Way. The TEMPLE SCHEDULE LESSONS FROM OKINAWA. October. November. North America District Conference & Banquet. Shinran Shonin 750th Memorial Service

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1 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Los Angeles, CA Permit No The Way Vol. 64, No. 8 September 2012 TEMPLE SCHEDULE October 7 10:00am Shotsuki Service 14 10:00am Sunday Service 21 10:00am Family Service 28 10:00am Sunday Service Discussion Group 27 7:00pm Movie Night - Kwaidan 28 11:30am Halloween Party November 4 10:00am Kaikyo-ki/Shotsuki 11 10:00am Family Service Conference & Banquet Saturday, November 17, 2012 Shinran Shonin 750th Sunday, November 18, :00am LESSONS FROM OKINAWA Rinban Noriaki Ito Earlier this year in July, I had the opportunity to accompany this year s Youth Hōshidan Tour to Japan. There were ten participants in all, Scott Yamashita, Brandon Chew, and Kenny Ouye from Berkeley, Sean Underwood, Yazmin Whang, Matthew Ormseth, and Taylor Saucedo from West Covina, Heather Toyoshima from the Betsuin, and Caden Yamamoto and Maya Asai from Hawaii. This is the first time members of the Hawaii District joined us. Revs. Takafumi Bansaka and Ryoko Osa were the other advisors who went. The highlight of the nine-day tour was the visit to the Honzan, formally called Shinshū Honbyō, the mother temple of our Higashi Honganji tradition. There, we participated in a 3-day retreat at the Dōbō Center where we listened to lectures by Rev. Michael Conway, and learned about the history of our denomination. As with all of the participants of previous tours, the young people were overwhelmed with the grandeur of the Honzan and the rich history of our tradition. For most of them, it was their first experience of Japan and that added to the excitement of all of the sights and experiences they had everyday. The presentations given by Rev. Conway were truly inspirational and gave the young people a true understanding of the teaching of Shin Buddhism. On previous tours, after our stay in Kyoto, we ve traveled to other places in Japan that had historical significance to our Higashi Honganji, or to Hiroshima or Nagasaki where they could learn about World War II. Each of the participants, although fully American, have family roots in Japan and so it is especially moving to learn about the war that occurred between our two countries. In continuing that trend, this year, we traveled to Okinawa to learn about its history and especially about the suffering that citizens there experienced during World War II. A new Betsuin was built in the capital city of Naha in The minister there, Rev. Nagatani, organized a wonderful study tour for us and we learned so much about its history and (Please see OKINAWA, page 3)

2 Page 2 Betsuin News info@hhbt-la.org 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin Following the three months of observances held at our mother temple in Japan last year for the 750 th Memorial for Shinran Shonin, our district will commemorate the occasion on the weekend of November 17 and 18. The theme of this observance is Now, Life is living you. On Saturday, November 17 th, the commemorative Dobo Conference will be held with speakers, Dr. Nobuo Haneda, of the Maida Center of Buddhism, and Dr. Mark Blum, currently a professor at the State University of New York. The theme of the conference is Shin Buddhism: From Struggle to Awakening. That evening, the 750 th Memorial Banquet will be held at the Quiet Cannon. There, we will welcome our guests who include Chief Administrator of the Shinshu Otani-ha, Bishop Ko Yasuhara, and the newly-appointed Overseas District Abbot Choyu Otani and his wife here from Brazil. The Rev. Otani is the first cousin of the present Abbot, Choken Otani. The next morning, the observance of the 750 th in honor of Shinran Shonin will be held with Overseas District Abbot Otani officiating. The Dharma message will be delivered by Bishop Yasuhara. This service, which is held only once every 50 years, promises to be a most memorable one and we hope that all of you will join us. The final event of the weekend will be the Kikyoshiki (Confirmation Ceremony) to be officiated by Overseas District Abbot Otani. We hope that everyone will join us for this auspicious occasion. More details of the weekend will be forthcoming as we approach this historic event. 11th World Dobo Convention The World Dobo Convention which was slated to be held in May 2011 has been rescheduled for May 8~10, Although it will no longer coincide with the 750 th Memorial for Shinran Shonin, it will be held in Kyoto and at the Shinshu Honbyo (Higashi Honganji Honzan). Due to the delay in finalizing the convention dates, our tour operator had not been able to prepare an itinerary for the tour. However, by next month, we will be able to provide a detailed schedule for the tour. We had just around 70 people signed up for the convention and tour in 2011, and we hope that all of you will consider taking part in next year s tour. Please mark your calendars and start saving up your funds so that you can join us. Kaikyo-ki The Kaikyo-ki is a special service to honor the departed ministers of Higashi Honganji. It will take place in conjunction with the November Shotsuki Service held on November 4 th at 10:00am. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to all of the ministers who have served at our Betsuin over the years. Fujima Kansei Odori Kai The Fujima Kansei Odori Kai is currently welcoming new students through the fall. If you are interested in joining us, please contact the temple office. Classes meet Tuesday afternoons. Halloween Party Come dressed up in your best costume for our Sunday Service and Halloween Party on Sunday, October 28 th. Following our regular (except for some members and ministers in unusual costumes) Sunday Service, please join us for our annual Halloween Party in the social hall! We ll have plenty of games and crafts as well as prizes and lots of sweet treats! We encourage both children AND adults to dress up and join in on the fun! It s not every Sunday you can dress however you want and maybe even get a prize for it! Be sure to invite your family and friends along, too! Kwaidan Movie Night Join us on Saturday October 27th at 7pm for our Halloween-themed Movie Night! We will be showing the 1964 J- Horror classic Kwaidan (183 minutes, Japanese with English subtitles) on a big screen downstairs in the social hall. The film showcases four separate scary stories set in ancient Japan. The showing is free of charge and light refreshments will be provided. Please call the office to RSVP so we know how many people will be coming!

3 (OKINAWA, con t. from page 1) especially its many challenges during World War II. It was my first journey to the island, and after going on the study tour and meeting members of our temple there, I realized how little I knew about Okinawa. The islands that constitute Okinawa prefecture are relatively close not only to Japan, but also to China, and other Southeast Asian countries as well. So its history incorporates the cultures of both China and Japan into their indigenous foundation. Okinawa was a self-governing kingdom between the 15 th and 19 th Centuries. Since the early 20 th Century, it had become a prefecture of Japan. However, from 1945, at the conclusion of the war, it was under U.S. administration for 27 years. Since then, it seems to have become more and more mainstream Japanese. Naha feels similar to many small cities in Japan. Today, Okinawa is celebrated for its distinct culture, especially it s music. Many of the top artists have Okinawan roots. But this was not always the case. I remember one conversation I had with a friend years ago. She was a sansei nearly my age, and one day she said something to me that was at once shocking and revealing. While reminiscing about our childhood, she remembered something her mother told her when she was a child. You re not a true American; but you re also not Japanese or Japanese American. That s because our family is from Okinawa. That conversation rekindled an experience I once had back in the early 70 s when I was a student in Kyoto. Near where I lived, there was a great ramen restaurant that I used to frequent. Eventually, I got to be friends with the husband and wife who owned the restaurant. One day I asked them, are you Kyoto natives? The wife said to me, Oh no, we re foreigners like you. I said, but you re Japanese. And she replied, No, we re from Okinawa. So whether it was in Japan or in the States, people from Okinawa faced discrimination and to a certain extent, were regarded as second-class citizens. So these were among the challenges that faced the Okinawan people. Perhaps it is precisely because of those challenges that the Okinawan community here in In a previously mailed 2012 Membership List, the following name was inadvertently omitted. Our apologies to the following: - Ogino, Kazue correction Page 3 Los Angeles is so united and so strong. My assessment may be totally wrong, but after learning about their experiences during World War II, and the challenges Okinawa continues to face today, this is how it seemed. While there, we were able to meet actual survivors of the war who shared many moving stories with us. They told us about how, as the war was coming closer to their island, Japan s government propaganda told them that Americans are devils, red-haired and huge, who will rape the women and kill the men and even their children. If they were ever captured, they should commit suicide. The war came to their shores in April A month or so before that, we were told that the Prime Minister of Japan went to see the Emperor and the military leadership to advise them to surrender. Although everyone knew that there was no longer any chance to win the war, the generals said that they needed time to negotiate with the Americans to save the Emperor s authority. They were willing to sacrifice Okinawa in order to accomplish their goal. The battle lasted for 82 days and during that period, nearly 150,000 civilians, a quarter of the entire population died. 95,000 Japanese soldiers were killed, and 12,500 American soldiers lost their lives. As the battles spread throughout the island, civilians fled their homes to save themselves and their families. During our one-day study tour, we visited one museum that told the story of young girls who were students who were drafted to serve as caregivers for the Japanese soldiers who were injured. Some who were as young as 14 told of the horrors they experienced, of classmates being killed in the battles that went on around them. Of the 240 students and teachers, only a handful survived. Most were killed because they were virtually on the front line caring for injured soldiers. Others followed the instructions of their superiors who told them to commit suicide before surrendering to the enemy. One of the most memorable places we visited was one of the caves where civilians hid from the battles. Because the island of Okinawa was once under sea level and basically a coral reef, our guide told us that there are some 17,000 caves there. We were given flashlights and gloves before descending into the cave. The path was muddy, and at certain points, you had to almost crawl since the opening was so small. We finally arrived at a large cavern that at one time sheltered 1,000 people. The guide shared the story of a family of four who were in the cave for a few weeks. The mother tried to care for her nine-month old baby, but because she was not getting decent nourishment, she was not able to produce the milk needed to feed the child. And since it was pitch dark inside, the only way she could tell if her baby was alive was to place a finger below his nose. The baby eventually died in the cave and in the darkness, she walked around to find a proper burial site for him. He said that the mother continues to tell her story in the hopes that no mother would ever have to suffer such a tragic experience. Before we left the cave, we were instructed to turn off our flashlights and imagine what those hiding in the cave must have experienced. It was pitch black, and I think we all were able to imagine the tremendous suffering of those who suffered so much back then. The last site we visited was a park where there is what is known as the Cornerstone of Peace. It is a beautiful (Please see OKINAWA, page 4) Our deepest condolences to the family and relatives of Ms. Yaeko Ishimoto (79) August 12, 2012 Mr. Toshiro Nishida (86) August 15, 2012 Namu Amida Butsu

4 Page 4 (OKINAWA, con t. from page 3) memorial to all of those who died in the Battle of Okinawa. The design is called Everlasting Waves of Peace and is composed of many huge granite slabs placed in a wave pattern. Over 240,000 names are listed. The civilian casualties are listed by their hometown. The guide took us to several of them to show us the names of some of the people whose stories he shared. As we walked along the over 100 stones, I began to see Romanized names instead of the kanji for the Japanese who died. I quickly realized that they were the names of the 14,000 American soldiers who lost their lives. There were also some from Australia and other countries as well. I asked the guide why the names of enemy soldiers were listed. He said, the soldiers both Japanese and American were our enemies. But in actuality, he said, it was the Japanese and American governments who were the enemies. The soldiers were only doing what they were forced to do. That s why we consider them to be victims as well. The Cornerstone of Peace is there to remind us of the horrors of war. In the eyes of those who survived and continue to tell their stories, there were no winners only losers. They continue to share their tragic stories with as many people as possible, advocating for peace. And we who had the opportunity to listen to them received the wishes of those who died and of those who survived to advocate in our own way for a future where no children will ever have to suffer as they did. SUBMISSION DEADLINE! Submissions for are due the 10th of each month for the following month s issue. Articles and announcements for our November Issue are due October 12th, Submissions may be subject to printing restrictions and staff approval. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you! visit our website at 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin LUMBINI CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER OPEN ENROLLMENT! spaces available now Call today to set up a visit to the school or get an application! Now, Life is Living You - Saturday, November 17, Dobo Conference Shin Buddhism: From Struggle to Awakening Guest Speakers: Dr. Nobuo Haneda & Dr. Mark Blum 750th Memorial Banquet Quiet Cannon, Montebello - Sunday, November 18, th in honor of Shinran Shonin Officiant: Overseas District Abbot Choyu Otani Guest Speaker: Chief Administrator of Shinshu Otani-ha, Bishop Ko Yasuhara Kikyoshiki (Confirmation Ceremony) Officiant: Overseas District Abbot Choyu Otani FOR CHILDREN AGES 2 1/2 TO 6 YEARS TEL: FAX: missleslie_lumbini@yahoo.com WEBPAGE: open year round: MONDAY through FRIDAY 7:30am to 6:00pm closed national holidays

5 The FujinKai will host the famous and popular BIG BARGAIN SALE on Sunday, October 21 st from 8:00am to 2:00pm. Bargain hunters will have a field day as we open our doors 1 hour earlier than last year,when over 550 people attended. Many of them returned at the end of the day, when prices were reduced offering even bigger deals! We are excited and looking forward to another successful event this year. Thank you temple members and friends for your generous donations in the past. We again welcome your items for sale. The temple office will be accepting donations only during a 2-week period from Monday, October 1 st to Sunday, October 14 th. We appreciate your following these guidelines when donating items to sell as you will make our job of organizing them more efficient and time saving. ********************************** Only CLEAN and gently used items that are READY TO SELL Page 5 BIG BARGAIN SALE ATTENTION: ALL BARGAIN HUNTERS!! Plasticware and glassware Polished silver items (no tarnished items) Kitchen utensils and small clean appliances Decorative items Stationery, office items, and books in good condition Homemade craft items Fabric, aprons, scarves, gloves, new socks, towels, purses, wallets Complete children s puzzles and games (no missing parts) ONLY CLEAN stuffed animals, dolls, and toys Only commercially made CDs, DVDs, VHS, and cassettes (No homemade items) No clothing, shoes, or cosmetics No old textbooks and magazines No torn, chipped, or faded items No large items such as furniture No homemade food items No personal electronic items (computers, printers, telephones) Please wrap breakable items and pack sets of cups, mugs, plates in the same box Please pack small items (necklaces, bracelets, key chains) in separate bags or envelopes to prevent tangling or loss Please supply new batteries with any items requiring batteries Again, donations may be brought to the temple office during the 2-week period from Monday, October 1 st to Sunday, October 14 th. After October 14 th, we regret that we cannot accept any more items. Now is the perfect time to look through your homes and start packing items to bring to the temple during this 2- week period. Be sure to label your boxes and bags Big Bargain Sale or BBS so we will find them on October 15 th. If you have questions,please call the temple office (213) and leave a message. Your call will be returned. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUP- PORT! Emily Matsumura Big Bargain Sale Chairperson Mrs. Aiko Okamoto (pictured above) and son, Mickey Okamoto (pictured below), are among several volunteers who dedicate many hours to working hard to maintain our temple gardens. Green Tip Help us save paper and postage by requesting your newsletter online! You can go GREEN by ing us in the temple office and requesting ONLY for future issues of and other temple mailers. US at info@hhbt-la.org You can also visit us on the WEB at Our newsletter and other flyers are also available on our website. DONATE BY CREDIT CARD We would like to remind you that the temple has incorporated Credit Card processing. This is an added option for members to charge donations or purchases made at the temple on their Visa or Mastercard. If you are interested in making a donation with your credit card, you can call in with your credit card information or bring your card into the temple office to make your charge. We hope you will find this to be an added benefit.