They Learn About Being Life as a Jodo Shinshu Minister — and Even Learn How to Play Pickleball
Three Japanese ministers recently learned about life as a Jodo Shinshu minister in the United States. They even learned to play pickleball.
They learned about how to solve problems they might encounter in American culture, LGBTQ+ and Buddhism, taxes and retirement, and participated in services at several Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) temples.
The Japanese ministers spent from Oct. 8 to Dec. 9 participating in the International Ministerial Orientation Program (IMOP), immersing themselves in what life would be like serving as a minister in the United States and Canada.
Japanese ministers are required to participate in IMOP before they become Kaikyoshi in Hawaii, the continental United States and Canada. Since starting in 2008, IMOP has prepared ministers such as Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki of the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple and Rev. Yuki Sugahara of the Buddhist Church of Sacarmento, both of whom are now Rimbans.
More recent IMOP participants have included Revs. Yukari Torii of the San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Etsuko Mikame of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, Noritaka Imada of the Buddhist Church of Florin and Hibiki Murakami of the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple.
The three 2024 IMOP ministers were:
Rev. Kensho Hashimoto is from Kanagawa Prefecture. He grew up in a family temple built 30 years ago by his father, who served as a Kaikyoshi in Hawaii in the 1980s.
As the second son, he wasn’t expected to become a minister and didn’t intend to become one until he attended the 2019 World Buddhist Women’s Convention in San Francisco.
Rev. Hashimoto observed the attendees chanting together, reciting the Nembutsu and sharing the same teachings regardless of their background and language differences. He said that inspired him.
The following year, he enrolled in the master’s program at Ryukoku University’s Graduate School of Practical Shin Buddhist Studies.
The sports-minded Hashimoto enjoys watching baseball and soccer. While attending an English-language program in Kamloops, Canada, he volunteered at the Buddhist temple. Bishop Rev. Tatsuya Aoki of the Jodo Shinshu Temples of Canada (JSTBC) recruited Rev. Hashimoto to serve as an intern at the Toronto Buddhist Temple, where he continues to serve.
Rev. Yuki Himeji is originally from Akita Prefecture and now lives in Chigasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture. The 37-year-old Rev. Himeji is married with an 11-year-old daughter. His father-in-law is from a temple family and when he got married in 2012, he took the family’s name and started a path to become a Jodo Shinshu minister.
Four generations of the Himeji family have served as Kaikyoshi, including Rev. Shokei Masayoshi Himeji, his great-grandfather, who served in the early 1930s.
Rev. Himeji works as a massage-shiatsu therapist. He attended Keio University, where he was a submarine-delivery pitcher for the school’s baseball team.
Rev. Keiya Yasutake is from Fukuoka and is studying for a Ph.D. at Ryukoku Graduate School. A member of a temple family, he visited Hawaii as part of an exchange program with the Hongwanji Mission School while in junior high school. He said he was shocked to see Jodo Shinshu temples and Sanghas in Hawaii, but it piqued his interest in serving overseas.
Rev. Yasutake’s interest in overseas Jodo Shinshu led him to undertake research in Hawaii and write a graduate thesis about how to spread Jodo Shinshu teachings. He has continued his research into “Issues and Possibilities for International Propagation of Jodo Shinshu Through the Eyes of People Who Have Crossed Over to Jodo Shinshu.”
During the two-month program, the IMOP ministers stayed in a condo in Southern California, a temple parsonage and a homestay with families in San Jose and at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, California.
In November, at the halfway point in their stay. the three ministers shared their impressions of the IMOP program and the BCA:
Rev. Hashimoto:
“The two-month IMOP program started in early October and has now reached its halfway point. I am currently working as an intern minister in Toronto, Canada, and I find that American culture is quite similar to Canadian culture, so I haven't noticed many cultural differences. However, during my homestay in San Jose, one significant difference I observed between Japan and North America is the emphasis on family time.
“The family I stayed with had two high school children, and they always ate dinner together with their parents. This was a striking contrast to my own experience in Japan. When I was in high school, I was part of the volleyball club. After classes, which usually ended at 4 p.m., I would practice until 7 p.m. My school was about an hour and a half away from home by bicycle, train, and bus, so I wouldn't get home until around 9 p.m. I would often eat dinner alone and go straight to bed, too tired to talk much with my parents.
“So, seeing this family-oriented environment in San Jose made me realize how valuable it is for parent-child communication.
“During my time in Southern California and the Bay Area, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit several temples. At each temple, I was deeply touched by the warm welcome from the members. Their kindness and hospitality truly made me feel at home, and I am sincerely grateful for that.
“One of the unexpected highlights of my journey was experiencing authentic Mexican cuisine. Before this trip, I hadn’t had many opportunities to try Mexican food, so I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious dishes served at some of the temples. The flavors and spices were new to me, making it a memorable part of my visit. These meals were not just a treat for my taste buds, but also a reflection of the open-hearted spirit of the temple communities.
“Beyond the delicious food and warm hospitality, what impressed me most was the strong sense of unity and dedication within the BCA temples. There was a noticeable atmosphere of positivity and pride among the members. Many of them expressed that the temple is truly ‘our home,’ and I could feel that sense of belonging in every interaction. This strong bond among the members is a testament to the supportive and inclusive communities they have built over the years.
“I was particularly inspired by how the members were not just participants but active contributors to the life of their temple. They engaged enthusiastically in various activities, events and services. It was heartening to see how each temple created a welcoming environment where everyone, from long-time members to newcomers, felt included and valued.”
Rev. Himeji:
“It has been about a month since I arrived in the United States to participate in IMOP. During this time, I have visited many temples along the West Coast, met a wide variety of people, and gained invaluable experiences.
“Through this past month, I have deeply felt three types of ‘connections.’
“The first is the ‘connection with people.’ When I visited BCA temples, I felt the strong bonds within each temple’s Sangha. Additionally, during the TechnoBuddha and MAP training programs, I experienced connections that transcended individual temples and generations. Witnessing people’s efforts to bring others together taught me many valuable lessons.
“The second is the ‘connection with the past.’ I had the opportunity to learn about the history of Japanese American communities in the United States, which made me reflect on the hardships endured by our predecessors in a foreign land. They faced challenges with the spirit of ‘Shikataganai’ (‘It cannot be helped’); ‘Kodomonotame’ (‘For our kids’), and ‘Gaman’ (‘perseverance’), overcoming obstacles for the next generation.
“Because of their perseverance and dedication, we are now able to celebrate and share the teachings of the Nembutsu in America. I also had the chance to visit temples where my relatives once served as ministers, including Buddhist Temple of Salinas, Gardena Buddhist Church, Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara, Oxnard Buddhist Temple, and Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Betsuin.
“Seeing my relatives’ photos displayed in these temples was incredibly moving. I even had the opportunity to speak with members who had connections with my family over 60 years ago, which made me feel a strong link between the past and the present.
“The words of Shinran Shonin at the end of the ‘Kyogyoshinsho’ came to mind: ‘I have collected true words to aid others in their practice for attaining birth, in order that the process be made continuous, without end and without interruption, by which those who have been born first guide those who come later, and those who are born later join those who were born before. This is so that the boundless ocean of birth-and-death be exhausted.’
“This experience reinforced my commitment to pass on the teachings of the Nembutsu as an emissary of Amida Buddha for generations to come.
“Lastly, the third is the ‘connection with the Buddha.’ At each temple in BCA, it was customary to recite the ‘Golden Chain’ during services. I was particularly touched at San Jose Betsuin, where preschool children recited it in loud, clear voices.
“I learned that BCA temples not only recite the ‘Golden Chain’ but also engage in practices like Buddhist hymns, meditation, zazen, and sutra copying — practices that are not as commonly observed at Jodo Shinshu temples in Japan. Just as the voice of the Nembutsu brings me peace, I feel that cultivating a ‘connection with the Buddha’ is essential.
“Each individual’s journey to ‘Shinjin’ is different, and I realized that diverse experiences and practices can transform ‘practical-level Buddhism’ into ‘truth-level Buddhism.’ Having the courage to embrace new practices, even if they are unfamiliar, can be an important step in this journey.
“In conclusion, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this invaluable experience possible: the Hongwanji, the International Department, the teachers at BCA and JSIO, and the members of the temples who welcomed us so warmly. Above all, I offer my deepest gratitude to Amida Buddha. Namo Amida Butsu.”
Rev. Yasutake:
“Through the International Ministers Orientation Program (IMOP), I truly felt the kindness of the ministers and members. In this program, I was able to visit many temples, and at each temple, all of the members were very welcoming and friendly. Also, all of them talked with me about how the temple and the Jodo Shinshu teaching is great. I like Jodo Shinshu as well as the Shinran Shonin teachings, so it was a very wonderful opportunity for me to talk about these things in English.
“I am impressed how the Nembutsu is spreading overseas. In Japan, our first language or culture is a little different but the Nembutsu ‘Namo Amida Butsu’ is completely the same.
“I have one more month left in the United States, so I would like to share the gratitude for the Dharma with all ministers and members. I would like to rejoice about Amida Buddha and the teachings of Shinran Shonin together.”
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