You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
June is here already, as things continue to move along quickly. The schools and parents blow out a sigh of relief as the final push to the end of the school year is completed. Congratulations to the graduates and to everyone who made it through another cycle. Many of our families have a number of occasions and trips lined up throughout the summer. It is fun to hear about the plans and the anticipation. The rest of us will hold down teh fort here...just make sure you come back.
At the temple, June begins with a YBA Pancake Breakfast fundraiser. I bet we haven't said that for a while. The entire IOBT YBA Cabinet and all their members will be working hard with the help of family and friends. Please come to support their efforts. Our high school age youth have quietly developed a strong reputation throughout the BCA with their active participation in educational retreats at the national and district levels. We should all encourage their interest and personal growth in the Dharma. If you miss the breakfast, leave the tip.
The June 1 Shotsuki Service will honor Eshinna and Kakushinni, the wife and daughter of Shinran Shonin. They have each made their own contributions to the spread and development of our Shin Buddhist teachings. June 8 will be a MAP-led service, honoring Lady Ohtani. Her life reveals to us much more recent efforts made by Shin Buddhist women. June 15 is our Father's Day Family Service with luncheon. Please plan to come...everyone is important, and more attendance makes things more fun and festive for us all. This is a good opportunity to touch bases as we all prepare for the effort towards Japan Nite June 28. The 22nd is a regular Sunday Service. This might be the quiet before the storm...maybe we could perk up attendance by offering a drawing for Bonus Points to the Pure Land!
Our Obon Festival on Japan Nite is the main event of the month. This is not only a favorite tradition, it is also our Open House to the general public. Our families, our temple, and the Shin Buddhist Tradition have much to offer to the world. We should each feel personally responsible to make this event the best one ever, every single year. For the people who are new and learning the ways of the temple, having the mind to assist and support these temple functions is a major portion of becoming a part of the Buddhist Sangha. It is in these efforts that selfless giving, interdependence, mindfulness, and right effort are practiced in the midst of Sangha and everyday life. The abstractions that we study, meditate, and reflect upon become real practice in actualized effort. Please come join us and be a part of it all.
Rev. Dennis
Can you believe half of 2008 is almost gone - where has the time gone? Many of us had High School and College Graduations at this time of the year. IOBT graduates are: Grant Saito, Cameron Iseri, and Ronnie Koda. Congratulations and Good Luck!
Even though I wasn't here for Mother's Day, we all want to say thanks to the guys for cooking lunch for us. We all look forward to having our annual barbecue chicken, rice, salad and dessert. A job well done by our Sansei members. Bingo was played for entertainment with proceeds going to our Sunday Coffee Hour which Jeanne Ozawa is in charge of. (Thanks Jeanne for all your time and effort - all the goodies have been enjoyed by all.) Each mother also received a geranium plant to take home - Nice!
Memorial Day Visitation at the IOBT Nokotsudo will be open May 25th from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. and on May 26th from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Thakns to Shiz Inouye, Yasuko Kino, Kazuko Kuramoto and Glo Shimojima for being hostess during the visitation hours.
Our big Temple event Obon Festival - Japan Nite is coming up June 28th. Chairperson, Michelle Sadamori had a couple of meetings already, planning and finalizing the event. We need everyone's help on this event - it takes all hands to get the job done. Donations of $10.00 will be asked of each family for chicken to be used in Bento boxes. Mae Nakano or Ruth Harada will be in charge. Pies or other kinds of dessert will be appreciated also. Bring family friends to help...we'll find something for them to do and here agian it will be appreciated very much.
Father's Day is coming up soon - Payette-Fruitland and Weiser will be the Tobans for this day. Details are not complete (as I write this) - may have to ask around.
I read the poster on the Temple doors that the YBA is planning a Fundraiser-Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 1st. Price is $6.00. Come on out and have breakfast - the menu sounded really yummy!
IOBT BWA meeting will be held on June 1st after adult services. Lots of things need to be discussed.
The last day of Dharma School was held on May 18th along with the Gotanye family service. The high school graduates were honored and given a congratulatory certificate from BCA and also a gift from Dharma School. Those honored were Grant Saito, Cam Iseri, and Ronnie Koda. Grant Saito and Cam Iseri were also the recipients of the Murakami Scholarship presented by Mitsuko Murakami. The Dharma School treated the students and their parents to lunch at Wendy's after service.
Remember the Dharma School trip this summer is July 11-13, 2008 to Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area and the Silverwood Theme park. We have a nice group signed up and it should be another great trip!
The Malheur County Fair is from July 28th to August 2nd. The theme is "Rock with the Stock". Season passes for people who work in the booth need to be purchased prior to July 29th (the actual fair starts July 30th, but we feed the Chamber of Commerce on Monday the 28th and open in the afternoon of the 29th) at $10.00 per pass. Otherwise admission is $5.00 per day. If you would let Mary Ann Shimojima know that you need a pass, I can pick it up for you, or you can pick it up at the fair office before the 29th.
On May 18, 2008, my mom and I completed a journey that my dad started over 67 years ago. When I initially received the letter from the University of Washington, I thought it was a mistake. It said that the University would be honoring Japanese-American students who were forced to leave the school because of relocation. My dad had never said anything about attending UW so I wanted to verify the information with my uncle who still lives in Seattle. Uncle Hideo had graduated from the University in 1940, but he did not remember my dad, his older brother, attending UW. The question sent my uncle on a trip to the UW Registrar's office where he found transcripts that placed my dad in school in 1940-1941. He had attended classes at College of Puget Sound (now the University of Puget Sound) in 1938-1940 and transferred to the University.
Once confirmed, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to attend this ceremony awarding honorary baccalaureate degrees to Nikkei students who were forced to leave school because of Executive Order 9066. My dad was a firm believer in education and doing well in school. He would have been proud to have received his degree - no matter how late it was.
There were approximately 450 Nikkei students at the University in 1942. Many of these students were unable to complete work for their degrees after the war. The opening paragraph of the citation presented by the UW Board of Regents states it well: "Japanese American students at the University of Washington in 1941-42, whose lives were untimely interrupted, who were taken away, lifted from your homes and incarcerated for your Japanese ancestry, we come together this day to honor you and to confer upon you what rightly should have been yours decades ago."
I felt many emotions as I held the white rose which identified me as representing a deceased UW student. We were given stoles specifically created for the ceremony with the UW seal on one end and a two-crane symbol on the other. The crane symbolizes longevity and peace. Former UW students wore their stoles. Since my dad was deceased, I was to carry the stole draped over my left arm. We were also given a mortarboard with a 2008 white tassel. 160 honorees and representatives were in attendance at the ceremony. The keynote address was given by Secretary Norman Mineta, former transportation secretary. I especially appreciated the words of Secretary Mineta when he said, "It is never too late to right a wrong." Though some felt that this was too little, too late, I agreed with the words of the citation that read, "A trust was violated. We come together to restore. We acknowledge the injustice of the past, and we walk with you now into the future."
Finally, I had the diploma in hand. In a UW folder was the long overdue document with "Kiyoshi Hoshide" inscribed on it. My dad had received his degree. The journey was complete. Numerous causes and conditions forced my dad to leave school, never to return. Other causes and conditions made him a farmer in Idaho. New causes and conditions made possible this return home. I felt so much gratitude for all the people who had made this possible. When I reflect on this experience, I also realize that the causes and conditions of my life would be completely different if my dad had completed his degree at UW. What a precious life this is! Namo Amida Butsu!
Names have been trickling into the office in response to our request to help identify our temple-related veterans. To date, our list consists of: Russ Tanaka, Sagie Nishihara, Hide Takahashi, Fred Kuwahara, Jim Kurata, Mas Sakoi, Mits Nakamura, Isao Kameshige, George Yanagawa, Roy Oyama, Yoso Kuramoto (d), Wright Nagasaka (d), Tom Nishihara (d), Harry Hirano (d), Sab Nakao, Frank Adachi (d), James Uyeki, Tom Okai, Sr. (d), Tak Oyama (d), Max Takasugi, George Koyama, Connie Tanaka, Elmer Yamaguchi, Yas Teramura, Hideo Harada, Ray Nakamoto, John Tameno, Jim Morinaga, Bob Arima, Yosh Suyematsu, Jim Mizuta, Joe Nagaki (d), Archie Atagi, Charlie Morishita, Shun Morishige (d), Kaz Hinatsu (d), Tom Kamimae, Keiji Okano, Lefty Shoda, George Koyama, Bob Terada, George Hirai, and Nob Terada. Please bring additional names (deceased also) to the attention of the temple office so that all could receive their due recognition.
Thank you to Tak and Mary Kuwahara, Janice Sutton, Jim and Martha Mizuta, Bob, Elynn, Hannah and Keegan Mizuta, Hideo and Ruth Harada and Patty Aarestad and Payton for May Temple Clean-Up.
Thank you to Mary Nakamura, Lorinda Haseawa, Mae Nakano, Shiz Inouye, Jimmy Hondo, Kiku Hondo, Karen Hata, Delores Wood, and Hideo and Ruth Harada for helping with the June IOBT Bulletin.
Pure Land Joggers and Striders (PLJS) is a club for runners, walkers, and anyone else who might stretch and exert a muscle or two during the course of the week. The IOBT Chapter of the Pure Land Joggers and Striders has begun. We meet at the Ontario High School track at 10:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays each month, Weiser High School track at 10:00 a.m. on the 4th Thursday. The 2nd Thursday is available upon request. Please contact Rev. Fujimoto at 208.707.2021.
We are happy to announce the winners of this year's Murakami Scholarships. Two scholarships of $750.00 each were presented by Rev. Fujimoto with the assistance of Mitzi Murakami, Sunday, May 18. The winners are Grant Saito, son of Jeff and Lois Saito; and Cam Iseri, son of Mike Iseri and Terri Iseri. Congratulations!
Reverend Kodo Tanaka - Acting Biship of Jodoshu North America, Minister of Jodoshu North America Buddhist missions, LA
Reverend Dr. David Matsumoto - Director, Center for Contemporary Shin Buddhist Studies, Institute of Buddhist Studies - Resident Minister, Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Dr. Lisa Grumbach - Professor of Buddhist Studies and Japanese Religions - Institute of Buddhist Studies
Reverend Kodo Umezu - Director, Center for Buddhist Education
Reverend Harry Bridge - Resident Minister, Buddhist Church of Lodi
Jodo Shinshu Center - 2140 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, CA. Deadline for Registration: May 30, 2008, Information at 510.809.1460
This month Quinn Spencer interviewed Mrs. Yuki Hoshide
Yuki's favorite chant is Juseige. She doesn't use an alarm clock, but her brain wakes her up at 6:00 a.m. Spring is her favorite season of the year, but she really enjoys all the different seasons. When Yuki was Quinn's age, she ate rice and tsukemono but her favorite food was hard candy. Now she enjoys Fish and Chips. As a child, she had a dog and a cat for pets. Yuki's fondest memory was when her daughter, Kathy Chatterton, graduated from college.
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2007. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2006, 3 year = 2005, 7 year = 2001, 13 year = 1995, 17 year = 1991, 25 year = 1983, 33 year = 1975 and 50 year = 1958.
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
286 SE 4th Directions
PO Box 397 (mailing address)
Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-8562 (office)
541-889-8662 (fax)
10:00 am - IOBT Choir Practice
10:30 am - Adult Study
11:00 am - Family Service
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