Jikoen’s New Year’s Celebration Jikoen’s Annual New Year’s Celebration Luncheon on January 27 brough together young and old to enjoy good food, entertainment and fellowship. The morning began with a temple service and a special new year’s message by Rev. Shindo Nishiyama. After the service, lunch was followed by entertainment...
The 80th anniversary of the founding of Jikoen was celebrated on November 18, 2018. Featured in the celebration was a specially written booklet with photographs that told about the history of Jikoen. Also included are messages from Bishop Eric Matsumoto, explanations of our Jodo Shinshu religious traditions and the temple’s...
Land Acquisition from Bishop Estate Compiled by Ai Ogata with recollections from Rev. Chikai Yosemori and Shizuo “Billy” Tokuda Prior to moving Jikoen Hongwanji Mission to its present School Street location from its inaugural Houghtailing site, the leaders of Jikoen tried their best to find a good location for the...
From Houghtailing to the New Site A member story by Warren Higa We needed to find a new location for Jikoen. There was a listing of a lease-land on School Street which was a location favored by most members and Rev. Yamasato, because of its convenience for commuting to the...
It was a time when it was very unpopular to be Buddhist or to be connected to anything Japanese. Yet, the members of Jikoen kept a steadfast faith in their religion and were not about to be apologetic. They believed very strongly that it was not un-American nor unpatriotic to...
My father, Jiro Higa, a very active member, was the contractor who built the Jikoen temple on Houghtailing Street in 1938. In 1935, he also built the temple in Lahaina, which explains why Jikoen and the Lahaina Hongwanji are alike in structure. To save money, Rev. Yamasato asked him to...
I was always proud of Jikoen’s andagi. We were the first to make them at public gatherings. Although our equipment was crude and old-fashioned, we made the best andagi. Ever since Jikoen started it, today, many organizations are offering them as one of their best-sellers.
Lily Miyasato (Horio) was one of the spirited young temple leaders who encouraged us to actively participate in a variety of temple activities. She also introduced me to her piano teacher, Mrs. Shizuko Mukaida (whose mother, Mrs. Aki Kohatsu was a charter member of the temple), and I became a...
Dr. Albert Miyasato was a young man then, also returned from Japan. In Rev. Yamasato’s absence, Albert led the Vandana Ti Sarana. Although it was a small branch temple, we learned the same songs and lessons that were taught at the main Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin on Fort Street, now Pali...
We took turns leading the 8-fold Path. Since Rev. Yamasato did not speak English, we often had lay people giving talks. Some of the speakers were Ralph Presnall, Albert Miyasato, and Masao Ozaki.