"In the Beginning"

In the early 1900’s, the Japanese population in Los Angeles County was estimated to be well over 15,000.  The population swelled from the influx of Japanese evacuees from the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. This growth continued unabated through 1917. Small districts of Japanese could be found in the Downtown, West side, Hollywood, and Boyle Heights areas.  However, the social and economic center was “Little Tokyo”. 

Having enough Japanese Buddhists to consider starting a Buddhist group, a group met and discussed forming such an organization. In October of 1905, Reverend Koyu Uchida, who was from the Buddhist Mission of North America [to become the Buddhist Churches of America after the war] San Francisco headquarters, was asked to formally preside over the formation of the organization.  The organization was called Nanka Bukkyokai (Buddhist Association of Southern California).  It was located on Jackson Street. The Nanka Bukkyokai flourished, as did two other Buddhist groups – the Rafu Bukkyokai organized in 1904 at 229 East Fourth Street by Rev. Junjo Izumida and the Chuo Bukkyokai organized in 1912 at 568 Turner Street and led by Rev. Teishin Kawakami. At first, the three groups coexisted peacefully, but as the years passed, what started as a friendly competition became a feud. The Nishi Hongwanji headquarter in Kyoto, Japan, eventually became so alarmed by the growing strife, that they sent one of their most able and proven administrators to arbitrate a solution. He was Reverend Shuye Sonoda, then president of Ryukoku University.

Reverend Sonoda spent two months in Los Angeles, interviewing community leaders, temple leaders, and members to determine the breadth and depths of the issues that separated the three groups. With an appeal for peace within the Japanese community, Reverend Sonoda proposed a merger of the three groups.

The merger was officially ratified by the three groups on September 30, 1917. Reverend Uchida, Bishop of BMNA, was named the spiritual leader. The name chosen for the combined group was Hongwanji Buddhist Church of Los Angeles.

Temporary officers named by the merger committee were:

Head Minister: Reverend Uchida

Ministerial Staff: Reverends Tetsugai Jisoji and Chosui Ike

Executive Secretary: Reverend Tojiro Hirata

About 1,500 people crowded into the hondo for the Nyubutsu and Dedication services.  Otoki was served.  Entertainment staged on both nights played to a packed house.  Japanese from near and far attending the event gave Nihonjin-machi a colorful festive air.

"New Home"

In 1922, under the prodding of the chairman of the temple of board directors, Yoshitaro Hirai, active steps were initiated towards the construction of a long-dreamed temple. The Acquisition Committee came up with two prospective sites, both on San Pedro Street between First and Jackson Streets. On August 28, 1922, the construction of the new building on First St. and Central Ave. was officially approved by the temple board of directors.

Construction was started in February 1925. The First Street frontage was planned to be rented to commercial interests and the Central Avenue frontage was to be the temple portion. It was hoped that the rent from the commercial frontage would ease the financial burden of the temple. The hondo of the new temple was to be the largest assembly hall in the Japanese community. Later, It was used for many of its functions, and become a focal point for the Japanese.

The Nyubutsu and Dedication Ceremonies were held in November of 1925, complete with the Chigo parade and festivities reminiscent of the Inaugural Ceremonies at Yamato Hall eight years before. 

"BETSUIN STATUS"

The Betsuin was still reeling from a series of adversities when the depression hit the United States. But, the Betsuin managed to struggle along on a day-to-day basis. Through it all, it was able to help outlying areas and communities organize Buddhist groups. With approximately 1,500 members, the Betsuin’s operating budget for 1934 was about $14,000.00. The temple sent ministers on regular schedules to groups within a radius of 100 miles.

Credit is given to the pioneering Issei who were determined to live in a Buddhist atmosphere and strongly believed the same was just as important for their children. The Issei’s had an uphill struggle all the way. Their dedication and sacrifice against overwhelming odds, is to a large measure, the reason Buddha Dharma is alive in the Southland today.  In 1939, the headquarters in Kyoto singled out Soji Fukui for his leadership and conferred on him the title of “Honzan Kanjo”. Mr. Fukui led the Betsuin through some of the most trying years. It was a period when daily meetings were held to scrape up the following day’s subsistence funds.

"EVACUATION AND POST-WAR PERIOD"

Executive Order 9066, signed on February 19th, 1942 led to the incarceration of all Japanese, Issei and Nisei alike. This temporarily closed the Betsuin.  All but two of the Betsuin ministers and many of the board members were arrested by FBI soon after the outbreak of WW2. The two ministers not arrested were Reverend Reichi Mori and Julius Goldwater.  Reverend Mori was later incarcerated in Heart Mountain. Reverend Goldwater remained in Los Angeles for the duration of the war and was asked by the Betsuin board of directors to take care of the Betsuin property.

As evacuation orders progressed from a likelihood to a definite reality, the Betsuin was first used as temporary quarters and finally as a household storage facility for the evacuees.  One of the young men who helped store the household goods would later return to the Betsuin in 1955 as Reverend Arthur Takemoto. With the final evacuation order, most of the Betsuin members were scattered among the internment and relocation camps. With most of the temple board members imprisoned or restricted to their homes, Mr. Masuo Sakamoto was elected president of the Betsuin, the first nisei to receive this honor. He served as president throughout the war years. 

In 1945, the internment ended, and many Japanese Americans were left without a home to return to. For a short period, the Betsuin served as a hostel. On September 24 of the same year, Rimban Jokai Kow officially opened the doors of our temple for religious purposes. In quick succession, regular Sunday School, issei services, and YBA services were started.

One of the more pressing problems facing the Betsuin in the immediate postwar era was the temple mortgage. When the temple was constructed in 1925, a loan was negotiated with Yokohama Species Bank. When the temple fell on hard times, a gentleman’s agreement was made that after a certain amount of the principal was paid, the bank would write off the rest of the loan as a gesture of good will. Rimban Kow traveled as far as San Jose to ask old friends for donations. Teams of Issei and Nisei volunteers blanketed the Southland asking for donations. After three difficult years, the Betsuin’s financial obligations to the State Banking Commission were fulfilled. The happy occasion was observed with an elaborate mortgage-burning ceremony on Sunday, May 22, 1949. 

"EXPANSION"

Though busy in getting the Betsuin in order, the ministers were still able to serve the spiritual needs of those in the surrounding areas. Under the leadership of Rimban Hayashima, they reestablished branch temples and founded new ones in other areas. This expansion extended its kyosen (area of propagation) to a radius of 200 miles. The temple aided in the construction of branch temples in Orange County, Venice, Long Beach and San Fernando. It started a Credit Union, Old Peoples Home, Youth Social Hall, a day care center, and bought other properties with an eye for future expansion.

Eventually, some branches became financially sound and strong enough to administer their own needs. As they become independent, more branches were developed by the Betsuin to fill the ever-growing needs of the Southland Buddhist population. The Betsuin has served as a training ground for acquainting ministers from Japan with the American way of doing things. At the Betsuin, ministers perform all the functions that a minister in the BCA might be required to perform. These include performing the multitude of activities required to run the largest Buddhist temple in the United States, ministering to members of the smaller branch temples, and ministering to the even smaller rural community groups. Invaluable as this training may be for new ministers, it is less than ideal for the membership.  

By the 1980s, over eighty ministers had served at the Betsuin.  They comprise a great percentage of the ministers who have served in BCA temples throughout the United States.

"NEW BUILDING"

In 1963, rumors circulating about City Hall’s plans for First Street seemingly came to a head. A letter from City Hall was read at the board of directors meeting in June, stating that City Hall was considering widening First Street from San Pedro to Alameda.  To do so, twenty feet along the north side of the street would have to be carved out.  The letter asked for remodeling plans if part of our temple was sliced off to accommodate the proposed plan. The letter from City Hall acted as a catalyst for an ambitious project to build a new temple.  On August 11, 1963, a general meeting of the entire Betsuin membership was held.  Members were informed of the events leading up to the latest development.  Also introduced was a general plan for the entire area worked out by the Little Tokyo Redevelopment Agency.  

To rebuild the present location was formally made and accepted. Masami Sasaki was named chairman of the Building Trust Fund. 

Subsequently, a goal of one million dollars was set to cover the complete costs involved in constructing the new temple. All the resources of the Betsuin, in the form of real and personal properties totaling $500,000.00 were made available to the Building Fund. A massive fund drive was inaugurated to raise the remainder of the money.

On July 29, 1965, the Acquisition Committee reported that the one-and-one-half acre Gough Industries Building at First and Vignes Streets could be purchased for $260,300.00. Architectural designs for the new temple prepared by three pre-selected firms were presented to the members at the general meeting held in January 1966.  A major recommendation was made by the Building Committee and accepted by the Betsuin board of directors in July of 1966.

In June of 1967, the Betsuin board of directors approved the selection of Tom Makino as the architect.  The Betsuin’s building and floor plans were revised many times. Although all the plans were drawn to include a multi-purpose auditorium/gymnasium, it was decided to postpone the construction of this structure until after the sale of the old temple.  Various factors entered into this decision: shortage of ready funds, inadequate parking facilities, etc.  Ironically, when the new temple was first being discussed, a proposal, later overruled, was introduced to give priority to constructing the auditorium/gymnasium. The architectural plans were approved in September of 1968.  By December, 1,103 donors had pledged $1,025,000.00 to the Building Trust Fund.  Collins and McPherson were chosen as the contractors. The completion date was scheduled for July 1969.

The first shovelful of dirt on the site of the new temple was turned by Rimban Ryuei Masuoka, on October 14, 1968. Finally on November 16, 1969, with the traditional Chigo parade, the Dedication and Nyubutsu Ceremonies for the new temple were observed with Kosho Ohtani, Monshu of the Nishi Hongwanji Headquarter in Kyoto, presiding. Over 2,000 persons attended the services.

The Japanese garden was dedicated on June 28, 1970. The project was led by Mr. Nunokawa, a Japanese garden expert from Japan, and the voluntary service of many of our members.  Most of the plants were received as donations.

Soon after the dedication of the temple, Hideya Chiji of Japan offered to paint a mural on the Life of the Shakyamuni Buddha for the hondo. Mr. Chiji had finished a similar project for a Japanese temple in India.  With the help of his son, Yasuhiro, Mr. Chiji spent a year and a half in Los Angeles painting the mural. The eight panels of paintings are the only set of its kind in the United States.  It has attracted many artists and sightseers.

On December 15, 1974, ground-breaking services were held for the Kaikan (multi-purpose hall).  Construction was completed and dedication services were held on February 28th and 29th of 1976.

A large temple bell was donated to the Betsuin by Mr. Ehan Numata, president of Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai. It arrived on May 29, 1977. The groundbreaking ceremony for the bell tower was held on February 4, 1979, and the structure was completed with a dedication service on October 14, 1979.  The impressive bell tower is the major 75th Anniversary project. Bells are a traditional part of all Japanese Temples.

"Betsuin History through the 1980s"

Over one thousand families have been members and supporting friends of the Betsuin. There were four branch temples: Hollywood, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, and Valley.  Each branch has its own board of directors, Fujinkai, Adult Buddhist Association, Senior and Junior Young Buddhist Association, and Sunday School groups. Ministers from the Betsuin are assigned to each branch temple. Regular services are conducted by the Betsuin in outlying areas on a semi-weekly or monthly basis.  The districts served are East Los Angeles, Southwest Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, Lancaster, San Gabriel, Riverside, Thermal, Lomita, and Pomona Valley.

Complementary to its regular temple functions and activities, the Betsuin sponsors Scouting America Troop 738, Cub Pack 738c,  Judo, Japanese Language School, and many other cultural classes. 

The operation of the Betsuin is administered by the Riji (Board of Directors) which meets every month.  The president of the Betsuin presides over the Rijikai meetings. The Riji is composed of representatives from the branch temples and the affiliated organizations.

Edited by the Nishi Archive/Library Committee (1/5/2025)