OCBC 60th Anniversary Celebration
A Joyful Milestone:
On Sunday, November 16th, Orange County Buddhist Church will celebrate its 60th anniversary. This is a time to reflect with gratitude on our temple’s history and to rejoice in the Sangha that continues to flourish today.
The celebration service will begin at 10:00 AM in the hondo, followed by a special Kieshiki (Affirmation Ceremony) conducted by Rev. Marvin Harada, Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America. A buffet luncheon will follow in the MPB, with entertainment by Daion Taiko, the Ukulele Jammers, and the ABAsonics & Friends. If you have not yet registered for the luncheon, please do so by October 25th.
We extend deep gratitude to the 60th Anniversary Committee for their dedication in planning this special occasion. Following the celebration, the OCBC 60th Anniversary Directory, including Sangha photos, will be published. Please contact Lisa Osako or Janet Arima if you still need to schedule your photo session.
Buddhism in North America:
Buddhism first arrived on the shores of North America in the mid-19th century, when Chinese immigrants established a temple in San Francisco in 1853—the first Buddhist temple in the Western hemisphere.
Later, Japanese immigrants brought Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhism), a Pure Land school of Japan. In 1899, Rev. Shoue Sonoda and Rev. Kakuryo Nishijima arrived in San Francisco as the first Shin Buddhist missionaries. Soon after, the Buddhist Mission of North America (BMNA) was founded, later renamed the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA).
Over the past 120 years, Shin Buddhist temples were built throughout the North America, Hawaii, Canada, and Brazil, providing spiritual refuge and community for generations of Japanese Americans.
The Roots of OCBC:
The roots of OCBC go back to 1920, when Howakai (Dharma gatherings) were held in private homes, led by ministers from Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji. Dharma School began in the Santa Ana home of Mr. and Mrs. Toichi Kodama, and by 1931 moved to Wintersburg (now Huntington Beach) and later to Talbert (now Fountain Valley).
OCBC was formally established as a branch of Los Angeles Betsuin in 1936. During World War II, the temple building was offered as a hostel. In 1946, following the war, OCBC reopened, Dharma School resumed, and a Japanese language school was established under the temple’s auspices.
In 1958, the temple relocated to Stanton, and in 1963 OCBC was incorporated as an independent temple. The dedication service was held in 1965, marking a new era in our community. Over the years, many vibrant organizations took root—BWA, YBA, Sangha Teens, ABA, Boy Scouts Troop 578, Girl Scouts Troop 855, Daion Taiko, Project Kokoro, YABA, BEC, and more. Each reflected the Sangha’s commitment to nurture youth, deepen Dharma learning, and serve the wider community.
More recently, OCBC undertook a major $12 million campus project, renovating the hondo and naijin, MPB, and building a new social hall. We joyfully celebrated the completion of that project at our 50th anniversary in 2017.
A Minister’s Reflection:
This anniversary also marks a personal milestone for me. In September 2015, after completing my graduate studies (MA and PhD) at Ryukoku University, I began serving as a full-time BCA Kaikyoshi Minister here at OCBC. Now, ten years later, I look back with deep gratitude.
It is my honor to follow in the footsteps of our founding minister, the late Rev. Tomoji Hirata, the late Rev. Akio Miyaji, Rev. Marvin Harada (now our BCA Bishop), and the late Rev. John Doami. Alongside them, countless pioneering members devoted themselves to establishing and nurturing this temple. We are truly the beneficiaries of their vision and dedication.
What touches me most is seeing our Sangha across all generations—children in Dharma School, teens in Boy and Girl Scouts and YBA, YABA group, various generations in the Daion Taiko group and ABA (Adult Buddhist Association), and BWA — joyfully participating in temple life. Each activity, whether chanting the sutras, pounding mochi, or playing taiko, is an expression of gratitude for the boundless compassion of Amida Buddha.
The Light of the Nembutsu:
As we reflect on 60 years, we see clearly that OCBC has always been more than a building or an organization. It is a living Sangha, sustained by the Nembutsu—the call of Amida Buddha that awakens us to wisdom and compassion beyond self.
The temple is a place where we encounter the Dharma together: in times of joy, such as weddings, festivals, and graduations; and in times of sorrow, when we gather to honor the lives of loved ones. In every circumstance, the Nembutsu embraces us, reminding us that we are never alone.
Looking Ahead:
As we look to the next 60 years, may OCBC continue to be:
A place of refuge, where all feel welcomed just as they are.
A place of learning, where the Dharma is shared across generations.
A place of joy, where the sound of the Nembutsu resounds in gratitude.
With deep appreciation, let us celebrate this milestone together, and entrust our future to the boundless vow of Amida Buddha.
Gassho,
Namo Amida Butsu
