Hawaii State Lay Association 2025 Convention Theme: “Let’s Be the Authors of Our Future!” Bishop’s Message via Zoom from Japan Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani September 13, 2025 Good morning, everyone. It is truly a joy to be with you at this Lay Convention, and I thank you for giving me this...
On August 14, 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, members of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and community members gathered at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin for a special Commemoration Service titled “In Remembrance and Reflection: Commemorating 80 Years Since the End...
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 2 • June 2025 Bishop’s Corner: “The Back We Follow” Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani This May marks the 20th year since my mother passed away. At the time, I was serving at Makawao Hongwanji on the island of Maui when I received a phone call from my...
Message from the Bishop: “Reflection on the 80th Anniversary of the Kamikaze Attack and Burial on the USS Missouri” Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani April 2025 Headquarters Update newsletter On April 11, 2025, I had the honor of attending and offering the Invocation and Benediction at the 80th Anniversary of the Kamikaze...
The Gomonshu is the spiritual head of our denomination based in Kyoto, Japan. The current Gomonshu is His Eminence Monshu Kojun Ohtani, the 25th-generation descendant of Shinran Shonin to head the Hongwanji. Here is his New Year’s message. See Also 2025 New Year’s Message from Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani 2025 New...
As we stand at the threshold of 2025, I am filled with profound gratitude for the Sangha of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and the spiritual journey we continue to share. The theme for this year, “Nurturing Nembutsu: Cultivating Awareness,” reflects not only our collective aspiration but also our...
Happy New Year! Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! Hauoli Makahiki Hou! I hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and in good spirits as we look forward to the New Year, 2025! As we enter the new year, it is natural to look back at the past year. As I...
Bishop’s Corner: ‘From the Mud, the Lotus Flower Blooms’ Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani September 2024 Ka Leo Kāhea newsletter Osono lived in Mikawa (present-day Aichi Prefecture) from 1777 to 1853. She got married at a young age and had two children, but unfortunately, both passed away early. This led her to...
Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha is the mother temple of the Nishi Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shin Buddhism. This statement from the Governor General was originally distributed in Japanese on November 17, 2023. Honpa Hongwani Mission of Hawaii received an official English translation on April 15, 2024. Both versions are available on...
The Gomonshu is the spiritual head of our denomination based in Kyoto, Japan. The current Gomonshu is His Eminence Monshu Kojun Ohtani, the 25th-generation descendant of Shinran Shonin to head the Hongwanji. Here is his New Year’s message. See Also 2024 New Year’s Message from Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani 2024 New...