
With your donation of $20 for each lantern you may
wish to offer in memory of a departed relative or friend,
we will write his or her name, along with your name as
the donor, on a small tablet to be hung from each lantern.
The custom-made lanterns from Japan can be picked up
and are yours to keep after the bon dance.
MANTO-E LANTERN APPLICATION FORM
万灯会提灯申込書
Here’s my donation of $________ for ______ lanterns in memory of:Name 名前Dharma name 法名___________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ ____________
Donor’s name 寄付者名

Phone 電話___________________________ ____________
Make check payable to Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii"MBOFP4U )POPMVMV )*t☎ 531-9088

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NEW THIS YEAR!
t Illumination Gardent1FBDF-JHIU5VOOFMt(BOOFONPOPMBOUFSOXBMMt'JOEJOHZPVSSPPUTt,FOKJOLBJSFGFSSBMTt4FOJPSIFBMUIöUOFTTt'3&&LJETDSBGUTHBNFT

AMPLE PARKING

Lanakila Elem. School
across Alaneo St.

ADDITIONAL PARKING
Likelike Elem. School
below N. School St.
Free shuttle service available

Our perennially popular bon dance performance groups:
t'VLVTIJNB#PO%BODF$MVCt*XBLVOJ0EPSJ"JLP,BJt)BSBEB/BP"UTVTBLBJ

PLUS!

Grant “Sandaa” Murata
Hawaii Eisa Shinyuu Kai“Shoho” Dazz Toguchi

Semi-classical Japanese Dance MasterAnd for the other bon dance weekends, don’t forget
our sister Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii District temples:
Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji: July 7, 6:30 - 10 pm;
food booths open 5:30 pm; service 6 pm
Palolo Hongwanji: July 27 & 28, 6:30 - 9:30 pm; foodbooths open 5:30 pm; service 6 pm
Waimea Higashi Hongwanji: July 27 & 28, service 6 pm
Hilo Higashi Hongwanji: Aug. 11, 6:30 pm; service 6 pm

In Search of theBluebird ofHappinessRev. Noriaki Fujimori introduced
the Hawaii District’s new theme,“Let Us Discover the Joy of Living”(生きる喜びを見つけよう) by tellingthe story of his own futile pursuit of
the “Bluebird of Happiness.”
After trying to chase down theelusive bird and questioning who hewas himself, he came to realize thatjoy and happiness was always rightbefore his eyes in Shin Buddhism.
Rennyō Shōnin’s collaborative
learning approach and Shinran
Shōnin’s non-traditional approach
to bringing Buddha’s teaching to themasses had made the benefits ofBuddhism available to everyone.
What makes one happy? Thoseattending shared examples suchas personal accomplishments,connections with the deceased andappreciation of Nature.
But what is happiness? Costa
Rica is ranked the ” Happiest Placeon Earth.” Is it the same feeling as
expressed by the joy and happinessinherent in the Japanese wordyorokobi? Some felt that perhaps inother cultures, the emotion might
be more accurately described as“satisfaction” or “contentment.”
No doubt happiness is different
things to different people.

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
and its Board of Directors
cordially invite you to attend theObon Service and Hatsu Bon Service
Sunday, July 8, 2018
10:00 a.m.

English Sermon by Rev. Bert Sumikawa
Minister, Kailua Hongwanji
Otoki refreshments immediately following the service
The Obon Service is held to remember our ancestors and to celebrate our life,
and is one of the most important observances of the year. Please join us andgather again this year to resolve to deepen our understanding of Buddhism.

Brief biography of guest minister, Rev. Bert Sumikawa
Bert Sumikawa was born in Pearl City Peninsula and moved
to Kailua after the 5th grade and graduated from Iolani School.
He received a B.S. degree in Zoology with a minor in Philosophy
and Theology from Marquette University, where he attended
Dental School and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery
degree, followed by a residency in Pediatric Dentistry at theWisconsin Children’s Hospital.
After taking all of the required courses at the Institute ofBuddhist Studies, he received Tokudo and Kyoshi certification, and was appointed
Kaikyoshi. Having served at the Kapolei Buddhist Sangha, Honpa Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin and most recently at Moiliili Hongwanji, he is now serving at Kailua
Hongwanji and as Chaplain at the Pacific Buddhist Academy.
His maternal great-grandfather was a Christian minister in Kobe and hismaternal grandfather was a long-time Christian minister in Waimea, Kauai, after
first serving at the Lihue Christian Church.

初夏の候、みなさまにおかれましてはお元気にお過ごしのことと存じます。さて今年もお盆の季節がやってまいりました。本年は左記の如くお盆法要並びに初盆法要を厳修いたしますのでご案内申しあげます。

記

お盆／初盆法要

2018年７月８日（日)午前10:00時

法話 住川 バート 開教使
カイルア本願寺開教使以上の予定となっております。なお法要後、お斉の接待がございます。どうぞご家族お揃いで法要にお参り下さい。

Rev. Fujimori of Palolo Hongwanji was ourguest speaker at Otani Center on June 24.

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News on theBetsuin Wirelessdormitory at a school for the blind.
Middle-aged Naoto, realizing herloneliness, tries as much as possible
to cheer her up…
Also starring Takemi Fujii, Chinu
Izumi, Miyoko Yoshimoto and Masao
Komatsu. 2015. 96 minutes.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tuesday, July24, 96 min. Color. Japanese audio,
English subtitles. Free admission.
Light refreshments, or bring to share!
ちょきClockwise, from top left: Rev. Kikuchi, Margaret Hamachi & Rev. Kita perform “Hanagasa Ondo”
on stage at JCCH Manoa Grand Ballroom; Rev. Kita, Ken Saiki, Faye Shigemura & Rev. Kikuchi
greeted Japan’s Prince & Princess Akishino at a Thomas Square tree-planting ceremony; Atsuko
Nonaka & Kumiko Sakai at the Harada NaoAtsusa-kai Gannenmono Folk Song Charity Showat Ala Moana Hotel’s Hibiscus Ballroom; Fay & Ray Uyema wish Marian Tsuji well as she departs
her post as CEO at a Lanakila Pacific; Faye Shigemura awash in lei at her installation as presidentof the United Japanese Society of Hawaii, with Marion Kanemori, plus Deputy Consul General
Takayuki Shinozawa & UJSH Immediate Past President Sheree Tamura. Center: Ken Saikishares his thoughts on the June-July “Wisdom of Hawaii’s Elders” segment on KIKU-TV.

Betsuin members out & about
for June community activities

In June we found ourselves withmore than a typical month’s share ofnews and photos of our board and
Betsuin members fulfilling theirroles in the myriad activities thatmake a community function.
The month marked 150 years
since the arrival of the Gannenmono,
the first group of Japanese emigrants,
which spawned a flurry of anniversary
events in Hawaii. Temple members
had vital roles in assisting in several,
including a convention/symposium
for Nikkei from around the world, aminyo charity show and events forimperial family members, Prince andPrincess Akishino.
In June Betsuin President Faye
Shigemura and resident minister
Rev. Koen Kikuchi were installed aspresident and director, respectively,

4of the United Japanese Society of Hawaii
for the 2018-2018 year.
There are still other Gannenmono
events coming up. Check activities on
the web at www.kizuna-hawaii.com.

July movie selection, Eyes on Me,
will definitely capture your heart

This heartful 2015 film directed byJunichi Kanai was shot entirely on
location in Wakayama. Naoto Hatano(Hisashi Yoshizawa) runs a beauty salon
on a shopping street of Wakayama City
while his wife, Kyoko (So Hirosawa),teaches calligraphy on the 2nd floor.
Kyoko, who has no children, is drawn toa seven-year-old student, Seto Saki(Riko Masuda) and treats her like herown daughter. After a certain incident,
however, all contact with the girl is lost.
Ten years have passed. Naoto, awidower of five years, receives a callfrom Saki. She has lost her eyesightcompletely and is now living in a

オール和歌山市ロケによるハートフル・ラブストーリー。全盲の少女と美容師の男性との優しい恋の行方を描く。 和歌山市の商店街で美容室を営む波多野直人（吉沢悠）。妻の京子は美容室の２階で書道教室を開いていた。子どものいない彼女は、お転婆な７歳の生徒・瀬戸サキを我が子のように可愛がっていた。しかしある事件以来サキ（増田璃子）と会うことはなくなっていた。
それから10年後。５年前に京子に先立たれて以来独り身の直人のもとに、サキから電話がかかってくる。彼女は視力を完全に失っていて、盲学校で寮生活を送っていた。彼女の孤独を悟り、できるだけ一緒にいてあげようとする直人だったが...
監督：深田晃司、 出演者： 藤井武美、和泉ちぬ、芳本美代子、小松政夫、 公開 : 201５年、カラー、言語 :日本語、字幕 : 英語 、映時間 : 96分、7
月24日(火)午後6:30時、入場無料。

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

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Honolulu, HI
Permit No. 693

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...
t0CPO"4VNNFS5SBEJUJPOp. 1t Mantō-e lanterns p. 2t Betsuin Bon Matsuri! p. 2t#PO'FTUJWBMJOTFSUt The Bluebird of Happiness p. 3t Obon/Hatsubon service p. 3t/FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTTp. 4t.FNCFSTJOUIFDPNNVOJUZp. 4t.PWJFOJHIU&ZFTPO.F (ちょき) p. 4t Acknowledgments p. 5t July shōtsuki service p. 5tTemple activities calendar p. 6Temple Activities Calendar
7/1
7/1
7/2
7/8
7/10
7/12
7/15
7/15
7/16
7/17
7/17
7/20
&
7/21
7/22
7/24
7/24
7/28
7/29
7/29

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JULY

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki service/Sunday school
Dharma message: Rinban Ken Kawawata
Sun 12 pm Omigaki polishing of altar accessories
Mon 10 am Betsuin study class
Sun 10 am Obon/Hatsubon service
Rev. Bert Sumikawa of Kailua HongwanjiTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English)
Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
Dharma message: Rev. Koen Kikuchi
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingMon 10 am Betsuin study classTue 7 pm Bon dance practice until 9 pm
Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Fri 5:30 pm Betsuin Bon Festival Food booths open
& 6:30 pm Mantō-e service
Sat 7 pm
Bon dance until 10 pm
Sun 9 am Bon dance cleanup (no Sunday service)
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Eyes on Me ちょき (2016)
Sat 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
Dharma message: Rinban Kawawata
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class

8/5
8/5

8/6
8/9
8/12
8/14
8/19
8/19
8/20
8/21
8/25
8/26
8/28
8/28
8/28

AUGUST

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
日本語仏教
現代語で仏教を聞こう

Mon 10 am Betsuin study class
Fukuhara Conference RoomThu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday schoolTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceSun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingMon 10 am Betsuin study class
Fukuhara Conference RoomTue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
Sat 10 am Hawaii District meeting
Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday schoolTue 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm
Fukuhara Conference Room

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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