Information of O-Toba for 2015

Dear Members and Friends of Jodo Mission:

Thank you very much for your support to Jodo Mission. We hope you are enjoying a very safe and peaceful
New Year. Time passes so quickly! It is time to order your
O-Toba.
What is an O-Toba? An O-Toba is a long wooden memorial tablet with the name or names of your ancestors
written to honor them.

We will soon send you an O-Toba order form to order your O-Toba
for O-Bon 2015.
Because of the Temples busy summer schedule, the deadline to order your
O-Toba is Sunday, March 1st. Our O-Bon services will be held on July 17-19
(Fri-Sun).
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
In Gassho,
Jodo Mission of Hawaii

Address Service Requested

Jodo Mission of Hawaii

1429 Makiki St.
Honolulu HI 96814
(#1219-0215)

Bulletin - FEBRUARY 2015

Jodo Mission of Hawaii

Buddhas Memorial Day Service (Nehan-e)

Sunday, February 8th at 10 a.m.
Nehan-e is the Memorial Day Service for Shakyamuni Buddha. He is the founder of Buddhism. He passed away at the age of 80 about 2500 years ago on February 15.
Nehan is Nirvana in Sanskrit. Nirvana means the state of things after a fire has
been put out. In other words, it means that Shakyamuni Buddha put out the fire of bad
things human beings have in their minds; such as, anger, confusion, sorrow and so on. Then,
he completely reached Enlightenment on that day. It is said that Shakyamuni Buddha
achieved Enlightenment at the age of 35 and then spent the rest of his life teaching his wisdom throughout much of northern India. After nearly 45 years of lecturing, he and a number
of his loyal disciples journeyed toward the place of his birth. During this journey, Buddha experienced much pain from his illness and knew his time on earth was coming to an end but
still continued to his birthplace. When his pain became unbearable and he had to stop moving, his disciples prepared a bed for him under a sala tree
where he could rest. He still continued to preach his sermons
and told his disciples that they must continue to practice his
teachings and strive for enlightenment.
Thanks to Shakyamuni Buddha, we can live with this wonderful teaching. Shall we express our great appreciation to Shakyamuni Buddha on this Nehan-e Service. The service will be held
on Sunday, February 8th at 10:00 am. We look forward to This picture, the image of the passing of
Shakyamuni Buddha, was drawn by Rev.
your attendance.
Shokei Sasawaki (Osaka, Japan) Check out
her web site! http://www009.upp.sonet.ne.jp/Moon-6

Me s s ag e f rom Kyo d an B o ard Pr e s id e nt

I hope you had a wonderful 2014! Cherish all those memories and let's

create new ones in 2015. "Time" is so precious, so let's make the most of it
this year. Let's travel, taste different dishes, finish that project we've been
dreaming about, and spend time with our loved ones. Every time we interact
with people, let's spread love and compasion.
Even when we face challenges, let's always be grateful for all the good
things we have in life. 2015 will be as great as we make it, so let's go all out and live it to
the fullest with all we've got!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
Page 2

VISION FOR THE FUTURE (5)

By Rev. Yubun Narashiba

Japanese Buddhism in Hawaii has a very unique cultural background.

In Japan, Buddhist customs differ from village to village, town to town,
prefecture to prefecture. This is because Buddhism has been localized to fit
to the custom in each area. Since Japanese immigrants came to Hawaii from the various
regions of Japan, ceremonial customs are different according to the area where the family
came from. However, as time passes, those customs are becoming unclear and more confusing for the younger generations. Because of this confusion, younger generations seem
to be going away from Buddhism by saying that Buddhism is hard to understand. Therefore, in this article, I would like to explain the standard procedure of doing a service. As the
first, let me show you the two common procedures of having funerals among the members
of Jodo Mission of Hawaii.
1. When Someone Passed Away
Death

Medical examination

Call for a minister

Makuragyo (Bedside service)

Call for a mortuary

Body pick-up

Meeting with the funeral director at the

mortuary

Viewing service

Cremation

FUNERAL with the first 7th day service

49th day service

Burial service

Hatsubon (1st O-Bon) service

1 year memorial service

2. When Someone Is Very Close To Death

Call for a minister

Rinju Gyogi (Last rites)

Death

Medical examination

Call for a mortuary

Body pick-up

Meeting with the funeral director at the

mortuary

Viewing service

Cremation

FUNERAL with the first 7th day service

49th day service

Burial service

Hatsubon (1st O-Bon) service

1 year memorial service

Note: Above two service procedures are purely for informational purpose. We shall honor your family customs and
decisions to arrange a funeral service.
**Editors note: This article is a reprint from our August 2011 issue. Because this article contains information you will need
to know some day, we will be reprinting it from time to time as space permits.
Page 3

HAWAII STATE JODO SHU FUJINKAI SCHOLARSHIP

Namiye Nakamura Scholarship
The Hawaii State Jodo Shu Fujinkai offers a $1,000 Namiye Nakamura
Scholarship to a Hawaii high school graduate or a member of the temple
who wishes to further his/her education toward a degree or advanced
degree in an accredited college or university.
The applicant for the scholarship must meet the following criteria:
1. Priority will be given to an applicant who participated regularly in his/her Jodo
Mission temple activities.
2. Be an active member of his/her respective Jodo Mission.
3. The applicant should be a student graduating from a high school in
Hawaii. If there are no graduating students applying, any applicant
continuing his/her education may receive the scholarship.
4. Be accepted at an accredited university or institution of higher learning.
5. Possess good moral character and leadership potential.
6. Submit an application by April 15th.
The family or legal guardian of the applicant must currently be a member of his/her
respective Jodo Mission. Financial need will be considered. Determination of the
scholarship recipient will be made by a Scholarship Committee.
If there are any questions about the scholarship, please consult Rev. Yubun
Narashiba at 949-3995.

Honolulu Jodo Shu Fujinkai

General Membership Meeting
and Shinenkai or New Years Party

Den Den Mushi

About six students from Shukutoku
University Panel Theater Group will
be here on Sunday, February 22 at
10:30 am (after Sunday Service) to
perform. Please come to see this
wonderful group tell their picture
story!
Page 4

The Honolulu Jodo Shu Fujinkai will have

their annual General Membership Meeting
(including installation of officers) and New Years
party on Sunday, February 22, at 11 a.m.. after
the Den Den Mushi performance. Please call the
Jodo Mission office 949-3995 to make your
reservation to the New Years party.
All Fujinkai members are invited to the general
membership meeting and New Years party. If
you are interested in joining the Fujinkai, please
come and find out what we are all about. The
Fujinkai is a women association which promotes
spiritual and social development of its members as
well as promotes goodwill and fellowship among
its members.

N e w Ye a r s Da y O f f er in g s / B l e s s i n g s
On New Years Day, Rev. Narashiba performed blessings
to all who came to the New Years Day service on January
1st. Photo at left is the large okasane before Amida
Buddha. Below are blessings given to a family as well as
to a husband and wife.

Mochi Tsuki DayDecember 27, 2014

Arigato to all who came to the temple to make Mochi on Saturday, December 27.
There were so many of you who came to help: temple members, relatives and friends and
friends of friends. The time went by so quickly! It takes a lot of people, young and old,
and it is a LOT OF HARD WORK.
The mochi rice needs to be washed the day before
and also the pots, burners, wooden containers or morobutas all need to be brought out from storage and prepared for use for Mochi Day.
On Mochi Tsuki Day, mochi rice is cooked, pounded
manually or put through a grinder, and individually shaped, floured, brushed of excess
powder and packed to fulfill all the orders received. There is also a lot of fellowship.
Some never made mochi before and were amazed how it is done. Didnt
your mochi taste especially good when you were part of this unique day!!
Thank you so much for your help!

Page 5

What is Perpetual Memorial

Service? (Eitaikyo)
This record of a perpetual memorial service and
is called Eitaikyo in Japanese. When the date of
death occurs for a person listed on this record, the
ministers pray for that individual during the morning service. The prayers will continue each year for
as long as Jodo Mission exists.
Anyone can be included in it. You may put your
own name on the list, too. This also helps when it
is difficult to have memorial services. We also welcome you to attend the morning service at 9:30am.

How to apply
Stop by the office, and fill out the application
form. Each name costs $200. After the application
is accepted, the name will be listed on the record.

Obituaries
The Jodo Mission of Hawaii extends
its sincere condolences to the family
members and loved ones of the following
members who have recently left this
world for the Pure Land.
Eleanor Masako Tanaka
Stacy Itsuo Kurashige
Dorothy Tamano Yasuda
Walter Kazuo Nagasako
Shizuye Gladys Shimizu

More photos from Mochi Tsuki

December 27, 2014
Happy women
in kitchen
helping with
lunch for
workers

Jodo Mission Office Hours:

Monday to Saturday
8am5pm
Sunday & Holidays
8am3pm

Phone: 949-3995
Website: www.jodo.us

Bishop Gensho Hara

Lahaina, Maui
Page 6

Rev. Yubun Narashiba

Head Minister

102
53
88
69
92

Men grinding
mochi rice
until it is
smooth &
silky

Rev. Kanjun Nakano

Rev. Dwight Nakamura

Resident Minister

Bishop Emeritus

Perpetual Memorial Service (Eitaikyo)

For February 2015
1. Itaro Yanagihara
The Yanagihara Family
Kisaburo Teraoka
The Teraoka Family
The Mitani Family
Sumako Kishii
2 Kuma Kawamura
The Kawamura Family
Robert Hiroshi Yamanaka
Dorothy Mieko Oshita
Hideo Takamatsu
Yasuko Tanaka
Sueyo Nakamura
3 Rymond Hisashi Narahara
Ayame kano
Hazel Mitsuko Imai
4 Kii Hirohama
The Hirohama Family
Kiyoe Soma
Robert Takashi Maehara
5 Hatsu Konaka
The Yano, Konaka & Hayashi Families
Gorokichi Ishida
The Ishida and AimotoFamilies
Misao Mitsuyasu
The Mitsuyasu Family
Masaharu Kotake
Tsugio Hayase
Shigeyo Kawano
6 Matsuemon Tanimura (2)
The Tanimura Family (2)
Sawaichi Nakagawa Family
Kimi Higashi
Misae Ichida
Bunji Kishii (2)
Umeyo Yamamoto
Dr. Yasuhiko Hayashi
Patrick Seiji Yamamoto
7 Namie Nakamura
Tsugi Hifumi
Yoshizo Muramoto
8 Toshio Higa
The Higa Family
Yukie Higashi
Tame Ito
Stella Masako Takamatsu
9 Haruyo Yanagihara
The Yanagihara Family
Minoru Okawa
The Okawa Family
Kishichi Yoshikawa
Kimie Tanaka
Yoshiteru Sakaguchi
10 Satomi Yamamoto
The Yamamoto Family
Kame Uyehara
The Uyehara Family

Michie Watanabe
Jimmy Nestegard
Chiyo Tanaka
11 Minekichi Taniguchi
The Taniguchi Family
Tsuneko Nago
The Nag & Kunimoto Families
Rev. Shuen Inoue
Sue Nishimoto
Noboru Yamasaki
Kameyo Fujita
Hisae Yamato
Sue Nishimoto
12 Sumie Kanoyama
The Kanoyama Family
Bishop Shinkyo Tachikawa
Doris Umeno Nojima
Yoshihiro Hata

Tomiko Ruth Inouye

Cory Ikuta
19 Chozo Kawano
The Kawano Family
Eijiro Murakami
The Murakami & Yamamoto Family
Ishi Matsuda
The Murakami Family
Eijiro Murakami
20 Ryozo Hamada
The Hamada Family
Magoichi Mineishi
The Mineishi Family
Taro Takara
Tomoyo Takara
Kimie Matsuda
Sue Takabayashi
Natsuko Aoki

13 Torajiro Kusunoki
The Kusunoki Family
Ichiro Yasumoto
Fusakichi Kawanishi
Haruyo Tarumoto
Seijiro Takabayashi

21 Tamotsu Kuniyuki
Momoyo Yoshida

14 Hajime Nishimoto
The Nishimoto Family
Kensuke Hironaka
The Hironaka & Ishimoto Families
Sae Tachikawa
Hiroshi Sato
Raymond Shizuo Asaumi
Shigeyo Otani
Takeji Gushikuma
Matsu Kiyuna
George Sotoshi Tarumoto
Kikuye Homareda

23 Taichi Sato

15 Kiyoshi Tsukiyama
Otake Takara
16 Shigeru Asaumi
The Asaumi Family
Yukio Nakagawa
Motoo Muramoto
17 Masuyo Shimokawa
The Shimokawa Family
Kinzaburo Makino
The Makino Family
Kazuyo Hashimoto
Choshiro Ikuta
Tsuchiyo Fujimoto
Reiko Hata
Alfred Akira Tanaka
Frederick Kinzaburo Makino
18 Reiji Yamane
The Yamane & Harada Families
Tsutako Yamanaka
The Yamanaka Family
Matsuyo Machida
Otome Takara

22 Yoshi Hayashi
The Yano, Konaka & Hayashi Families
Kinu Nishimura (2)

24 Kame Akamine
The Akamine Family
Kikuno Hisamura
Kamesuke Nakahama
Takiko Yanagihara
25 Sue Maeda
The Maeda Family
Shinichi Takao
The Takao Family
Takayo Matsuo
The Matsuo Family
Shigeki Umemoto
The Yoza Family
The Shimabukuro Family
Tamotsu Nakamura
Florence Kimie Karimoto
26 Jirosaku Otani
The Otani & Yanagihara Family
Shiro Fukuda
27 Taichi Wakagi
The Wakagi Family
Keiko Hanano
Noboru Hirano
Shigeru Takara
28 Fukuichi Fukuda
Mitsuyo GladysYoshihara
The Goichi Kawamura Family
Tsuru Kuniyuki
29 Nobue Kochi

11:00am Fujinkai General

Membership Mtg &
New Years Party

10:00am Sunday Service

Den Den Mushi Panel Theater

10:00am Sunday Service

Taisho University students visit

10am Nehan-e Family

Service
11:45 am Board Meeting

10:00am Obetsuji Service

8:30am Fujinkai Mtg.

Bukkyo University students

visit

23

16

Mon

24

17

10

Tue

Next Class: Saturday, March 28

Sewing Circle: No Class in February

26

19

12

Thu

Feb. 22: 11:00 am

General Membership Meeting

& New Years Party

Feb. 1: 8:30 am Ikoi Hall

Fujinka i

YBA - No Meeting in February

25

18

11

Wed

February 2015

COMING EVENTS:
Deadline for O-Toba Orders: March 1
120th Anniversary Seminar of Jodo Shu in Hawaii: March 14-15
Spring Higan Service: March 22
Deadline for Hawaii State Jodo Shu Fujinkai Scholarship: April 15

22

15

Sun

9:30am Morning Service

Everyday

28

21

14

Sat

Sunday School
Sunday School will join Den
Den Moshi Panel Theater
Presentation on Feb. 22

27

20

13

Fri

Website: www.jodo.us

Phone: 949-3995

Jodo Mission of Hawaii