The monthly bullet

1. JODO MISSION OF HAWAII
BULLETIN
(#1183-0212)
Jodo Mission of Hawaii
1429 Makiki St.
Honolulu HI 96814
Address Service Requested
DEN DEN MUSHI
Each year Shukutoku University Panel
Theatre Group called Den Den Mushi comes
to Hawaii to perform a picture story show,
visiting care homes, schools, and Jodo
Missions.
This year five students from Shukutoku
University Panel Theatre Group Den Den
Mushi will be in Hawaii in February, arriving
on February 9 and departing February 16.
This year they will be going to Maui and
will be performing for care homes, schools
and visiting Lahaina Jodo Mission, Kahului
Jodo Mission and Wailuku Jodo Mission.
Before returning to Japan, they will come
to Honolulu for one night. They will do one
last performance on Thursday, February 16 2011 photo of Den Den Mushi with Sunday School
students and friends who enjoyed the performance by
at 3:00 p.m. Please come and enjoy their Den Den Mushi.
performance. Refreshments will be served
after their performance.

2. Bits of Knowledge about Buddhism
Vol.03 “How long are Omamori effective?”(Reprint from Feb. 2011)
By Rev. Yasuhiro Watanabe
Omamori are very popular items in shrines and tem-
ples. They are charms to bring good fortune and expel evil.
Each one has a different purpose. Some are for good health,
traffic safety, happy marriage, success in business and study.
People keep Omamori in their purses or hang them in their
houses or cars. An Omamori of Jodo Mission contains a piece
of paper on which is written one character in Sanskrit. It
stands for Amida Buddha. Amida Buddha blesses you and
your property. You can escape an accident through Buddha's
grace. Please never open it even if you’d like to confirm that, or I’m afraid that it loses the
above power. Trust me.
It is not true that Omamori are effective during just a year. It is a custom that we
exchange old ones for new ones to show our respect for Buddha during the New Year
holidays. We are thankful to be blessed last year and pray for our happiness this year. Some
Omamori are for special purposes like success in study. In that case, you should return your
Omamori to the temple when you accomplish your goal. We recommend that you should not
throw old ones away because they are sacred just like a Buddha’s image. The ministers will
dispose of the Omamori properly after blessing them.
We know Onembutsu is also the best way of enjoying the blessing of Amida Buddha.
When you go to Las Vegas, you should remember to carry Omamori and say Onembutsu.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buddha’s Memorial Day Service (Nehan-e)
Sunday, February 12th at 10 a.m.
Nehan-e is the Memorial Day Service of 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.
Shakyamuni Buddha taught us how to live our daily lives and actually find meaning in our
lives.
Thanks to Shakyamuni Buddha, we can live with this wonder-
ful teaching. Shall we express our great appreciation to Shakya-
muni Buddha on this Nehan-e Service. The service will be held
on Sunday, February 12th at 10:00 am. We look forward to your
attendance.
This picture, the image of the passing of Shakyamuni Buddha, was
drawn by Rev. Shokei Sasawaki (Osaka, Japan)
Page 2 Check out her web site! http://www009.upp.so-net.ne.jp/Moon-6

3. Correction to Bishop Hara’s New Year’s Message:
We apologize for an error in Bishop Hara’s New Year’s message
found on page 1 of our January 2012 Bulletin. The error was
Amida Buddha is also called Muryoju Butsu, the Buddha of Eternal
Light [should have been “Eternal Life’] or Muryoko Butsu, the Bud-
dha of Inifinite Light. Below is a reprint of that paragraph with the
correction.
Honen Shonin stressed the belief in Amida Buddha’s original
vow (hongan) and to call upon Amida Buddha’s sacred name wholeheartedly to secure salvation
in this world and the world to come. In an age of social and political turmoil and chaos, Master
Honen encouraged all people to live their lives following the path of Nembutsu, calling Amida
Buddha’s holy name—Namu Amida Butsu. “Namu” means “I take refuge in” or “to throw oneself
N
to”, “Amida” stems from the Sanskrit Amitayus (Eternal Life) and Amitabha (Infinite Light). So
that Amida Buddha is also called Muryju Amitayus (Eternal Life) and Amitabha (Infinite Light).
So that Amida Buddha is also called Muryoju Butsu, the Buddha of Infinite Light. “Life” symbol-
izes compassion and “Light symbolizes the wisdom that shines upon our ignorant minds.
“Butsu” means Buddha, the Enlightened One, the Awakened One. Just as Master Honen did, we
too are living in a time of turmoil, our temples, our society, and our world at large face many
challenges, let us put our belief in the Nembutsu and work together for the future of Jodo Shu
and our community.
Bishop shared his 2011 New Year’s Eve message which he gave at Lahaina Jodo Mission:
My heart is filled with gratitude as we are able to live in this moment and gather here
tonight by the Great Compassion of Amida Buddha. Looking back at this past year, many lives
have been lost in war and terrorist attacks. Many lost their lives and homes in an instant in the
Tohoku triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident in Japan, and due to various
natural disasters in the U.S. and around the world. People everywhere are suffering. At the
same time, they are now feeling awe and respect for nature and realizing the importance of life.
Within the social and political chaos at the end of the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan,
Saint Honen (1133-1212), the founder of our sect, Jodo Shu, taught that Amida Buddha would
save all beings just as they are, giving people the strength, courage, and hope to live. This year,
Jodo Shu commemorated the 800th Grand Memorial of our Great Master, Honen Shonin.
Receiving his teaching with gratitude, we observed this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Here in
Hawaii, we celebrated this event in September at the Betsuin in Honolulu.
The Buddha taught us, “Living now in this life is a great blessing.” It is my wish that we en-
joy this new year of our precious lives under the great compassion and guidance of the Buddha
and live healthily and happily.
Namu Amida Butsu.
In Gassho,
Gensho Hara, Resident Minister
Page 3

4. LIFE BEYOND DEATH
Professor Soho Machida will be a guest speaker on Sunday
February 5, 2012 at our 10:00 a.m. Sunday Service. Please join us
and welcome Professor Machida who has published many books. He is
a professor, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Director,
Center for Ecological Peace Studies, Hiroshima University. He was born as a son of Haiku
poet in 1950. He practiced as a Zen monk for 20 years in a conservative monastery in
Kyoto, but left for the United States in 1984. He has a MA from Harvard University and
Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Taught at Princeton University (1990-1998),
National University of Singapore (1998-2000), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (2000-
2005) before he moved to Hiroshima in 2006. Research Areas: Comparative Religion, His-
tory of Civilization, Bioethics, and Peace Studies. He authored more than 20 books in Japa-
nese, English and Korean, including Renegade Monk (University of California Press), Can
Mankind Overcome Religion? (NHK Books), Why Religion Prevent Peace? (Kodansha),
etc. He also conducted monthly meditation seminars at Tokyo and Hiroshima.
Vision for the Future (6)
By Rev. Yubun Narashiba
I think Buddhism in America is very unique. It is not Mahayana, Thera-
vada nor Vajirayana. I want to call American Buddhism "Ameriyana." Accord-
ing to my personal observation, the following is the characteristics of Ameri-
yana Buddhists.
First of all, they study a lot though information on Buddhism in English is very limited.
They enter into the world of Buddhism by acquiring knowledge. Sometimes, they have more
books about Buddhism than we have in our temple. They try to get more information from
websites, movies, DVDs, video tapes or just by talking to Buddhist ministers.
Secondly, they practice various styles of Buddhism. It is very common for them to prac-
tice Zen meditation, and go to Pure Land temples at the same time. Some of them shave their
head, some have long pony tail. Many of them are semi-vegetarians while others are more
strict.
Thirdly, many of them are very interested in Buddhist cul-
tures. Some are practicing flower arrangement, calligraphy, vari-
ous kinds of martial arts, Yoga, Tai
Chi and so on. Some enjoy wearing
Buddhist outfits and others wear
just ordinary clothes. Some shave
their heads, some have long pony tail.
Also, many of them are high-
tech people though their lifestyle is Tai Chi photo by HawaiiArtStudio
pretty simple.
In America, it seems like they are practicing Buddhism in
Karate photo by JMalin Photography the way which most fits to each individual. I think the future of
our temple depends on if we can provide a comfortable place for
these people to pray and study.
[Any questions, please contact Rev. Narashiba]
Page 4

5. Bits of Knowledge of Buddhism
Vol. 15 The Best Day to Have a Relation to Buddhist Deities (Feb. 2012)
By Rev. Yasushiro Watanabe
15 2012 2
30
1 30
800
Vol. 15 The Best Day to Have a Relation to Buddhist Deities (Feb. 2012)
Ennichi are the days connected to certain Buddhist deities. It is said that
there will be a special reward for the prayers offered on these days at those
deities’ temples. According to one theory, a Chinese Zen master began con-
necting 30 days of a month to honor 30 deities. In Japan, it seems that Ennichi
was established as a tradition at the end of Heian period, or about 800 years
ago. For example; day 15 is for Amida Buddha, day 18 is for Kannon Bodhi-
sattva, day 24 is for Jizo Boddhisattva, and day 30 is for Sakyamuni Buddha.
People visited temples to honor the specific deities on Ennichi. As many
people came, the Ennichi fairs became popular. Then, temple towns, such as
Asakusa in Tokyo, gradually grew around the Ennichi
fairs. Even now, crowds of people gather on these
occasions and enjoy the lines of street stalls. Ennichi
feature shops with nostalgic foods, toys and games.
Among them, the fair of “Togenuki” Jizo in Sugamo
happens three times each
month. It is very popular and
more than 40,000 people
come and enjoy it. It is well Photo 2 Sugamo: Jizo Shopping Street
known for a popular shopping street for the elderly
ladies. “Togenuki” means a pair of tweezers and people
believe that this Jizo can remove their pain and
Page 5
Photo 1 Asakusa: Nakamise increase longevity.
Shopping Street

6. HAWAII STATE JODO SHU FUJINKAI SCHOLARSHIP
Namiye Nakamura Scholarship
The Hawaii State Jodo Shu Fujinkai offers a $750 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 a student graduating from a high school in
Hawaii.
2. If there are no graduating students applying, any applicant continu-
ing their education may receive the scholarship.
3. Be accepted at an accredited university or institution of higher
learning.
4. Possess good moral character and leadership potential
5. Be an active member of his/her respective Jodo Mission
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 Nara-
shiba at 949-3995 or Jo Ann Matsuo of the Honolulu Jodo Shu Fujinkai at 422-6919.
Jodo Mission of Hawaii Sunday School Fujinkai
Children’s Choir “Malama” We welcome children to join (women’s association)
Our Children’s Choir will meet on our Sunday School. Let’s en- Feb. 5 at 8:30 a.m.
joy studying Onembutsu by do- Ikoi Hall
2/19 at 10:45 at Hondo ing various activities.
2/26 at 10:45 in Temple basement 2/5 @ 10:45
will meet in Hondo
Any child ages 5 to 8 years old can Sewing Circle
join. Children will sing mainly Japa- 2/26 @ 11:15
will join Fujinkai New Year’s Party
nese songs and Buddhist gathas. Feb. 11 & 25
Practice will be in Japanese. 8:30—11:00 a.m.
Ukulele by Stuart Nago: Please come and
enjoy ukulele music by Stuart Nago on YBA
Sunday February 19 at 10 a.m. after Sun- No Meeting in
day Service. He may also play his guitar. February
Page 6

7. Ozoni Soup for New Years
On January 8, 2011, Mrs. Yukari Narashiba and the Sunday School mothers prepared
ozoni soup (sometimes known as mochi soup) for everyone to eat following the first Family
Sunday Service for 2012. Ozoni is usually eaten as the first meal of the New Year for good
luck and good health and although there are many varieties, the one main ingredient in all
is “mochi”.
Mrs. Narashiba and the Sunday School mothers want to THANK MR. TERUTO SOMA
for providing his home-grown mizuna (green leaf vegetable found in most ozoni soup)
each year..
Happy Women after enjoy-
ing ozoni. The other half of
Mr. Soma is Mrs. Doris
Soma who is above left
with Ethel Miyamoto and
Peggy Miyamoto
Happy Men Eating Ozoni: Mr. Soma is the hand- Photo at right is Yuki Akana
some guy smiling on the right with his ozoni (one of the Sunday School
soup bowl in hand. Also with Mr. Soma above is mothers) and Jo Ann Ma-
David Miyamoto (left) Wallace Ota and Clifford tsuo (one of the Sunday
Miyamoto School volunteers). Both
smiling as they enjoy their
ozoni soup.
New Year Blessing
Rev. Narashiba performed a bless-
ing ceremony for anyone who
wanted to participate. Left photo: David Miyamoto is
being blessed.
Below photo: Yoshiko Kitagawa is
being blessed while others wait for
their turn.
Page 7
Clifford Miyamoto is being blessed while
others wait in line

8. Announcements
ARIGATO!! ARIGATO (cont’d)
Did you enjoy the mochi you picked up on At most of our large events - this past year
Thursday, December 29? Wasn’t it delicious? It it was Bon Dance in August, Bazaar in October
was the efforts of all those who came out to and mochitsuki in December— the Oshiro fam-
help on December 28 and 29 that you were able ily and friends and the Kitajima family and
to eat such delicious mochi!! friends have always supported this Temple with
all their help and hard work. Also thank you to
THANK YOU to all who came out to help on the Maki daughters. THANK YOU SO MUCH for
December 28 and 29 with the mochitsuki and your generosity and to see the many genera-
preparation. It takes many, many people tions helping.
(Temple members, friends, relatives) to prepare
mochi for all the orders the Temple members There are many, many other family mem-
and friends ordered. May we see you again next bers and friends who have helped us this past
year! This year some people took time off from year like the Soma sons and friends, Yanagi-
work in order to help. We thank you for your hara sons and also the Fisher family and
time and hope you had FUN and enjoyed fellow- friends who especially came out for our O-Toba
ship! set up. We sincerely appreciate your unselfish-
ness.
Oldtimers like Masa Kitajima, Teruto Soma,
Masa Oshiro, Richard Murashige, Doris Soma, THANK YOU also to Martha Miura, Gene
Aki Nishiyama, and others who have all the Ikeda and JoAnn Matsuo who come every Sat-
knowledge of the ins and outs of mochi prepa- urday to clean the Nokotsudo. THANK YOU
ration and mochi making. Everyone of these JoAnn for also taking care of the recycling of
dedicated Temple members have their own cans, bottles, plastics and she purchases
unique specialty in mochi making and with things for the Temple with what is made from
their knowledge we were able to handle the the recycled products.
huge amount of orders. The Nokotsudo (Columbarium) gang can
use more help. Anyone interested in helping,
MOCHITSUKI PHOTOS please contact the Temple.
A lot of people got to pound
mochi, even Rev. Narashiba Photo above, Masa
Oshiro and Rocky
Mishima showed
how it’s done.
Amanda Youth showing
her friend how it is done
Blessing of the usu before
with Masa Oshiro giving
the mochi pounding
guidance.
Page 8

9. PHOTOS TAKEN AT MOCHITSUKI DAY: 12/29/11
T h e n ex t g e n e r a t i o n !
How nice to see the younger generation learning mochi making
Mochitsuki—enjoy good
fellowship!
Mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, old and
young all working together to make mochi, shape
mochi, finely dust mochi, weigh mochi and package
the mochi orders.
Ladies dusting mochi for good presentation and at the same time enjoying Rows and rows of the finished
fellowship; even Rev. Watanabe helped with the dusting. product—Okasane mochi.
Mochi rice is steamed then is grind several times before it is ready for Mochi are ready to be picked up
shaped into round mochi. Page 9

10. What is “Perpetual Memorial Obituaries
Service?” (Eitaikyo)
The Jodo Mission of Hawaii extends
This record of a perpetual memorial service and its sincere condolences to the family
is called Eitaikyo in Japanese. When the date of members and loved ones of the following
death occurs for a person listed on this record, the
ministers pray for that individual during the morn- members who have recently left this
ing service. The prayers will continue each year for world for the Pure Land.
as long as Jodo Mission exists.
Anyone can be included in it. You may put your Takeo “Tommy” Okada 98
own name on the list, too. This also helps when it Setsuko Onaga 83
is difficult to have memorial services. We also wel- Yasuko Murakami 94
come you to attend the morning service at 8:30am. Wilfred Masaichi Taira 91
How to apply
Stop by the office, and fill out the application
form. Each name costs $200. After the application Hawaii Council of
is accepted, the name will be listed on the record.
Jodo Missions Yoshimizuko of
Hawaii 2012 Japan Tour
April 8 to 15, 2012
Jodo Mission Office Hours: Tokyo, visit to Zojoji Temple,
Monday to Saturday new song and dance to be
announced and a memorial
8am—5pm service for the victims of Eastern
Sunday & Holidays Japan. Kamakura, visit to Ko-
8am—3pm myoji Temple, Kotokuin Temple
Phone: 949-3995 Anyone interested, please
contact Rev. Watanabe.
Rev. Yubun Narashiba Rev. Kanjun Nakano Rev. Dwight
Head Minister Rev. Yasuhiro Nakamura
Resident Minister
Watanabe Retired Minister
Page 10 Resident Minister

11. Perpetual Memorial Service (Eitaikyo)
For February 2012
1. Itaro Yanagihara 11 Minekichi Taniguchi The Murakami & Yamamoto Family
The Yanagihara Family The Taniguchi Family Ishi Matsuda
Kisaburo Teraoka Tsuneko Nago The Murakami Family
The Teraoka Family The Nag & Kunimoto Families Eijiro Murakami
The Mitani Family Rev. Shuen Inoue 20 Ryozo Hamada
Sumako Kishii Sue Nishimoto The Hamada Family
Noboru Yamasaki Magoichi Mineishi
2 Kuma Kawamura Kameyo Fujita The Mineishi Family
The Kawamura Family Hisae Yamato Taro Takara
Robert Hiroshi Yamanaka Sue Nishimoto Tomoyo Takara
Dorothy Mieko Oshita Kimie Matsuda
12 Sumie Kanoyama Sue Takabayashi
3 Rymond Hisashi Narahara The Kanoyama Family Natsuko Aoki
Ayame kano Bishop Shinkyo Tachikawa
Doris Umeno Nojima 21 Tamotsu Kuniyuki
4 Kii Hirohama Yoshihiro Hata
The Hirohama Family 22 Yoshi Hayashi
Kiyoe Soma 13 Torajiro Kusunoki The Yano, Konaka & Hayashi Families
Robert Takashi Maehara The Kusunoki Family Kinu Nishimura (2)
Ichiro Yasumoto
5 Hatsu Konaka Fusakichi Kawanishi 23 Taichi Sato
The Yano, Konaka & Hayashi Families Haruyo Tarumoto
Gorokichi Ishida Seijiro Takabayashi 24 Kame Akamine
The Ishida and AimotoFamilies The Akamine Family
Misao Mitsuyasu 14 Hajime Nishimoto Kikuno Hisamura
The Mitsuyasu Family The Nishimoto Family Kamesuke Nakahama
Masaharu Kotake Kensuke Hironaka Takiko Yanagihara
Tsugio Hayase The Hironaka & Ishimoto Families
Shigeyo Kawano Sae Tachikawa 25 Sue Maeda
Hiroshi Sato The Maeda Family
6 Matsuemon Tanimura (2) Raymond Shizuo Asaumi Shinichi Takao
The Tanimura Family (2) Shigeyo Otani The Takao Family
Sawaichi Nakagawa Family Takeji Gushikuma Takayo Matsuo
Kimi Higashi Matsu Kiyuna The Matsuo Family
Misae Ichida George Sotoshi Tarumoto Shigeki Umemoto
Bunji Kishii (2) The Yoza Family
Umeyo Yamamoto 15 Kiyoshi Tsukiyama The Shimabukuro Family
Dr. Yasuhiko Hayashi Otake Takara Tamotsu Nakamura
Patrick Seiji Yamamoto
16 Shigeru Asaumi 26 Jirosaku Otani
7 Namie Nakamura The Asaumi Family The Otani & Yanagihara Family
Tsugi Hifumi Yukio Nakagawa Shiro Fukuda
Yoshizo Muramoto Motoo Muramoto
27 Taichi Wakagi
8 Toshio Higa 17 Masuyo Shimokawa The Wakagi Family
The Higa Family Masuyo Shimokawa Keiko Hanano
Yukie Higashi The Shimokawa Family Noboru Hirano
Tame Ito Kinzaburo Makino Shigeru Takata
The Makino Family
9 Haruyo Yanagihara Kazuyo Hashimoto 28 Fukuichi Fukuda
The Yanagihara Family Choshiro Ikuta Mitsuyo GladysYoshihara
Minoru Okawa Tsuchiyo Fujimoto The Goichi Kawamura Family
The Okawa Family Reiko Hata Tsuru Kuniyuki
Kishichi Yoshikawa
Kimie Tanaka 18 Reiji Yamane 29 Nobue Kochi
Yoshiteru Sakaguchi The Yamane & Harada Families
Tsutako Yamanaka
10 Satomi Yamamoto The Yamanaka Family
The Yamamoto Family Matsuyo Machida
Kame Uyehara Otome Takara
The Uyehara Family Tomiko “Ruth” Inouye
Michie Watanabe Cory Ikuta
Jimmy Nestegard
Chiyo Tanaka 19 Chozo Kawano
The Kawano Family
Eijiro Murakami

12. 8:30am Morning Service Jodo Mission of Hawaii
Everyday February 2012 Phone: 949-3995
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
**3:15 pm Jodo Shu
5 8:30am Fujinkai Mtg. 6 7 8 9 10 11
10:00am Obetsuji Service 8:30-am Sewing Circle
10:45 am Sunday School
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
10am Nehan-e Family
3:00 Den Den Mushi
Service
Performance
11:45 am Board Meeting
**3:15 pm Jodo Shu hour
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
10:00am Sun day Service 8:30 am Sewing Circle
10:45 am Malama Children’s
Choir
26 10:00am Sunday Service 27 28 29
COMING EVENT:
10:30am Fujinkai General
Membership Mtg & Spring Higan Service March 18
New Year’s Party Deadline for O-Toba Orders: April 1
10:45 Malama Children’s Hawii State Jodo Shu Fujinkin Scholarship
Choir Deadline: April 15
**Jodo Shu Hour Radio K-ZOO (AM1210Khz, Japanese station)