We are truly saddened and shocked to learn about the recent wildfire that devastated Lahaina, one of the most beautiful historic towns in Hawaii.  With much pain and sympathy, we must report that our Lahaina temple buildings were all burnt to the ground while we are relieved to know our resident minister, Reverend Gensho Hara, and the family are safe after evacuation several times during the night.

I wish to express our sincerest condolences to those who lost their lives,  residents of Lahaina, and all those affected by the devastating wildfire on Maui.  The loss of precious lives and properties is truly heartbreaking and our prayers are with the community as they rebuild and heal from this tragedy.  Please know that we are not alone.  Our ancestors must have experienced this devastation many times in the past and every time they got to be strong and rebuild what they lost.  

According to the Buddhist teachings, life is marked by change with the impermanence of all things, and it is our understanding that true solace can be found in supporting one another during these challenging moments.   May we all find strength in the interconnectedness of all beings as we move forward on the path of healing and recovery.  

We have now two Go Fund Me fundraisers for both rebuilding Lahaina Jodo Mission and supporting Rev. Gensho Hara.  Your kind support will be greatly appreciated.

Namu Amida Butsu. 

Gassho,
Bishop Kosen Ishikawa 

Dear members and friends of Jodo Mission,

Two years ago, as I retraced the history of Jodo Shu in Hawaii in order to compile a commemorative program for our 130th anniversary of its mission, I encountered a fact that could not be overlooked.  One of the Jodo Shu ministers who had devoted his life to the propagation of the Dharma in Hawaii was among those who perished in the Awa-Maru Incident on
April 1, 1945. His name was Rev. Jikyo Masaki.

The Awa-Maru was no ordinary vessel. At the request of the Allied powers, it was designated a Red Cross relief ship, tasked with delivering humanitarian supplies to prisoners of war and civilian internees under Japanese control. Its passage, both outbound and return, was officially guaranteed safe. Marked as a “Green Cross Ship,” it was believed to be absolutely protected from attack.
Because of this guarantee, people returning from Southeast Asia to Japan placed their trust in the ship. Applications to board flooded in, and those who were selected were considered fortunate. Yet fate proved cruelly ironic. That very belief in safety led more than two thousand passengers and crew to share a single destiny. All but one lost their lives.

As my research continued, I was given the opportunity to read a rare commemorative volume preserved by the Otani family: the 30th anniversary publication of the Hawaii Girls’ School and Hawaii Shudoha Academy which are affiliated school of Jodo Shu, issued on June 1941 – before the outbreak of war.
There, I encountered something deeply moving: an essay written by Rev. Jikyo Masaki who would later perish aboard the Awa Maru, accompanied by his photograph. His words, composed in a time when the future was still imaginable, spoke quietly of education, faith, and hope. In that moment, he ceased to be merely a name associated with a tragic incident; he became vividly human.

By chance—or perhaps by karmic connection—I delved deeper into the Awa-Maru Incident. I came to realize that among those lost were senior Sensei who had dedicated themselves to spreading Buddhism overseas, only  

to be forgotten in the long shadow of war. I felt keenly that it is the responsibility of those of us who serve as temple ministers today to remember them, to tell their stories, and to offer continual memorial dedication (eko) on their behalf. 

On the night of April 1, 1945, at approximately 11:00 p.m., in the Taiwan Strait, the Awa-Maru—a 12,000-ton passenger-cargo ship carrying over 9,800 tons of cargo—was torpedoed and sunk by the U.S. submarine USS Queenfish. Despite the assurances of safe passage, the ship was misidentified in heavy fog. More than two thousand lives vanished into the sea. Only one man, the ship’s steward Kantaro Shimoda, survived. 

Among the many cruel twists of fate, one detail remains particularly poignant: Mr. Masaki’s wife, Mitsuko and daughter, traveling on a different vessel, narrowly escaped disaster. History often turns on such fragile separations. 

After the war, the Awa-Maru Incident became entangled in complex diplomatic negotiations—questions of responsibility, compensation, and ultimately Japan’s renunciation of claims. Political decisions were made, agreements signed, and the incident was formally concluded. Yet numbers and treaties cannot contain the weight of loss. 

In April 1979, the wreck of the Awa Maru was discovered by the Chinese government, and underwater investigations were conducted. It was even said that the ship might have carried the missing skull specimens of Peking Man, which had been seized by the Japanese military during the war and whose whereabouts were unknown. 

In July of the same year, 158 sets of remains and personal effects were returned to Japan, where memorial services were held.  Later, to mark the 33rd memorial service at Zojo-ji Temple, a monument to those who perished in the Awa Maru incident was erected within the temple grounds. Carved into it are the names of all the victims—an enduring expression of grief, unanswered mystery, and remembrance. 

Though the Awa-Maru lies at the bottom of the sea, memory must not sink with it. Names, faces, and words once existed, and they still call out to us.
To remember them, to speak their names, and to carry them forward in prayer—this, I believe, is the true passage that connects those who lived through the tragedy of war with those of us who live in its aftermath. 

Namu Amida Butsu with Gassho,                                                                                        Bishop Kosen Ishikawa 

Dear members and friends,

As we approach the month of December, I would like to take a moment to express my sincerest appreciation for your kindness, and support with our Jodo Shu temples throughout this past year. Our activities, services, and community outreach are all made possible because of your continued dedication. Thank you very much.

Your temple membership plays a vital role in sustaining our mission. It allows us to maintain our facilities, offer spiritual guidance, preserve important traditions, and provide welcoming places for everyone who seeks comfort, learning, and connection. We are truly grateful to all of you who continue your membership year after year.

At the same time, we warmly encourage those who are not yet members to consider joining. Your membership and participation help ensure that our temples can continue to serve present and future generations with compassion and sincerity.

We hope you will continue walking together with us into the coming year. Thank you again for your continued support and for being our Jodo Shu ohana.

Namu Amida Butsu with gratitude and warmest wishes,

Bishop Kosen Ishikawa
November 21, 2025

Please click here for viewing "Jodo Mission's December Bulletin"

Dear members and friends,

Aloha kākou. Time flies—it’s already the end of May! As we wrap up this year’s Koinobori celebration and Japanese Cultural Month, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this meaningful event.  Whether you helped with setting up, taking down, or supported us through generous donations- your efforts truly made a difference.  Thanks to your support, we proudly displayed over 1,000 Koinobori!Now, the Bon Dance season is just around the corner. Once again, Hawai‘i’s Plantation Village will kick off Oahu’s Bon Dance season on Saturday, June 7.
 
Last month, Shinshu Kyokai Mission hosted its inaugural spring workshop titled “Bon Dance in Hawaii – Past, Present and Future,” inviting active members from various Bon Dance groups in Honolulu. Since Bon Dance is seen as a way of connecting people, Bishops of the Hawaii Buddhist Council were also invited, and I was honored and grateful to attend on behalf of our temple.

The workshop featured presentations by distinguished speakers; Dr. George Tanabe, Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawai‘i, known for his witty and accessible presentations on Buddhism and its history in Hawaii, Professor Christine Yano, a cultural anthropologist who has conducted in-depth research on Bon Dance throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and Dr. Judy Van Zile, author of the well-known book The Japanese Bon Dance in Hawaii and an expert in Asian American studies. After each presentation, we enjoyed Q&A sessions, dinner fellowship, and Bon Dance performances by various clubs.

Some of you may have noticed the Yagura (dance tower) and lanterns set up on the grounds of the Shinshu Kyokai on Beretania street last month—those were for this workshop. What truly struck me was the number of inquiries we received at our temple from people who had seen the Yagura. While we rarely receive questions about our Sunday services, this level of interest shows just how deeply people are drawn to Bon Dance.

When it comes to Bon Dance, traditional songs like “Fukushima Ondo” and “Iwakuni Ondo” remain popular, but new songs are also introduced each year. I was surprised that this year, Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club performed a new dance of “APT” by world-famous singer Bruno Mars, who is originally from Honolulu, and Rosé. The melody is so catchy that once you hear it, it stays in your head. In fact, I still find myself singing “Apatsu, Apatsu” around the house. It was a bold and innovative move to turn this song into a Bon Dance number.
This reminds me of what Dr. Tanabe remarked, saying “to preserve tradition, new ideas are essential. If we insist on old methods alone, we may lose the tradition itself.” His words really resonated with me in the context of this experience.

The Japanese famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), known as the father of haikai poetry, used the phrase “Fueki ryuko” meaning “the unchanging and the ever-changing” to describe the balance between preserving essence and embracing innovation. “Fueki” refers to enduring truth, while “Ryuko” represents new trends. Though they may seem contradictory, Basho believed they are inseparable and must coexist for art to stay alive.
This philosophy applies not only to poetry but to all traditional arts and culture. A tradition that rigidly clings to the “old ways” risks becoming irrelevant. In Buddhism, this is akin to the teaching of impermanence: everything is in constant flux, and resisting change can lead to decline.
Conversely, if we adopt modern forms while preserving the underlying spirit of gratitude and reverence, tradition gains new life. Bon Dance continues to thrive and attract people of all ages precisely because it embraces change.

As many of you know, Bon Dance in Hawaii traces its roots to Buddhist observances brought by Japanese immigrants. At its heart is the Obon spirit—honoring and expressing gratitude to ancestors. Over time, this tradition has evolved uniquely in Hawaii.

Today, in addition to traditional Yukata and the rhythmic beat of Taiko drums, you'll see many non-Japanese participants wearing happi-coats adorned with colorful Japanese-style patterns and aloha shirt patterns, dancing with the Aloha Spirit. Modern elements—such as anime songs and even Western pop music—have also become part of the festivities. For instance, “Beautiful Sunday,” originally an English-language song that became a major hit in Japan after being translated, is now a popular dance number at Bon festivals here in Hawaii. These contemporary additions don’t diminish the tradition—they reflect their ability to adapt and thrive in new times and places.
In this way, Bon Dance in Hawaii exemplifies Basho’s ideal of “Fueki Ryuko”: maintaining timeless essence while embracing the present. Tradition is not something to be preserved in a museum—it is something to be lived, to evolve, and to be passed down by adapting to the times.

That said, we need your help to keep this living tradition going!
Our sister temple, Haleiwa Jodo Mission’s Bon Dance will be held on August 1 and 2, and our Bon Dance here at Jodo Mission will take place on Saturday, August 16. From preparation the morning before to cleanup on the next day, we’ll need many hands.  Please mark your calendars and let us know if you’re able to volunteer. Your support will help us ensure that the Bon Dance continues to connect generations for years to come.

Also before Bon Dance, we will participate in the Pan-Pacific Festival Parade with ministers from neighbor islands.  Again this year, we will promote Koinobori celebration and show our support for Lahaina by wearing Pink T-shirts with pink Koinobori!  Please let our office know your participation at your earliest convenience.  As we charter a trolley again, you don’t need to walk during the parade but enjoy riding on a trolley in Waikiki.  A trolley bus will pick us up at Jodo Mission at 3:30pm and take us back to Jodo Mission around 6:30 pm after participating in the parade on June 15th.

And following that, we will observe Obon services in July.  On Sunday, July 6, we will set up O-Toba followed by private O-Toba services and Obon services from July 7 through 13th.  For more detailed information, including the URL and links for online services, please check our website, www.jodo.us.  

Thank you very much for your Kokua and continued support.  Please stay safe, and we wish you and your family a meaningful and peaceful Obon!  

Gassho,

Bishop Kosen Ishikawa  

Dear members and friends of Jodo Mission,

Aloha Kakou.  Thank you very much for your ongoing support and cooperation. Time flies, and soon it will be April—a time for the Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s Birthday Celebration) and the Koinobori (Carp Streamer) Celebration. Also I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of our members who have passed away recently and hope that we can continue to offer our spiritual support.

How have you all been during these first three months of the new year? I imagine you have all been very busy. I can hardly believe it is already April. Three months have passed in the blink of an eye. Reflecting on it, December—previously known as "Shiwasu"—is a time when even monks must rush around. After the hustle of mochi pounding, year-end parties, Christmas gatherings, and other events, we barely have a moment to relax before welcoming the New Year. Then, many organizations hold one of their biggest events of the year—the New Year’s gathering—followed by celebrations like the Lunar New Year and the Super Bowl, bringing families together once more. I believe that the reason time feels like it flies by so quickly is that these three months are packed with so many events.

However, if we think about it carefully, being busy is, in a way, a great blessing. When we are busy, we neither dwell on the past nor worry about the future—we simply live in the present. We call it “happiness.”  Of course, there are many definitions of "happiness," and each person has their own. Some find happiness in reading, watching movies, engaging in sports, pursuing hobbies, or love. Others may feel happiest when doing nothing at all. But what do all these have in common? I have always believed that happiness comes from "being busy."

Why is reading enjoyable? Because we are so engaged in following the words that we become immersed in the world of the book. Why is baseball exciting? Because we are so focused on chasing the ball that we forget everything else. Like many of you, I am a huge fan of Shohei Ohtani. When he hits a home run, the sheer force of the ball overwhelms me, and I forget everything, experiencing a profound sense of happiness. 

Some people might say they feel happiest when doing nothing and just spacing out. At first glance, "being busy" and "doing nothing" may seem contradictory, but in reality, those who find happiness in doing nothing are actually "busy doing nothing." In other words, the moments we feel truly happy are the moments when we are deeply engaged in something. Conversely, when we are not engaged in anything, it is difficult to feel happy. 

Take reading, for example. If we are not busy following the words, our minds wander, and we cannot fully immerse ourselves in the book. The same goes for movies—if a movie is uninteresting, we do not get engrossed in watching it, and we start thinking about other things, making it difficult to feel happiness. 

Buddhism is a teaching of happiness, and practices such as meditation and chanting are ways to cultivate happiness. By deeply focusing on meditation or by chanting wholeheartedly, we can experience joy. As you may know, breathing is fundamental to meditation. We inhale with deep focus to replenish our energy and exhale with full concentration. By engaging in these actions with intention, we truly live in the present. However, if we fail to focus on our breathing, thoughts of past regrets and future worries creep into our minds.

The same is true for chanting the Nenbutsu. When we sincerely think of Amida Buddha, express gratitude for His compassion, and wholeheartedly wish to be reborn in His Pure Land, chanting Namu Amida Butsu allows us to forget everything and immerse ourselves completely in the practice, leading to an incredible sense of happiness. 

However, this requires training. But the wonderful thing about the Nenbutsu is that simply chanting it brings benefits. Even if stray thoughts arise while chanting, it does not matter at all—this is what Honen Shonin taught us. 

"If we live, we accumulate the merits of the Nenbutsu; if we die, we are born 

into the Pure Land. Whatever happens, there is nothing to worry about in this life”  -Honen Shonin (1133-1212) -

As long as we continue chanting the Nenbutsu while alive, we can accumulate merit, and when our lives end, with these accumulated merits, we are born in the Pure Land. Understanding this fully, we need not trouble ourselves with thoughts of life and death. It is truly a wonderful teaching, and whenever I think of this, I cannot help but recite Nenbutsu. 'Namu Amida Butsu' naturally come to my lips.

Needless to say, the very fact that we are alive is truly a blessing, made possible by immense support and countless blessings. With the intention of sharing this gratitude, honoring, respecting, and encouraging the people in the past, present, and future, we began the Koinobori Celebration. This year marks our fourth annual event. 

Thanks to everyone's understanding, cooperation, and the generous support of many sponsors, we displayed 800 koinobori (carp streamers) last year and hopefully many more Koinobori this year.  By raising so many colorful koinobori, we hope they will flutter against the blue Hawaiian sky, bringing encouragement and inspiration to the community. We would be truly grateful for any further support in sponsoring additional koinobori. 

This year, the opening ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, featuring a Taiko performance by Dragon Beat Hawaii and hula performance.  Additionally, we will host a Japanese cultural month, including special talk by Sensei Grant “Sandaa” Murata, a master of Okinawan classical music and the Sanshin (Okinawan three-stringed instrument), as well as introduction of Japanese Culture by Mr. Nate Gyotoku, President of JCCH (Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii), kyūdō (Japanese archery) by Hawaii Kyudokai Group and Kendo (the way of sword) by Sensei Christopher Goodin.  Please do not miss out on these special presentations and talks! 

For more details and updates, please visit www.jodo.us or www.hawaiijodo.net .We hope to welcome as many people as possible to join us in this celebration! 

Once again, thank you very much for everything.  Please stay safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing you soon. 
Mahalo with Gassho, 
Bishop Kosen Ishikawa 

Dear members and friends,
 
It’s been over a month since the Maui wildfires raged over Lahaina, Kula, and their people on August 8.  I was heartbroken to know that eleven members of the Lahaina Jodo Mission lost their houses in addition to the loss of Rev. Hara’s house and temple buildings.  I also recently met one of the relatives of our member who lost his house while he was traveling on the mainland.  I was speechless and felt condolences to hear this loss from the 89-year-old man.  Are your families or relatives in Maui okay? If not, please let us know.  I would like to support not only Rev. Gensho Hara and the temple but also the relatives of our Jodo Mission members who were affected by the fires as we are “Ohana” of Jodo Mission. 

No matter how small the donation may be, its value will be significant.  I strongly feel rebuilding members’ houses is as equally important as rebuilding the temple.  Without members and ministers, the temple cannot fully serve its community.   Therefore I’d like to continue to support Sensei, the temple, and its members in whatever I can do for them for now and for the future.  I thank those who already sent relief funds or donations to the Lahaina Jodo Mission.  I was also moved to see all the familiar names who contributed to GoFundMe.  Thank you very much.

Since this devastation of Lahaina town, I’ve seen many articles and news videos of Rev. Gensho Hara.  Though Sensei must have been very stressed and busy, he has done a great job of sharing the Buddha-Dharma with his sincere appreciation for the kindness and generosity he received.   At our recent statewide Sunday Service after the Kyoku meeting, Rev. Hara delivered an inspiring Dharma talk and shared the touching stories of the Amida Buddha Statue and his family’s cat called “snowflake” with us.  Although this is such a challenging situation and hardship, I see this may be a great chance to share the Dharma because we don’t need to go out to share the teachings but they come to listen to us.
 
To my surprise, I also received interviews with a major Japanese newspaper editor and saw an article on myself as I happened to be President of the Hawaii Buddhist Council.  After experiencing the interview, I was intrigued by the editor’s questions, “What would Honen Shonin teach if he had to face this harsh reality of the devastation?”

Until I encountered this question, I was thinking about how to support the temple materially including online fundraising but this question made me realize that my mission is to help people with Buddha’s teachings and spread the teaching of Honen Shonin which is supposed to be the source of peace and happiness. As soon as I received this question, I immediately thought of the passage from the words of Master Honen.  The title is “Tenjuu-kyoju（転重軽受）” which literally means “To convert heavy burden to accept lighter.”
Honen Shonin said, “Illness is the result of unwholesome residual karma.  As such, one cannot prevent illness through prayer to any Buddha or deity.  If prayer could heal and prolong life, there would be no illness, there would be no death.” 

I think this statement by our founder is truly honest.  National disaster is also like an illness that we cannot escape.  Disasters are always happening somewhere in the world.  We ministers always rely on the prayer as if prayer always works.  But Honen Shonin clearly states this current situation whether good or bad was brought by the residual karma in the past.  No matter how hard we pray, we cannot change this reality and cannot do anything.  That’s the reality.  However, the only thing we can do to accept this current reality is with the teaching of “Tenjuu-Kyoju” or the teaching to make the heavy burden lighter.  

Prayer cannot work as we wish to come true but because of the prayer, we can have peace of mind. Nenbutsu will lead us to be born in the Pure Land which is an extremely happy land after this world.  With the faith and practice of Nenbutsu, we can make this heavy burden to accept lighter.  Thanks to the Amida Buddha, the Nenbutsu can lessen the impact of the ailment through his great compassion.

Another good understanding of “Tenjuu-Kyoju” is to support Lanaina with many people.  The super heavy burden stays heavy if one person tries to carry it by oneself.  But even if the burden is heavy, by holding with more people, the burden can be lighter.   In like manner, we can overcome this hardship by sharing sadness with many people.

Once again, I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity.  Let us work together to ease our Jodo Mission Ohana and friends’ heavy burden through this wonderful teaching of “Tenjuu-Kyoju.       
”Namu Amida Butsu with Gassho, 
Bishop Kosen Ishikawa
September 21, 2023
 

 Dear Members and Friends of Jodo Mission, 

“Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, you will also regret it either way.” 

You may have heard of this phrase before, and this phrase was by the Danish philosopher Kierkegaard. Of course, this is not always true since we can find both happy couples and happy singles. However, the truth lies in that there are only two kinds of “regret” in this world; one is a regret of what we may have of the past. Another is regretting what we didn’t do. “Marry” and “don’t marry” or “Did” and “Didn’t do” are completely different choices and different ways. But once we have chosen it, there is always the possibility of regret because of the two choices we have every moment regardless of the choice made. In other words, two kinds of regrets are nothing but two kinds of actions we do every moment. 

In our daily lives, we commit ourselves to many tasks. Actions such as waking up, eating breakfast, and reading the newspaper all count as such. However, all these actions we do can be divided into two types of actions. They are “to do” and “not to do.” Then once we decide between the two, the other choice you didn’t take could be the source of regret. 

Of course, our simpler daily actions such as eating, walking, reading, or watching hardly produce regret since they can be redone or delayed should we choose to not take these actions. But most actions that require us to choose “to do” or “not to do” at this moment cannot be redone. Once we choose it, we cannot take it back and this is the very reason we regret our actions and inactions alike. 

As long as we live, regret is always around us. Although we cannot eliminate regret, there is a way to forget regret in the past. How? That is to practice Samādhi which is a state of meditative consciousness. The well-known classic way is meditation and various religions teach various kinds of meditation. Doing meditation instantly makes us forget not only regrets in the past but also worries in the future. Thus, we can live in this present moment. 

Our foremost practice of Jodo Shu, Nenbutsu was considered to be meditation as Nenbutsu literally means to contemplate the Buddha. Because of the high level of patience and concentration required, traditionally Nenbutsu meditation was regarded as a higher practice. As compared to this contemplation, the practice of calling Buddha’s name which was started by Master Shandao (613-681), was much easier but considered to be the lower level of practice as this practice was much more accessible to everyone. 

Honen Shonin (1133-1212) had an unshakable faith in Master Shandao and realized that calling Buddha’s name was the ultimate way for universal salvation. Because many more people could recite “Namu Amida Butsu” so easily, Honen Shonin found the Nenbutsu was much more valuable and higher level of practice than contemplation of the Buddha. By reciting Nenbutsu at this moment, peace and happiness are always with us and we can attain birth in the Pure Land in the future. 

The year 2024 will mark a significant milestone for all Jodo Shu temples and followers as we celebrate the 850th anniversary of the founding of Jodo Shu in 1175. Also this year Hawaii Jodo Shu celebrate the 130th anniversary of the arrival of the first Jodo Shu ministers to Hawaii in 1894. We are planning various commemoration projects, including an October commemoration service at the Jodo Mission of Hawaii. Simultaneously, we will continue to support Lahaina Jodo Mission throughout the year. We appreciate your continued help and support. Lastly, I pray you have a happy and healthy new year! 

Namu Amida Butsu with Gassho, 

Bishop Kosen Ishikawa