NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

By J.K. Yamamoto--Buddhist Church of Oakland’s annual Festival of Joy, held July 31, included a brief program honoring one of the church’s most prominent members.

At the beginning of the Obon Odori, Board President Steven Terusaki announced that Kayoko Fujimoto had recently received an award from Japan’s emperor, the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays, for her efforts to promote cultural exchange between Japan and the U.S. as Madame Suiyo Fujimoto, grand master of the Ohara School of Ikebana and a founder of the Ikebana Teachers Federation.

Terusaki described Fujimoto and her family as “icons” in the Buddhist Churches of America. “Her late husband was Rev. Hogen Fujimoto of the Sacramento Betsuin, and she’s the only mother of two current BCA ministers, Rinban Ken Fujimoto at San Jose Betsuin and Rev. Dennis Fujimoto of Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple. And Mrs. Fujimoto herself is a minister. So on behalf of the Buddhist Church of Oakland, we would like to again acknowledge how special you are to our sangha.”

Fujimoto accepted flowers and a gift from Terusaki as the dancers and audience gave her a round of applause.

The conferment ceremony was held on June 10 at the San Francisco residence of Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine with about 50 people in attendance. Speakers included BCA Bishop Koshin Ogui. In her acceptance speech, Fujimoto gave special thanks to her late husband for his support.

Rev. Harry Bridge started the Obon Odori by explaining, “The Obon festival is a very special part of the Japanese Buddhist tradition ... a time for us to remember our departed loved ones and pay our respects to our ancestors for all that we’ve received. So it’s really a dance of joy and gratitude.”

With San Jose’s Chidori Band providing live music and Ed Shepard serving as emcee, participants formed a circle around the yagura (platform), where the dance instructors demonstrated the proper moves. Dances included “Gassho Ondo,” “Oshin Ondo,” “Kawachi Otoko Bushi,” “AIUE Ondo,” “Ochatsumi Ondo,” and everyone’s favorite, “Tanko Bushi.”

Special guests included dance instructors Michiya Hanayagi and Michisuya Hanayagi and their students, and Yoshiko Fujimoto of Mishibana Kai.

The festival also included a food bazaar in the church hall and parking lot; an ikebana exhibit by Suiyo Fujimoto and her students; a Buddhist art exhibit by Takayuki Zoshi; a koto performance by Shirley Muramoto Koto Studio; a tea ceremony demonstration by Madame Soga Fujimoto and her students from the Urasenke School; and a performance by Eden Aoba Taiko, led by Masa Fukuizumi.

A Hatsubon service was held on Aug. 1 for 12 church members who passed away over the past year.