The printing block of "‘Riken Myogo (Beneficial Sword of Holy Name)"  by the Reverend Taijō Matsuo, a disciple of Hakushin-ji Temple in Iida Town, Nagano Prefecture.  This was discovered at Hakushinji Temple amid of Covid-19 pandemic.   

Rev. Matsuo departed Yokohama Port on March 16, 1894 (Meiji 27), as the first Jodo Shu missionary dispatched by the Jodo Shu Hawaii Missionary Society, arriving at Honolulu Harbor on the March 25th.  After landing, he rented a house in the city and began his missionary work. In November of the same year, he crossed to Kauai Island, where he preached at nine plantation camps over a total of 54 days. The following year, in addition to his work in Honolulu, he also traveled around the islands.  In July 1897, he returned to Kauai, and after much effort, plans were made to construct a Buddhist church in Kapa'a. With the support of local influential figures, including Shigetomo Nakazawa, the immigration supervisor and physician, progress was steadily made. However, Matsuo fell ill due to exhaustion and malnutrition just before the church was to be built. Unfortunately, he had to leave for his homeland to recuperate, departing Honolulu on August 3, 1898, and arriving in Yokohama on the 19th. Diagnosed with pulmonary and intestinal tuberculosis in Yokohama, he was hospitalized with the assistance of Takunobu Kinoshita, the secretary of the Hawaii Missionary Society.  Sadly, he passed away on September 13, just two weeks later. If he had been healthy, there is no doubt that the second Jodo-shu Buddhist church would have been established on Kauai, following Hamakua. Rev.  Taijō Matsuo is not only the first missionary of the Jodo-shu but also its first martyr."

長野県飯田町柏心寺徒弟の松尾諦定師による「利剣名号版木」。
松尾師は、布哇宣教会派遣の布教師第一号として1894年（明治27年）3月16日横浜港を発ち、同25日にホノルル港に到着した。上陸後市内に一軒の家を借りて布教を始め、同年11月からカワイ島へ渡り、通算54日、耕地９カ所で布教をしている。翌年はホノルルで布教の外に島内を巡回布教、さらに1897年7月再びカワイ島へ渡り、百方奔走の結果同島カパアに教会堂建設の運びとなり、同地の移住監督官兼医官、中沢重友、同じく三田村敏行始め有力者の賛同を得てことは着々と進行していった。併し松尾は過労と生活費不足による栄養不足からか教会堂建立を目前にして病魔に倒れた。万止むを得ず故国で病気療養すべく1898年8月3日ホノルルを発ち、同19日横浜へ着いた。横浜にて肺結核と腸結核と診断され、布哇宣教会幹事、樹下隆信の世話東京の病院に入院していたが、2週間語の9月13日不帰の客となった。若し健康でさえあったなら、ハマクアに次いで、浄土宗
2番目の教会堂がカワイ島に建立されたであろうことは疑う余地がない。松尾諦定こそ浄土宗開教使第一号であると共に、浄土宗開教殉職者第一号である。
恒蓮社聞譽法阿恵念諦定和尚 明治30年9月13日遷化.
(写真は柏心寺 安静俊祐上人のFacebookより転載）

Inauguration Ceremony for the First Hawaii Jodo Shu Rengo Fujinkai & Meeeting

 In May 25, 1969, Fujinkai ladies from HCJM temples in the state of Hawaii got togeter for the first meeting of the Hawaii Jodo Shu Rengo Fujinkai & Inauuration Ceremony at Jodo Mission of Hawaii.    Mahalo to the late Mrs. Nancy Otani for sharing her collections of photos and booklets.