VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3 • September 2026
New Honzan Seminar Strengthens Kaikyoshi’s Ties to Headquarters
Hawaiʻi ministers join colleagues from North America for training, reflection and a private audience with the Gomonshu
Rev. Kerry Kiyohara, left, and Rev. Blayne Higa, resident ministers of Makawao and Kona Hongwanji respectively, took part in this year’s second Kaikyoshi Ministers’ Seminar which closed with a service in the An’nonden building above.
If the Dharma is the foundation of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, Kaikyoshi ministers are its stewards — trusted guides who seek and understand the Dharma, who teach, share and spread the message.
Literally meaning “those who open the Dharma,” Kaikyoshi ministers serve as the vital link between Hongwanji headquarters in Kyoto and temples around the world.
Kaikyoshi aspirants born in Japan are required to complete two training programs before their appointment. The first is the official ministerial training program conducted by the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Headquarters (Honzan), and the second is the International Ministerial Orientation Program (IMOP) offered through the Jodo Shinshu International Office (JSIO).
After successfully completing both programs and passing the qualification review process, they are officially appointed as Kaikyoshi and dispatched to overseas districts such as the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaiʻi (HHMH), Buddhist Churches of America (BCA), and the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada (JSBTC).
Traditionally, newly appointed Kaikyoshi from Japan have been given the special privilege of having a private audience with the Gomonshu at Honzan prior to their overseas assignment.
During this occasion, they receive their official Kaikyoshi wagesa and words of encouragement from the Gomonshu as they prepare to begin their ministry abroad.
Kaikyoshi aspirants born overseas are also appointed by Honzan as Kaikyoshi, following an official recommendation from the overseas Bishop of the district in which they intend to serve.
Because these aspirants already reside outside Japan, they have not traditionally had the opportunity to visit Honzan, receive their Kaikyoshi wagesa in person, or have an audience with the Gomonshu before starting their careers as Kaikyoshi.
Rev. Itaru Nozaki, left, and Rev. Masako Sugimoto, third from left, from the Headquarters staff, took Rev. Candice Shibata, second from left, Rev. Blayne Higa, Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji and Rev. Melissa Opel to an area behind the Goeido, or Founder’s Hall, to see the “eternal flame” display.
To provide overseas-born Kaikyoshi aspirants with the same opportunity to deepen their awareness and commitment as Kaikyoshi ministers of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, and to receive personal encouragement from the Gomonshu, Honzan inaugurated a new training seminar for overseas district-appointed ministers two years ago.
This program enables them to visit Honzan, strengthen their connection with the Hongwanji tradition, and formally receive an audience with the Gomonshu.
In 2025, Rev. Charlene Kihara from Honpa Hongwanji Hawaiʻi Betsuin and Rev. Blayne Nakasone Sakata from Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin attended the intensely planned sessions while this year, Rev. Blayne Higa from Kona Hongwanji Mission and Rev. Kerry Kiyohara from Makawao Hongwanji Mission, took part from March 18-20.
The other three 2026 participants were Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji of Southern Alameda Buddhist Church; Rev. Melissa Opel from Buddhist Church of San Francisco, and Rev. Candice Shibata from Buddhist Church of Stockton and Walnut Grove Buddhist Church.
Ministers participated in services, toured headquarters, attended presentations on Hongwanji administration, rituals and liturgy and met privately with Gomonshu Kojun Ohtani.
Ministers said the private audience with Gomonshu became one of the seminar’s most memorable moments. Rather than a formal courtesy call, the Gomonshu asked about each minister’s temple, upcoming plans and hopes for the future, listening carefully and responding thoughtfully.
For Rev. Kihara, the meeting was solemn and formal.
“We were invited to tea, but no one drank — out of reverence, as it was clearly not a casual visit,” she said.
“I shared what we were doing at the Betsuin in Hawaiʻi to connect with our youth, native Hawaiians, LGBTQ+ groups and the documentary film about Hawaiian Buddhist women.”
Former Bishop who served the Buddhist Churches of America for 56 years as a Kaikyoshi, the Rev. Koshin Ogui urged ministers to remain innovative while remaining rooted in the Hongwanji tradition.
“Rev. Ogui encouraged us to always remember ‘Ai Zan go Hō,’ or ‘Love Honzan and defend the Dharma’ because, while we can never repay our debt of gratitude to the Hongwanji, we must try and our duty is to defend and protect the Dharma of Jodo Shinshu as taught by our founder, Shinran Shonin,” Makawao’s Rev. Kiyohara said.
“At the same time, he encouraged us to innovate constantly, because, ‘Honzan doesn’t have all the answers.’ ”
In a sense, going through the seminars after having served for years in Hawaiʻi is a plus because the programs covered at the time of their ordination have evolved, Headquarters continues to reorganize and information conveyed to ministers now about ongoing projects has changed.
Returning to Honzan after 14 years since his Kyoshi ordination reminded Rev. Higa that the time together with other ministers and fellow travelers is profoundly meaningful.
“Sitting in the ancient halls, gazing at the altars of Amida Buddha and Shinran Shonin, breathing in the fragrance of incense, hearing the beautiful, heartfelt chanting and feeling the spirit of the Nembutsu was deeply moving,” he said.
If the purpose of the program was to fill a gap between Honzan and the overseas Kaikyoshi ministers and bridge the void between them, the purpose was fulfilled, Rev. Nakasone Sakata said.
Rev. Higa agreed.
“While not all of the seminar content was directly relevant to my situation, it was good to be grounded in the tradition and to gain a deeper appreciation of our roots,” he said. “I left with greater insight into the organization’s potential and challenges, which mirror our own in Hawaiʻi.”
Although brief, the seminar was “a rare opportunity to put the outside world on ‘pause’ and reflect on our spiritual lives with intention,” Rev. Kiyohara said.