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Obon Festival - July 26-27, 2008

OBON is a traditional event to honor and express gratitude to the spirits of our ancestors, those before us who provided us with the gift of life. Each year, obon is a time to celebrate the return of the spirits of our ancestors.

The Obon Festival features food, games, farmers market, flower market, traditional Bon Odori Dancing, and various types of entertainment. This year's entertainment lineup includes June Kuramoto of Hiroshima, TAIKOPROJECT, hereandnow, The Grateful Crane Ensemble, happyfunsmile, Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko, and a special Karaoke performance by Rinban Ito and a special, honored guest. Please check the schedule for dates and times of performances, subject to change.

OBON Parking -

Please park in the Medical Building at 420 E. 3rd St.(corner of 3rd & San Pedro, entrance on Boyd St.). The cost for parking is $5.00. You can receive a free $2.00 raffle ticket by coming to the raffle ticket booth and showing your parking ticket. Additional parking is available at the Little Tokyo Mall(adjacent to Union Bank on San Pedro St., between 1st St. & 2nd St.).

IMPORTANT! - If you choose to park in other parking lots in Little Tokyo, please be aware of what times those parking lots close as many close early!

The Tradition of MANTO-E -

In memory of departed friends and relatives, the tradition of Manto-e is to light the sky with "ten thousand lanterns" during the Obon Festival.

Other Obon festivals are held throughout Southern California & Nevada, so please support those festivals, as well.

The 10th World Dobo Gathering - August 21-25, 2008

The 10th World Dobo Gathering will be held in Hawaii from August 21-25, 2008. The theme for the gathering is "Now, Life is Living You". An optional Maui Tour will take place prior to the gathering from August 19-21, 2008. Reservations must be made by May 10, 2008, so please make your plans early and join us. Please refer to the Dobo Gathering page for details.

Dharma School -

The Dharma School is for all children up to the 5th grade. We learn about Buddhism through stories, discussions, and arts-and-crafts projects. The schedule is listed

below, so please come join us.

Taiko -

Congratulations to the Taiko groups for their spectacular performances in Rhythmic Relations 2008! The concerts featured TAIKOPROJECT, Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko, & Yukai Daiko, with Special Guests Seiichi Tanaka & the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. It was an extraordinary weekend of taiko performed in front of packed audiences on July 12-13 at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre.

The taiko groups perform at many functions throughout the year, so please continue showing your support by attending their performances and enjoying the Japanese art of drumming that is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the world. Please refer to the TAIKOPROJECT website for upcoming performances.

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Events

Listed below are various temple events held throughout the year.

1.	Higashi Golf Club & Other Golf News
	The Higashi Golf Club holds a golf tournament on a bi-monthly basis at the Whittier Narrows Golf Course in Rosemead. For golfers of all levels, come join us for a day of golf, socializing, and fun. The Higashi Golf Club also supports other golf tournaments held throughout the year, so please refer to the golf club page for information.
2.	Shusho-e(New Year's Day Service) - January 1, 2008
	The new year begins with a service in which we resolve to listening more intently to the Buddha's teaching throughout the year.
3.	Betsuin Golf Tournament - March 10, 2008
	The annual Betsuin Golf Tournament is held as a fundraiser to help support various temple programs and activities, along with maintenance on the temple. Golfers and volunteers alike are encouraged to come out and take part in a fun-filled day of golf, food, and raffle prizes.
4.	Hanamatsuri Golf Tournament - March 28, 2008
	Another event for golf enthusiasts, the annual Hanamatsuri Golf Tournament welcomes participants and volunteers to take part in an event to honor the birth of the Buddha. The event is run by the Higashi Honganji Buddhist North American District to raise funds to help support its many programs and activities.
5.	Hanamatsuri Celebration - April 12-13, 2008
	In celebration of the birth of the Buddha, several events are held throughout the weekend. The site for this year's celebration will be at Koyasan Buddhist Temple, located at 342 East First Street.
6.	Spring Higan Seminar - April 27, 2008
	In observance of the spring equinox of seasonal change from winter to spring, we hold a seminar where we gather to celebrate our commitment to the teachings of the Buddha.
7.	Tanjo-e/Hatsumairi - May 18, 2008
	Tanjo-e is held In celebration of the birth of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. The Hatsumairi Ceremony is held in conjunction with Tanjo-e for infants and children up to 6 years of age to signify the foundation towards a healthy and spiritual life.
8.	OBON Festival - July 26-27, 2008
	OBON is a tradition to honor and express gratitude to the spirits of our ancestors, those before us who provided us with the gift of life. The Obon festival features food, games, entertainment, farmers market, flower market, and traditional Bon Odori Dancing. Please refer to the OBON Festival page for details.
9.	Autumn Higan Seminar - September 28, 2008
	In observance of the fall equinox of seasonal change from summer to autumn, we hold a seminar where we gather to celebrate the teachings of the Buddha.
10.	Pasta Bar Luncheon - October 12, 2008
	Previously known as the Chow Mein Luncheon, the newly named Pasta Bar Luncheon is an event to raise funds to help support various temple programs and activities.
11.	HO-ON-KO Gathering & Service - November 22-23, 2008
	A memorial in honor of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu, when we gather to express gratitude and appreciation for his teachings.
12.	Temple Clean-up - December 21, 2008
	The annual Temple Clean-up is an event in preparation for a fresh start for the new year. Join us in a tradition to clean out the past and look forward to the future.
13.	Mochitsuki - December 29, 2008
	The traditional Japanese custom of making mochi, held near the end of the year to allow participants of all ages to take part and socialize in a community event.

Please refer to the calendar section or call/e-mail for more detailed information.