LAS VEGAS BUDDHIST SANGHA NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER, 2013
This month's service will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at the JACL Activity Center, 1401 Arville Street, a
block south of Charleston. Our visiting minister will be Rev Akio Miyaji. He will arrive on Saturday, December 7th to teach a
class on Japanese calligraphy at 1 p.m. at SW Behavior School, 6480 Fairbanks Rd 89103, which is one block south of Flamingo
between Jones and Torrey Pines and between Guinn Middle School and the West Flamingo Park. We will be having our
traditional potluck bonenkai luncheon after the service on Sunday, so please bring your special entree, salad, or dessert to share
with our Sangha members. Please put your name on the dish so other members may let you know how much they appreciate
what you’ve brought. It is one of the few times that we can leisurely sit and get to know one another better; so besides inviting
interested friends, please bring a generous amount to cover any prospective members. Our bonenkai celebration is to “forget the
hardships of the old year” while “being grateful for the interconnectedness” one has experienced this past year. Hopefully, the
Dharma School students will be submitting both the artwork for the annual calendar in addition to a video of any performance
which will be shown during the luncheon in the tradition of many bonenkai celebrations.
DHARMA CORNER: December 8th, Bodhi Day, marks the time when Prince Siddhartha Gautama “awakened” from a life
blinded by ignorance to an enlightened life as Shakyamuni Buddha. Gautama meditated under the Bodhi Tree (Tree of
Enlightenment) and became a Buddha, perfect in Wisdom and Compassion. This historic event supposedly took place as the first
faint light of day began to glow in the eastern sky. By his example he showed us that it was possible for human beings to become
a Buddha, a fully Enlightened Person. We therefore possess this potential of Buddha-nature, which when awakened and
cultivated, will enable us to achieve supreme Wisdom and Compassion.
NOVEMBER’S DHARMA MESSAGE: The Saturday class that Reverend Jay Shinseki presented was very informative on
rituals & traditions in Jodo Shinshu. Reverend Shinseki lives in San Jose, works in Santa Cruz and is the minister of the
Monterey Buddhist Temple. As in 2012, when he pinch hit for the former Bishop Seigen Yamaoka, this time he subbed for Rev.
Marvin Harada who had a conflict in his schedule. At our Sunday service, Reverend Shinseki’s Dharma talk was about a man
having four wives with each representing the various aspects of life: possessions, friends, family and then the true self. When we
die, we can only take our true self with us, “sonomama.”
NOVEMBER DONATIONS: Frances & Jim Akamine; Ken & Gladys Akita; Cathy Arakaki; Alice Branton; Sho
Fukawa; Sandi Hiyane (annual); Harriet Huber; Isa Family (October); Dale & Rosan Ito; Rosie Kakuuchi; Kumiko Kashiwada
(October & November); Kurashige Family; Pati Lira; Hank & June Maruyama; Frances Miyasato (annual); Bill & Nanette
Muraoka; Dennis & Margaret Nakata; Mits Nakayama; Takako Ogata; Mr./Mrs. Rodney Okano (new members); Bob & Chizuyo
Reynierse; Mike & Becky Suyeyasu; Roy & Caryl Suzuki; Oh & Alan Takemoto (annual); Fred & Carolyn Tomiyoshi (annual);
Sadako Wanless (annual); Grace Wertz; Patty & Fred Yamano; Tom & Sumiko Yanagihara (annual).
2013 MEMBERSHIP DUES RECEIVED: Frances & Jim Akamine; Ken & Gladys Akita; Emiko Aoki; Sharleen Aoki; Ann
& Noboru Aoyagi; Cathy Arakaki; Alice Branton; Dennis & Brenda Creed; Tom & Lynn DeMann; Mitch & Nam’e Dukes; Sho
Fukawa; Hana Fukumoto; Mabel Fukumoto; Clara Hamasaki; Sally Hanagami; Deborah Harlig; Carolyn & Richard Higa; Sandi
Hiyane; Tomico Honda; Dave Hopper; Harriet Huber; June Ikeda; Nancy & Stan Isa; Dale & Rosan Ito; Alice Kado; Rosie
Kakuuchi; Sadae Kasamoto; Kumiko Kashiwada; Albert & Georgiana Kobayashi; Dan & Katie Kosora; John Kosora; Wayne &
Myrna Kozai; Jim & Gay Kurashige; Pati Lira; June & Hank Maruyama; Roy & Kanyarat Matsuda; Aiko Mayeda; Sueno
Migaki; Jimi & Barbara Mitsunaga; Frances Miyasato; Daniel Miyake; Ben & Karen Mizusaki; Cathy & Cliff Moses; Bill &
Nanette Muraoka; Ben & Marilyn Nakagawa; Dennis & Margaret Nakata; Kumiko Nakata; Mits Nakayama; Steve & Myrtle
Noguchi; Jon Ogata; Takako Ogata; Eleanor Oshiro; Mary Ozaki; Bob & Chizuyo Reynierse; Paul & Alice Sakamoto; Lily
Sakemi; Marlo & Jason Sando; Muriel Scrivner; Kazu & Edna Shiotani; Ron & May Soeda; Aileen & Brent Sumida; Mike &
Becky Suyeyasu; Roy & Caryl Suzuki; Oh & Alan Takemoto; Michael Tanaka; Wayne & Sadie Tanaka; June Tateishi; Fred &
Carolyn Tomiyoshi; Agnes Tsuchiyama; Flora Tsuma; Sadako Wanless; Kyle Watanabe; Scott & Tami Watanabe; Grace Wertz;
Tom & Myrna Wieczorek; Mas Yamada; Patty & Fred Yamano; Tom & Sumiko Yanagihara; Stan Yokoyama; Katherine &
Ryan Yoshikawa; Shirley Yoshioka.
2014 MEMBERSHIP DUES RECEIVED: Alice Branton; Helen Koga; Frances Miyasato; Mits Nakayama. Also we welcome
as new members Gene Nakamura & his friend Tilda Silao, and Rodney & Crystal Okano who have children Tia (16) Roxanne
(10) and Kenji (6).
MEMORIALS: Alice Branton in memory of her husband Ralph Branton; Ken & Gladys Akita in memory of her father,
Mitsubi Higashi; Sho Fukawa – in memory of his parents in law, Mr. & Mrs. Sasaki; June Maruyama in memory of her father,
Kojiro Hamada.
BUDDHISM CLASS DONATIONS: Dennis & Margaret Nakata and Roy & Caryl Suzuki. At our December calligraphy
class, we would like to get an RSVP from anyone who wants to attend, because we need to know the quantity of supplies to have
on hand. We also request that a small donation of $10 be made by all attendees to cover the cost of the supplies.
SPECIAL DONATION: Harriet Huber - $400 towards service books as well as Dr. Dave Hopper donating $400 for the other
half; OCBC is donating 100 plastic covers at $2 each to have the books last longer.
SANGHA CRAFTS NEWS: The crafts group was very successful at the Aki Matsuri, although it only had one week's
notice. They were able to raise $375 for the Building Fund. It was decided that all the money donated by the Sangha Crafts (so
far over $2,000) would be set aside for our new kitchen at our new location. It will be a “warming” kitchen since a full kitchen
would have been over $100,000 extra to be in compliance with all the city/fire codes. The Sangha Craft Group will be selling
furoshikis and hangers for the holidays. The first order will go in this week and you will get your furoshikis by our next service,
Dec. 8th. Please go to www.furoshikishop.com and call if you wish to place an order - Patty Yamano (818) 219-6982.
Sewing Class for Decorative Pillows - We will be having a sewing class on Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. at the JACL Center. We will learn
how to put together decorative pillows using the furoshikis but other panels can be used. Call Patty at the number above if you
are interested to get details on what to bring. A portable sewing machine is desirable but not necessary. The classes will be $25
(part to go to the Building Fund) plus materials.
THANKSGIVING DONATIONS: We thank Helen Koga and Mits Nakayama who brought canned goods to November’s
service. In addition, Project 150 brought a surplus of food to SW Behavior School which was used to augment our Sangha
donations. In addition, Rosie Kakuuchi and Roy & Caryl Suzuki sent in their donations for the annual BCA Thanksgiving
program that our Sangha board may add to at its next board meeting.
FLOWERS & REFRESHMENTS: We thank all those who brought flowers for our service: Gladys & Ken Akita, Alice
Branton, June & Hank Maruyama, Chizuyo & Bob Reynierse, & Sadako Wanless. We also thank Takako Ogata & Sadako
Wanless and Sho Fukawa & Pati Lira for coming early to set up the chairs and Obutsudan.
DECEMBER MEMORIALS: If you would like to bring memorial flowers, please remember to bring a vase and to take your
flowers or give them away after the service.
12/1 Iwamatsu Hoshiyama, father of Hana Fukumoto; George Hoshiyama, brother of Hana Fukumoto; Yori Hamada, brother
of Haru Toimoto
12/3 Masao Nii, father of May Soeda
12/3 Bill Hopper, father of David Hopper
12/4 Tom Tanaka, father of Cathy Moses and Michael Tanaka
12/6 Hideo “Joe” Ikeda; father of Deborah Harlig
12/8 Fumie Suyama, grandmother of Cathy Moses and Michael Tanaka
12/10 Reverend Jitsuryu Tanaka, father of Wayne Tanaka
12/12 Frank Takemoto, brother of Margaret Nakata
12/13 Minoru Suzuki, father of Roy Suzuki
12/18 Yoogo Oba, father of Harriet Huber
12/20 Stanley Okumura, father of Francis Akamine
12/23 Hanayo Oba, mother of Harriet Huber
12/25 Kow Maruki, brother of Rosie Kakuuchi & Grace Wertz;
12/26 Haruyo Matsuda, mother of Sadako Wanless
12/28 Mitzy Tanaka, mother of Cathy Moses and Michael Tanaka
12/29 Kasumi Hamada, mother of Haru Toimoto
12/30 Jimmy Takemoto, brother of Margaret Nakata
KODEN SENT: To the families of Stan Isa and Heide Ferguson in memory of their mothers.
FUNERALS ATTENDED: Wayne Tanaka spoke as a representative of the Sangha at the services for June Tateishi and Don
Frazer. The Sangha donated flowers and koden.
HAPPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAY on 12/11 Katherine Yoshikawa; 12/12 James Akamine; 12/15 Alice Kado; 12/17 Cathy
Arakaki; 12/18 Kim Watanabe; 12/19 Sadie Kasamoto; 12/20 Paul Sakamoto; 12/21 Rosie Kakuuchi; 12/24 Lori Muraoka;
12/25 Tomico Honda; and 12/31 Sadie Tanaka.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY on 12/10 Margaret & Dennis Nakata; 12/19 Nan & Bill Muraoka; 12/20 Sadie & Wayne Tanaka;
12/29 Lynn & Thomas DeMann.
BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 AT 6 P.M. FOR DINNER at Mimi’s Restaurant (7
P.M. FOR THE MEETING). At our service, a motion was made and seconded to keep the entire current cabinet and board
members. A vote was taken and it was passed that the following Sangha members will be sworn in as the next service: President
Stan Isa; VP Jim Kurashige & Harriet Huber; Secretary Sharleen Aoki would like to be replaced, but will serve until she finds a
replacement; Treasurer Pati Lira; Board Members: Sandi Hiyane; Eileen Castle/Dr. Dave Hopper, John Kosora; Margaret &
Dennis Nakata; Jon Ogata has also asked to be relieved; so we need another volunteer; Ellie Oshiro; Michael & Sharan Tanaka;
Patty Yamano and Kyle Watanabe.
PROGRESS ON PURCHASE OF NEW BUILDING: At least 15 Sangha members were present at the NLV Planning
Commission meeting on Wed., Nov. 13, when the commission unanimously approved of having a church buy the building at
4110 MLK Blvd, NLV 89032, next to the empty lot which is behind Home Depot and less than a block south of Craig & Camino
del Norte. An electronic bank transfer has been set up by our financial planner Derek Uyehara which will get the funds into our
checking account in time for the closing of escrow on Wednesday, November 20 through realtors Mike & Becky Suyeyasu.
A big thank you to all our friends that have supported us in the past and now in this endeavor. Patty Yamano & Pati Lira sent out
letters a little over a month ago and we have received over $10,000 from our Sangha friends. If you know any of the donors
below, please give them a heartfelt thank you the next time you see them:
STANLEY & EVELYN MORIMOTO, LOS ANGELES, CA
TOM & AKIKO MAEDA, GARDENA, CA
JANE SAKASHITA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
TED & TOMOKO MIZUKAMI, HERMOSA BEACH, CA
DAVID & LILY NAKATANI, TORRANCE, CA
CHIYOKO NISHISAKA, CULVER CITY, CA
SACHI MATSUMOTO, LOMITA, CA
MOTOMI & JO-DELL ARAO, MOORPARK, CA
TOMIAKI & NOBUKO OKADA, ROLLING HILLS, CA
ICHIRO & TAKEKO DOI, BOUNTIFUL, UT
TOSHI OTSU, GARDENA, CA
MASAYO UYEDA, LA MIRADA, CA
KIMIKO & LARRY FUKUMOTO (MEMORY OF FRED FUKUMOTO), CERRITOS, CA
ALFRED, DORIS & SUSAN SHIGAKI, LOS ANGELES, CA
CHIYOKO NISHIMORI (MEMORY OF MINOBU NISHIMORI), SOMIS, CA
SACHIKO SAKAMOTO, SYLMAR, CA
TAYEKO KURASHIGE, SAN JOSE, CA
BILLY & SANDRA SAEK, LOS ANGLEES, CA
ENMANJI BUDDHIST TEMPLE, SEBASTOPOL, CA
FLORANCE M. KAJIKAWA, TORRANCE, CA
ROY & TERRY NAKAWATASE, TOPANGA, CA
KAYOKO UNO, MONTEREY PARK, CA
KIYOSHI & ELLEN FUJIMOTO, PEPEEKEO, HI
MICHIKO & CAROLYN ITATANI WAHLER, SAN JOSE, CA
HENRY & MICHIKO TANAKA, OXNARD, CA
SUZANNE YOSHIDA, TORRANCE, CA
AMY SATO, HENDERSON, NV
KEIKO OTANI, REDONDO BEACH, CA
SHIGERU & MARY TOKIWA, CAMPBELL, CA
CINDY OGAWA, WEST HILLS, CA
Y. MARY NAKAYAMA, WESTMINSTER, CA
SHOUSEI & KEIKO HANAYAMA, WASTSONVILLE, CA
KAYE BARTHOLOMEW & JOHN PETER SCOTT, SPOKANE, WA
REV. KATSUYA KUSUNOKI & AYANO KUSUNOKI, LODI, CA
DENNIS M. & SETSUKO F. FURUKE, SUMMERLAND, CA
HATSUMI YAMAMOTO, SACRAMENTO, CA
JON & LINDA TURNER (OCBC MINISTER), HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
Also, a suggestion during this season of Dana (giving). If anyone asks you what you want for the holidays and are stuck for an
answer, please think about a donation to the LV Sangha Building Fund. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. As Rev.
Shinseki said, we are all family and now we are building a new home for our family to honor our dedication to the Buddha and
the Dharma.
SOUTHERN NEVADA JAPANESE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION’S 10TH ANNUAL SPEECH CONTEST. The Sangha
donated $100 for this event honoring Fumiko Bichard’s accomplishments as the first Japanese language teacher at Clark HS.
The event was held at Spring Valley HS on November 9 with 40 competitors from CCSD, CSN and UNLV.
BILL ENDOW GOLF TOURNAMENT was held on Sat., Nov. 16 at Bear’s Best Golf Club with the Sangha donating a hole
sponsorship and in return a sign was placed on the one of the holes and a full page ad about our Sangha was in the tournament
program booklet.
JAPAN AMERICA SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN NEVADA (JASN). Their third annual Bonenkai is being held on
Wednesday, December 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, 89106. Price is $60 per person and
RSVP is necessary at www.jasnlasvegas.org.
JACL MOCHITSUKI will be held on Saturday, December 28, from 7 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon. Both the mochi &
lunch must be prepaid ($4/bag, $15/person). Costs are more for non-JACL members in hopes that more Sangha members will
sign up. It only costs $20 per family. Plans are being made to have groups of performers for a New Year’s celebration at a larger
venue in January.
June Tateishi
Don Frazer Jane and Rev. Jay Shinseki with Crystal and Rodney Okano, Esq.
IN MEMORIAM
Tilda Silao and Gene Nakamura with Rev. Jay & Jane Shinseki