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Koyasan Buddhist Temple

History

In 1909, the Reverend Shutai Aoyama, native and former chief priest of Kakuganji Temple in Toyama- ken, left Japan for the United States with the blessings of Archbishop Misumon Yuhan and his other superiors, “to observe the religious situation in North America, as well as propagate Shingon Buddhism.” In 1912, with support and encouragement from some of the Los Angeles Japanese community’s leading citizens, Issei and Nisei temple members a like, he opened the first Shingon temple in the United States in a store front in Little Tokyo called Koyasan Daishi Kyōkai of Los Angeles or just Daishi Church. The Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism focuses on Shingon teachings compiled by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in the Heian period.

In 1935, the Temple was elevated to the status of Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin, meaning it became the North American regional headquarters, recognized by the Koyasan Headquarters of Japan. In 1940 the Temple moved to its current location on East 1st Street, but the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, forever changed the Japanese American community across the nation. Anti- Japanese sentiment ran rampant. Within a year the temple in Los Angeles was closed, its hall and basement piled to the ceiling with members’ possessions, and its membership, both U.S. citizens and non- citizens alike, was relocated to internment camps throughout the West.

Building

The Aoyama Tree is a 60-by-70 foot Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Ficus macrophylla) located in the city of Los Angeles-owned parking lot next to the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, a component of the Japanese American National Museum. The tree marks the former location of the Koyasan Daishi Church.

The first established site was a storefront in 1912 near Elysian Park. In 1920, the temple was moved to a larger building on Central Avenue. A tree was planted in front of the new building by Koyasan Temple members to commemorate the move. The Aoyama Tree is a 60 by 70-foot Moreton Bay Fig tree (Ficus macrophylla) and notable landmark in Little Tokyo was given historical status by the Los Angeles City Council in 2008. However, currently this tree faces a great threat of decades of neglect. After the former temple building was demolished, the tree was left without an irrigation system with the area immediately surrounding the tree was paved over, covering the tree's extensive roots system, denying the tree essential water.

The current building consists of a main hall, which measures 60x120 feet, and an annex that measures 40x50 feet. The main hall has a seating capacity of 600 people, and a grand scale altar where the traditional esoteric rituals are performed. The main Buddha in the main hall is Dainichi Nyorai and is worshipped as the supreme, primordial sun Buddha. There are several other esoteric deities enshrined in the main hall of the Temple (Fudo-myoo, Yakushi-nyorai, Bodhisattva Jizo and Kannon, and Kobo Daishi.

The second floor of the annex has been designed for the purpose of religious gatherings and study classes especially for small groups, and accommodates a seating capacity of 100 people. It is known as the “Daishi-Do.”

The temple basement, located under the main altar, is used as an assembly room for scouting activities. In addition, an office, meeting room, reception room, kitchen, and several classrooms are provided for the purposes of the institution’s operations.

Bishops

The temple has had eight head bishops since its establishment in 1912. The fourth and fifth bishop, Reverends Seytsu Takahashi and Ryosho Sogabe, are credited with creating what we now see as the Koyasan Buddhist Temple. Reverend Seytsu Takahashi was recognized for his personal contributions and strong faith in campaigning for building a new temple. Reverend Taido Kitagawa was a co-organizer of the temple's Boy Scout Troop 379, one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the United States. Reverend Taisen Miyata, the seventh bishop and translator of Esoteric Buddhist texts, served from 1993 to 2007 and was acting bishop from 2011 to 2013.

• Rev. Shutai Aoyama (1909-1921)

• Rev. Hokai Takada (1921-1924)
• Rev. Taido Kitagawa (1924-1933)
• Rev. Seytsu Takahashi (1931-1982)
• Rev. Ryosho Sogabe (1982-1991)
• Rev. Chiko Inouye (1991-1993)
• Rev. Taisen Miyata (1993-2007)
• Rev. Seicho Asahi (2007-2011)
• Rev. Taisen Miyata (acting: 2011-2013)

• Rev. Junkun Imamura (2015–present)