eabeebe
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 12:40
Edited Text
The San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church was officially established
February ~, 1927, using as its quarters a remodeled residence on a
ten-acre piece of property south of San Luis Obispo.
Famous Madonna
Inn is now located just across the road from this site.
Nyubutsu shiki was observed April 15, 1927.
The Sunday School
opened with approximately 60 students.
The Young Buddhist Association was formed that
summer, and in
September, the new organization became a member of the Beiko ku
Bussei. League.
A YBA baseball team wa.s formed and the followine;
February, a tennis team was also organized.
The temple grounds
by now had, in addition to a regulation baseball diamond, new
tennis courts for the use of the young people.
Prior to 1927, the San Luis Obispo Church was affiliated with
the Guadalupe Bud
1915, Reverend Issei 1vlatsuura journeyed to San Luis Obispo to
conduct services at various places.
When the community had gro~m
to a point where a temple building became necessary, the following
committee was selected to purchase the property:
Hisato Kurokawa,
Tsunejiro Tanaka, Tameji Eto and Yoroku Watanabe.
At the time of
purchase, the size of the temple property was probably the largest
of all the Buddhist Churches in the United States.
In November of 1927, the Church voted to become independent
of the GUBdalupe Chu~ch and welcomed Reverend Seikaku ~izutani
as its first resident minister.
60.
Members numbered approximately
Records indicate that by 1935, this number had increased to
over 100, drawing from residents in the outlyin~ areas of Arroyo
Grande, Pismo Beach, Pecho, Los Osos Rnd Morro Bay .
•
(j)
The year 1927 also saw the formation of the Dukkyo Fujinkai,
then known as "Haha no K-11i."
'l'he young girls organized a
Seinenkai Club, later changed to Kujo Club, in respectful memory
of Lady TB.keko Kujo.
In January of 1930. this org1=mizatinn
joined the newly formed Southern California Central Coast YWBA.
In 1929, a branch SundHy School, under the guidance of the
San Luis Obispo Sunday School, was established in Arroyo Grande
with 42 students attending.
There were approximetely 170 pupils
attending the San Luis Obispo Sunday School by 1935.
In 1912, Paul Kurokawa organized an all-Japanese Boy Scout
trnop with Reverend Mizutani as Sc out maste r .
A Japanese language school was established in September of
1925, and in 1927 became an affiliated organization of the
11
emple, and was known as San Luis Nippongo Gakuen, with Reverend
and Mrs. Mizutani as instructors.
In April 1930, the Los Osos
.T1rnanese Language School, which was built on 1w1r. Eto I s property,
came under the Temple jurisdiction, with Reverend and Mrs. Chizo
Kaku as ins true tors.
Of note is the fact that the local chapter of the Japanese
American Citizens League was organized in January 1931+ through
the efforts of the Buddhist Temple and the Japanese Association,
and had its first office in the Temple building.
The Church and its youth organizations continued to flourish
through the 1930's.
During Reverend Seijo Onoyama's tenure, the
Church membership increased to 150 members.
A kendo class we.s
started by Reverend Onoyama with 50 students particip:1.ting.
The Church was incorporated as a non-profit organization as
of Je.nuary }~, 1939.
For the first time an all-Nisei Board of
Directors was selected as follows:
Tsuruichi Fukunaga, Hakaru
Taku, Tom Nakaji, Iman Hori, Shuichi Kawaoka, Kingo Kawaoka and
Masaji Eto.
In 19h0, a new church and minister's t'esidence was constructed; but in less than two years, the new premises had to be
abandoned due to the exigencies of war when all Japanese were
evacuated from the West Coast.
The Church itself was used as a
storage place for evacuee property and left in the care of
~rnest Vollmer, Sr.
In 1946, after return from camp, three acres of the ten•
acre parcel were sold to the State of California Division of
Highways.
Only a smoll portion of the former residents returned to
San Luis Obispo County and with this reduced membership it was
k ~.
ttt ~~
not poss5ble to have a paid resident minister. ~ ~ully aware of
this and of the hardships ahead, Reverend Kenshi Iwao volunteered
his services and came to San Luis Obispo to re-open the Church.
~ince much of the Church furniture was vandalized and unusable,
Reverend Iwao spent his spare time from his gardening work in
making altar pieces.
With the loan of a butsudan from the Nagano
Family, Sunday School was ~ y started in August with just
three families sending their children.
fhe San Luis Obispo
(j)
Buddhist Church is deeply indebted to Reverend Iwao and his
family for his ded~ted services during the trying post-war
years.
During ~years at San Luis Obispo, many students from
nearby Califor 1-iia Polytechnic College came and took an active
part in the S1mday School program.
He also co11n<:1eled many war
brides and short-term agricultural workers from Japan (Tan-no)
and his home was a haven for the homesick and lonely.
In 1957, a new butsudan was donated by the following members
of the Pioneer Kankodan to Japan:
Keisaku Fukuhara, Eiji Hayashi,
Fukui.chi Nis:bimoto, Tame ji Eto, Kanaru Nagano and Ta tsumi Kawaoka.
Early in 1960, because of State plans to build a Highway 101
interchange on Church property, it became evident th~t the Church
would have to relinquish its remaining seven acres.
appointed to seek a new location consisted of:
The committee
Cha1rman Masaji
Eto, Kingo Kawaoka, Mitsugi Fukuhara, Noriharrn Kawaoka, Stone
Saruwatari and Ken Kitasako.
In August 1061, 42 acres of land near the Avila Beach turnoff
and hot springs
were purchased.
Sixteen 2.cres were subsequently
sold to pay off the mortgage.
The building committee, towhom great credit must go, included
Chairman Mitsugi Fukuhara, Stone Saruwatari and Kingo Kawaoka.
'l'he new Temple was built in 1962 and the formal dedication ceremony
with chigo procession was held June 22, 1963, with Bishop Shinsho
Hanayama officiating.
Patterned after the traditional Japanese temple style by
Architect George Nagano of Morro Bay, the present San Luis Obispo
Temple in its rustic setting of serene beauty has become a
landmark of the area.
As it is the only building representative of
the Japanese style of architecture in the county, many groups,
fr0m fourth graders to University Women's clubs, visit the Temple
each year.
Volunteers from the Sunday School staff and Fujinkai
H •=-~1
help the minister t o ~
In
e these groups.
1966, when Reverend Iwao became seriously ill, Reverend
Charles Paulsen was app ointed by Bishop Hanayama to assist in the
ministerial duties.
Reverend Paulsen, who first came voluntarily
/:J...O
to San Luis Obispo in 1952, driving
miles round trip fr om
each Sunday,
Lompo_£/ took over the church duties upon Re~., erend Iwao 1 '3 passing
1966.
in Sentember of
He was assisted by Reverend Arthur Yamabe
of the Guadalupe Buddhist Church who conducted the Jananesespeaking services during t h is period.
Reverend Paulsen devoted
many self-less years to the Church and was an inspiration to all
who knew him.
In May of
••
D
:fZe.u·. (
l r-\.i
attr>-@61
I
ftt~sea.
ClWa..&
Uu~
.
-YJ' /?70 . , .
1967, Reverend Koken Sakai came to San Luis Obispo
as resident minister.
I
In addition to hisregular duties, he
lectured on Buddhism at Cal Poly, and through his efforts the
college World Religion classes held several meetings at the Temple.
Reverend Sakai was instrumental in setting up services at the Men 1 s
Colony, state penal institution near San Luis Obispo.
One of the highlights during Reverend Sakai's stay was the
40th Anniversary Commemoration held October
28, 1967.
/
hn~
In September
1968, Reverend Hakushi Futaba was appointed
to Athe Guadalupe and San Luis Obispo Churches.
Although he
lives in Guadalupe, he commutes to Avila to officiate at all
special services and visits the Sunday School twice monthly once for the Family Night service held the second S~turday of
each month, and once for the service on the fourth Sunday of
each month.
With the many responsibilities of two churches on
his shoulders, Reverend Futaba gives unstintingly of his time
and talents, and his efforts are appreciated by a grateful congregation.
Although the membership is small
(35 families), -:;he San
Luis Obispo Church has a eroup of dedicated followers who work
very closely together .
The Chl.U"ch enjoys the support of the
Caucasian public as evidenced most clearly by the success of trie
annual Obon Festival which is held at the local Veterans
Building.
From a small beginning in
•emorial
.11
1957, when it was first
opened to the public, the festival has grown to where it now
serves its popular terjyaki dinner to over 1,000 people.
Besides
the Obon dance, demonstrations and exhibits are presented, and
the community welco>t1es the festi vnl as one of the cultural highlights of the year.
Because of the limited number of members,
outside help from non-buddhist friends and supporters is enlisted
and in a spirit of universal brotherhood a great time is had by
all.
Because of its central location and its secluded setting,
the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church has bean selected as a
possible site for a BCA Retreat Center.
At the present time
the Boa rel of Directors is negotiating: with the BCA to get triis
worthy project under way.
February ~, 1927, using as its quarters a remodeled residence on a
ten-acre piece of property south of San Luis Obispo.
Famous Madonna
Inn is now located just across the road from this site.
Nyubutsu shiki was observed April 15, 1927.
The Sunday School
opened with approximately 60 students.
The Young Buddhist Association was formed that
summer, and in
September, the new organization became a member of the Beiko ku
Bussei. League.
A YBA baseball team wa.s formed and the followine;
February, a tennis team was also organized.
The temple grounds
by now had, in addition to a regulation baseball diamond, new
tennis courts for the use of the young people.
Prior to 1927, the San Luis Obispo Church was affiliated with
the Guadalupe Bud
1915, Reverend Issei 1vlatsuura journeyed to San Luis Obispo to
conduct services at various places.
When the community had gro~m
to a point where a temple building became necessary, the following
committee was selected to purchase the property:
Hisato Kurokawa,
Tsunejiro Tanaka, Tameji Eto and Yoroku Watanabe.
At the time of
purchase, the size of the temple property was probably the largest
of all the Buddhist Churches in the United States.
In November of 1927, the Church voted to become independent
of the GUBdalupe Chu~ch and welcomed Reverend Seikaku ~izutani
as its first resident minister.
60.
Members numbered approximately
Records indicate that by 1935, this number had increased to
over 100, drawing from residents in the outlyin~ areas of Arroyo
Grande, Pismo Beach, Pecho, Los Osos Rnd Morro Bay .
•
(j)
The year 1927 also saw the formation of the Dukkyo Fujinkai,
then known as "Haha no K-11i."
'l'he young girls organized a
Seinenkai Club, later changed to Kujo Club, in respectful memory
of Lady TB.keko Kujo.
In January of 1930. this org1=mizatinn
joined the newly formed Southern California Central Coast YWBA.
In 1929, a branch SundHy School, under the guidance of the
San Luis Obispo Sunday School, was established in Arroyo Grande
with 42 students attending.
There were approximetely 170 pupils
attending the San Luis Obispo Sunday School by 1935.
In 1912, Paul Kurokawa organized an all-Japanese Boy Scout
trnop with Reverend Mizutani as Sc out maste r .
A Japanese language school was established in September of
1925, and in 1927 became an affiliated organization of the
11
emple, and was known as San Luis Nippongo Gakuen, with Reverend
and Mrs. Mizutani as instructors.
In April 1930, the Los Osos
.T1rnanese Language School, which was built on 1w1r. Eto I s property,
came under the Temple jurisdiction, with Reverend and Mrs. Chizo
Kaku as ins true tors.
Of note is the fact that the local chapter of the Japanese
American Citizens League was organized in January 1931+ through
the efforts of the Buddhist Temple and the Japanese Association,
and had its first office in the Temple building.
The Church and its youth organizations continued to flourish
through the 1930's.
During Reverend Seijo Onoyama's tenure, the
Church membership increased to 150 members.
A kendo class we.s
started by Reverend Onoyama with 50 students particip:1.ting.
The Church was incorporated as a non-profit organization as
of Je.nuary }~, 1939.
For the first time an all-Nisei Board of
Directors was selected as follows:
Tsuruichi Fukunaga, Hakaru
Taku, Tom Nakaji, Iman Hori, Shuichi Kawaoka, Kingo Kawaoka and
Masaji Eto.
In 19h0, a new church and minister's t'esidence was constructed; but in less than two years, the new premises had to be
abandoned due to the exigencies of war when all Japanese were
evacuated from the West Coast.
The Church itself was used as a
storage place for evacuee property and left in the care of
~rnest Vollmer, Sr.
In 1946, after return from camp, three acres of the ten•
acre parcel were sold to the State of California Division of
Highways.
Only a smoll portion of the former residents returned to
San Luis Obispo County and with this reduced membership it was
k ~.
ttt ~~
not poss5ble to have a paid resident minister. ~ ~ully aware of
this and of the hardships ahead, Reverend Kenshi Iwao volunteered
his services and came to San Luis Obispo to re-open the Church.
~ince much of the Church furniture was vandalized and unusable,
Reverend Iwao spent his spare time from his gardening work in
making altar pieces.
With the loan of a butsudan from the Nagano
Family, Sunday School was ~ y started in August with just
three families sending their children.
fhe San Luis Obispo
(j)
Buddhist Church is deeply indebted to Reverend Iwao and his
family for his ded~ted services during the trying post-war
years.
During ~years at San Luis Obispo, many students from
nearby Califor 1-iia Polytechnic College came and took an active
part in the S1mday School program.
He also co11n<:1eled many war
brides and short-term agricultural workers from Japan (Tan-no)
and his home was a haven for the homesick and lonely.
In 1957, a new butsudan was donated by the following members
of the Pioneer Kankodan to Japan:
Keisaku Fukuhara, Eiji Hayashi,
Fukui.chi Nis:bimoto, Tame ji Eto, Kanaru Nagano and Ta tsumi Kawaoka.
Early in 1960, because of State plans to build a Highway 101
interchange on Church property, it became evident th~t the Church
would have to relinquish its remaining seven acres.
appointed to seek a new location consisted of:
The committee
Cha1rman Masaji
Eto, Kingo Kawaoka, Mitsugi Fukuhara, Noriharrn Kawaoka, Stone
Saruwatari and Ken Kitasako.
In August 1061, 42 acres of land near the Avila Beach turnoff
and hot springs
were purchased.
Sixteen 2.cres were subsequently
sold to pay off the mortgage.
The building committee, towhom great credit must go, included
Chairman Mitsugi Fukuhara, Stone Saruwatari and Kingo Kawaoka.
'l'he new Temple was built in 1962 and the formal dedication ceremony
with chigo procession was held June 22, 1963, with Bishop Shinsho
Hanayama officiating.
Patterned after the traditional Japanese temple style by
Architect George Nagano of Morro Bay, the present San Luis Obispo
Temple in its rustic setting of serene beauty has become a
landmark of the area.
As it is the only building representative of
the Japanese style of architecture in the county, many groups,
fr0m fourth graders to University Women's clubs, visit the Temple
each year.
Volunteers from the Sunday School staff and Fujinkai
H •=-~1
help the minister t o ~
In
e these groups.
1966, when Reverend Iwao became seriously ill, Reverend
Charles Paulsen was app ointed by Bishop Hanayama to assist in the
ministerial duties.
Reverend Paulsen, who first came voluntarily
/:J...O
to San Luis Obispo in 1952, driving
miles round trip fr om
each Sunday,
Lompo_£/ took over the church duties upon Re~., erend Iwao 1 '3 passing
1966.
in Sentember of
He was assisted by Reverend Arthur Yamabe
of the Guadalupe Buddhist Church who conducted the Jananesespeaking services during t h is period.
Reverend Paulsen devoted
many self-less years to the Church and was an inspiration to all
who knew him.
In May of
••
D
:fZe.u·. (
l r-\.i
attr>-@61
I
ftt~sea.
ClWa..&
Uu~
.
-YJ' /?70 . , .
1967, Reverend Koken Sakai came to San Luis Obispo
as resident minister.
I
In addition to hisregular duties, he
lectured on Buddhism at Cal Poly, and through his efforts the
college World Religion classes held several meetings at the Temple.
Reverend Sakai was instrumental in setting up services at the Men 1 s
Colony, state penal institution near San Luis Obispo.
One of the highlights during Reverend Sakai's stay was the
40th Anniversary Commemoration held October
28, 1967.
/
hn~
In September
1968, Reverend Hakushi Futaba was appointed
to Athe Guadalupe and San Luis Obispo Churches.
Although he
lives in Guadalupe, he commutes to Avila to officiate at all
special services and visits the Sunday School twice monthly once for the Family Night service held the second S~turday of
each month, and once for the service on the fourth Sunday of
each month.
With the many responsibilities of two churches on
his shoulders, Reverend Futaba gives unstintingly of his time
and talents, and his efforts are appreciated by a grateful congregation.
Although the membership is small
(35 families), -:;he San
Luis Obispo Church has a eroup of dedicated followers who work
very closely together .
The Chl.U"ch enjoys the support of the
Caucasian public as evidenced most clearly by the success of trie
annual Obon Festival which is held at the local Veterans
Building.
From a small beginning in
•emorial
.11
1957, when it was first
opened to the public, the festival has grown to where it now
serves its popular terjyaki dinner to over 1,000 people.
Besides
the Obon dance, demonstrations and exhibits are presented, and
the community welco>t1es the festi vnl as one of the cultural highlights of the year.
Because of the limited number of members,
outside help from non-buddhist friends and supporters is enlisted
and in a spirit of universal brotherhood a great time is had by
all.
Because of its central location and its secluded setting,
the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church has bean selected as a
possible site for a BCA Retreat Center.
At the present time
the Boa rel of Directors is negotiating: with the BCA to get triis
worthy project under way.