Canada- Members from the Vancouver Buddhist Temple (Canada) took part in Hongwanji’s Nembutsu Hoshidan clean-up.  The Nembutsu Hoshidan program invites Jodo Shinshu members to visit the Hongwanji and volunteer their services to clean various parts of the Hongwanji complex.  Ten members led by Rev. Tatsuya Aoki, current resident minister of Vancouver Buddhist Temple, took part in the Nembutsu Hoshidan October 20 and 21.  This was the first time for a temple from the Canada District to take part in the program.  The visitation was put together by Aoki, hoping that this would give members a chance to visit the Honzan and feel connected to the main headquarters of the organization and also for members to become acquainted to Hongwanji prior to the upcoming 750th Memorial of Shinran Shonin in 2011.  Alyssa Kawasaki shared that in participating in the trip, it allowed her to visit Hongwanji with her grandmother, Ms. Yoshie Nakata, as a way to express her appreciation to her grandmother.  Yoshizo Harada, also commented on how the Japanese were so welcoming and hopes to attend the 750th Memorial in 2011 with his grandchildren.

Excerpt from Hongwanji Journal, November 1, 2009.