FBWA Conference Lives Up to Theme of ‘Ichigo Ichie’

More Than 300 Attend San Jose Event on Oct. 4-6

“Ichigo Ichie” is a famous Japanese saying that means “each precious moment, a precious treasure.”

Chosen as the theme for the 47th Federation of Buddhist Women’s Associations (FBWA) Conference, the meaning was more poignant because the group hadn’t met in person since 2018 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 300 people attended the conference, held Oct. 4-6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in San Jose that featured the usual business meetings, a wide array of workshops and opportunities to hear and share the Dharma

“Initially, we were concerned that, after six years without an in-person FBWA Conference, people would be hesitant to join us,” said FBWA President Janice Doi, a member of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin. “We were grateful that so many people came. All of the attendees genuinely appeared to be enjoying themselves.”

Organizers said they received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants.

“This was my first time attending any BWA conference and I am so glad I finally made it,” Eileen Fujikawa, a member of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple, said in an email to organizers. “Truly the ‘Ichigo Ichie’ event — I met so many old and new friends. Thank you so much for making this amazing gathering happen!!”

Debbie Hiramoto of the Senshin Buddhist Temple said the “conference was phenomenal as there was such a pleasant tone from beginning to end. I thought the scheduling was perfect. It allowed enough time for the wonderful Dharma messages and workshops, as well as transition periods when we didn’t feel rushed.”

The only hiccups were the scorching weather, with temperatures reaching 98 on Friday and Saturday and 103 on Sunday, and Bishop Rev. Marvin Harada having to appear via a recorded message rather than in-person due to a COVID-19 exposure.

The conferences bring together some of the most active and dedicated members of BCA temples to bond, compare notes and plan for the future.

“You are the backbone of what our temples accomplish,” BCA President Steve Terusaki told FBWA members at the General Meeting in the San Jose Betsuin Hondo.

Terusaki urged the FBWA to find and nurture a new generation of leaders who can chart the future of not just the federation but BCA. He said he looks forward to the day when a woman becomes the BCA bishop.

In her keynote address, former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii  said “Buddhism has made a great difference” in her home state. She praised the late bishops Revs. Yoshiaki Fujitani and Chikai Yosemori for supporting campaigns to legalize same-sex marriage and death with dignity more than 30 years ago.

Hanabusa said if Japanese words and concepts such as “arigato, Nembutsu and Ichigo Ichie” become part of the American culture, then “We can move forward.

“We are not perfect, but we can share in precious moments and learn from precious moments,” Hanabusa said. 

BCA Minister Emeritus Rev. Yukiko Motoyoshi, the former Resident Minister of the Buddhist Church of Stockton, shared a summary of her Japanese keynote address:

“I shared my understanding of ‘Ichigo Ichie’ from Buddhist thoughts of ‘impermanence of all things’ and ‘interdependent nature of all things.’ By truly understanding these two, I appreciate this moment sincerely and truly, hence, I try not to waste this precious moment. This understanding helped me greatly when I became a caregiver for both of my parents. I often said to myself, ‘It’s the first time and the last time.’ It gave me strength, courage and compassion to face difficulties taking care of my parents. 

“Unfortunately, because of my ‘Bombu’ nature, I often forget to live the life of ‘Ichigo Ichie.’ Hence, I relied on the Nembutsu more so. The Wisdom of Amida Buddha enabled me to see my true nature which made me humble, and the Compassion of Amida Buddha gave me strength and courage to go on to live this moment the best I could be.”

The conference was organized by the Coast District Women’s League, consisting of members from the San Jose, Mountain View and San Luis Obispo temples.

The conference kicked off with some business meetings and an Obon Odori workshop featuring San Jose Obon co-head instructors Moschel Kadokura (Bando Misamie), chairperson Lynne Yamaichi (Bando Misashizu), head instructor emeritus Reiko Iwanaga (Hanayagi Reimichi) and San Jose Taiko founding member PJ Hirabayashi.

Conference attendees chose from a variety of workshops and activities:

• “Liberating Buddhist Women” with Dr. Paula Arai, the Eshinni and Kakushinni Professor of Women and Buddhist Studies at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS).

• “Handmade Cards” with moderator Joan Aoki.

• “Soul Line Dancing” with instructor Juanita Croft.

• “Open Door and Open Minds: The Future of the Buddhist Sangha.”

• “The Art of Modern Lettering” with Nicole Santo.

• LGBTQ+ community workshop with Hoshina Seki and Rev. Ko’e Umezu.

• Mompo (Japanese) with Rev. Yushi Mukojima.

• Mompo (English) with Rev. Motoyoshi. 

• Optional tour of San Jose Japantown.

• Craft Faire with items made by San Luis Obispo and San Jose BWA members.

  
  

Another highlight was the banquet, emceed by Mountain View temple member Mike Inouye, NBC Bay Area’s morning traffic anchor.

The Grateful Crane Ensemble had the audience roaring with laughter with a depiction of three generations of BWA members. The music and times were different for each scene, each generation rolled makizushi, gossiped about temple members and were scolded by a senior member.

Soji Kashiwagi is the director and co-founder of the Grateful Crane Ensemble. The BWA members were portrayed by Haruye Ioka, Keiko Kawashima, Merv Murayama, Helen Ota and Ping Wu, with Myra Okasaki on piano for the song “Seiya.”

The final day’s activities were at the San Jose Betsuin, including a morning snack, General Meeting, service and installation, and an optional bento and manju.

On behalf of the organizing committee, Doi expressed gratitude for all of the volunteers and the 100 donors who helped subsidize the conference and helped ensure its success.

The attendees came from 38 chapters. Twenty-two ministers attended, seven spouses and eight members of Ichijukai also attended.

BCA’s Southern District BWA is scheduled to host the 2026 Conference from Oct. 2-4 in San Diego, with the theme “To Remember As We Build for Tomorrow.”

The 18th World Buddhist Women’s Convention is set for Sept. 11-12, 2027,  in Honolulu. The theme is “Live Peace, Live Aloha, Live as One in the Nembutsu.”