Culver City
California
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Venice Hongwanji Buddist Temple
Mission Statement:
To promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and to continue to live the Nembutsu as a warm and friendly, family-centered temple
About us:
Our temple is the 61st member temple of the Buddhist Churches of America (B.C.A.). The B.C.A. is currently comprised of 60 member temples and 5 fellowships found throughout the Continental United States (the State of Hawaii is organized as the Jodo Shinshu Mission of Hawaii). Following the Second World War several temples were forced to close. The B.C.A. is organized into 8 districts. The Venice Hongwanji is one of the 15 temples that comprises the Southern District Council of the B.C.A. The B.C.A. is headquartered in San Francisco and represents the Jodo Shinshu temples throughout the Continental United States. The World Headquarters can be found at the head temple of our denomination or the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, Hongwanji found in Kyoto, Japan. The head, or mother temple is often simply referred to as "Nishi Hongwanji." The Venice Hongwanji continues to be actively involved in the Southern District Council, the B.C.A., and the activities of the Hongwanji in Japan. The Venice Hongwanji is proud to have been a participant of the re-roofing project of the mother temple.
The Venice Hongwanji has a membership of approximately 250 families. The temple originally served the Japanese-American community found in the Venice area of Los Angeles and presently serves neighboring Culver City and other outlying areas such as. Torrance, and Santa Monica.
In the beginning...
Buddhist activities in this area started in the early 30's when Howakai services under the sponsorship of the Los Angeles Betsuin were held in private homes. Some of the families that opened their homes were the Hisaoka, Kambayashi, Kamoto, Kato, Kiyohiro, Nakagiri, Okamoto, Onishi, Ozaki, Sugino, Tanaka, and Yamamoto families.
Dharma School services were started in the late 30's with the ministers from the Los Angeles Betsuin participating. These services were held at the home of Kikuichi Sugino on the Mesmer Ranch on Jefferson Boulevard, the present Playa Vista development. These activities continued until the beginning of the World War II in December 1941.
Approximately three years after the termination of the war, Howakai services were resumed in 1948. As it was before the war, these services were held in private homes. These included such families as Hisaoka, Morita, Nakagiri, Okamoto, Ozaki, Shinmoto, Tanaka and Yamamoto. However, it was not until 1955 that Dharma School activities were started. Reverend Shoki Mohri from the Betsuin with the assistance of Mrs. Sumiye Watari gathered twelve students at the Fukushima residence for the first service.
To promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and to continue to live the Nembutsu as a warm and friendly, family-centered temple
About us:
Our temple is the 61st member temple of the Buddhist Churches of America (B.C.A.). The B.C.A. is currently comprised of 60 member temples and 5 fellowships found throughout the Continental United States (the State of Hawaii is organized as the Jodo Shinshu Mission of Hawaii). Following the Second World War several temples were forced to close. The B.C.A. is organized into 8 districts. The Venice Hongwanji is one of the 15 temples that comprises the Southern District Council of the B.C.A. The B.C.A. is headquartered in San Francisco and represents the Jodo Shinshu temples throughout the Continental United States. The World Headquarters can be found at the head temple of our denomination or the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, Hongwanji found in Kyoto, Japan. The head, or mother temple is often simply referred to as "Nishi Hongwanji." The Venice Hongwanji continues to be actively involved in the Southern District Council, the B.C.A., and the activities of the Hongwanji in Japan. The Venice Hongwanji is proud to have been a participant of the re-roofing project of the mother temple.
The Venice Hongwanji has a membership of approximately 250 families. The temple originally served the Japanese-American community found in the Venice area of Los Angeles and presently serves neighboring Culver City and other outlying areas such as. Torrance, and Santa Monica.
In the beginning...
Buddhist activities in this area started in the early 30's when Howakai services under the sponsorship of the Los Angeles Betsuin were held in private homes. Some of the families that opened their homes were the Hisaoka, Kambayashi, Kamoto, Kato, Kiyohiro, Nakagiri, Okamoto, Onishi, Ozaki, Sugino, Tanaka, and Yamamoto families.
Dharma School services were started in the late 30's with the ministers from the Los Angeles Betsuin participating. These services were held at the home of Kikuichi Sugino on the Mesmer Ranch on Jefferson Boulevard, the present Playa Vista development. These activities continued until the beginning of the World War II in December 1941.
Approximately three years after the termination of the war, Howakai services were resumed in 1948. As it was before the war, these services were held in private homes. These included such families as Hisaoka, Morita, Nakagiri, Okamoto, Ozaki, Shinmoto, Tanaka and Yamamoto. However, it was not until 1955 that Dharma School activities were started. Reverend Shoki Mohri from the Betsuin with the assistance of Mrs. Sumiye Watari gathered twelve students at the Fukushima residence for the first service.