Annual Hanamatsuri Service in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles: April 2025 service scene at Hompa Hongwanji Temple. (Cultural News Photo)
The Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Federation 2026 Hanamatsuri Service
In Commemoration of Buddha’s Birthday
From Past to Future: The Evolving Role of Japanese American Temples in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
815 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 680-9130
Sunday, April 5, 2026
1:00 PM Service with Kinnara Gagaku
1:30 PM Opening Message by Rev. Wiiliams Briones, LABTF President
1:40 PM Special Presentation by Rev. Masao Kodani
3:00 PM Closing Message
LABTF Hanamatsuri 2026 Program PDF
Kinnara Gagaku
Kinnara Gagaku was formed in 1969 when Prof. Suenobu Togi at UCLA’s Department of World Music agreed to teach at Senshin Buddhist Temple. The Kinnara Gagaku/Bugaku and Taiko groups are part of a larger group known as Kinnara. It is a Buddhist study group associated with Senshin Buddhist Temple.
Hanamatsuri Greetings by Rev. William Briones
Rimban of Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
President of Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Federation
On behalf of the Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Federation (LABTF), I’d like to welcome you to this year’s LABTF Hanamatsuri. Many thanks to this year’s committee chair, Rev. Ryuta Furumoto of Senshin Buddhist Temple and to the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, for the use of their wonderful facility.
Today, we are commemorating the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the prince that awoke to the Truth and became Shakyamuni Buddha. For all Buddhists throughout the world, the birthday of the human being Siddhartha is a significant event. As a human being, he had been born into this world and through the experiences that confront all living beings, he awoke to the very Truth of the universe or Ultimate Reality.
Last year’s Butsuren theme focused on the past 100 years of the Nikkei Buddhist story in the Los Angeles area. This year, we would like to follow up on the future of our Buddhist temples in Los Angeles. This year’s Butsuren theme is “From Past to Future: The Evolving Role of Japanese American Temples in Los Angeles.”
Our guest speaker is Rev. Masao Kodani, a Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) Minister Emeritus. Rev. Kodani was deeply involved in the development of Bon Odori, Gagaku, (imperial court music of Japan) and Taiko as essential, evolving elements of American Buddhism.
As we celebrate the birth of Buddha, it gives all of us an opportunity to express our gratitude to the Buddha and reflect on his teachings… the teachings that open our eyes to the truth of impermanence and interdependence in our daily lives.
Rev. Masao Kodani
Guest Speaker: Rev. Masao Kodani
Rev. Masao Kodani, a Sansei Japanese American, is a minister of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha tradition. At Senshin Buddhist Temple, he founded Kinnara Taiko, one of the earliest taiko groups established in the United States, as well as Kinnara Gagaku and Bugaku (Japanese court music and dance).
Born in Glendale, California, Rev. Kodani was a young child when he and his family were incarcerated at the Poston Relocation Center in Arizona during World War II. After returning to Los Angeles, the Kodani family lived in a predominantly African American community near the Watts neighborhood. Although Rev. Kodani’s parents were Buddhist, they sent their children to Evergreen Baptist Church in East Los Angeles, believing it would help them fi t into American society more easily.
After graduating from Centennial High School, Rev. Kodani attended the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies. During his time at UCSB, he developed a close relationship with Rev. Art Takemoto of the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Influenced by Rev. Takemoto, Rev. Kodani traveled to Japan to study Buddhism at Ryukoku University.
After obtaining a master’s degree in Buddhist Studies, Rev. Kodani returned to the United States and was assigned to Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles in 1968. Following 45 years of ministry, Rev. Kodani retired in October 2013. He continues to share the Dharma through his talks and music.
Temple Information
Los Angeles Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
505 East Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 626-4200
info@hhbt-la.org
https://www.hhbt-la.org
Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
815 East First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 680-9130
info@nishihongwanji-la.org
https://www.nishihongwanji-la.org
Jodoshu North America Buddhist Mission
PO Box 11068
Torrance, CA 90510
(213) 346-9666
info@jodoshuna.org
https://www.jodoshuna.org
Nichiren Shu Beikoku Betsuin
2801 East Fourth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 262-7886
44temple@gmail.com
https://www.nichiren-shu.org
Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of Los Angeles
342 East First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 624-1267
lakoyasan@yahoo.com
https://www.koyasanbetsuin.org
Senshin Buddhist Temple
1311 West 37th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(323) 731-4617
senshintemple@gmail.com
https://www.senshintemple.org
Long Beach Buddhist Church
2360 Santa Fe Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90810
(562) 426-4014
longbeachbuddhistchurch@gmail.com
https://www.longbeachbuddhistchurch.com
Zenshuji Soto Mission
123 South Hewitt Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 624-8658
info@zenshuji.org
https://www.zenshuji.org
Federation Activities
The Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Federation, consisting of eight local Buddhist temples (Higashi Honganji, Hompa Hongwanji, Jodoshu, Koyasan, Long Beach Buddhist Church, Nichiren Shu, Senshin Buddhist Temple, and Zenshuji) annually observes the Hanamatsuri service to celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth.
The contributions we receive from you enable us to continue the following ongoing programs:
- Annual Hanamatsuri Celebration
- LABCC Buddhist Summer Camp Program
- Dharma Message Distribution for The Rafu Shimpo
- Joint Service at Manzanar Monument
- Joint Services on Memorial Day at Los Angeles Cemeteries
Hanamatsuri 2025 Donor
Akamine, Don
Asaeda, Nancy
Averette, Robert
Barbod, Elaine
Cotliar, David
Elite Graphics
Enoki, Yoshi
Fukui Mortuary
Fukuman, Thomas
Fukumoto, Jeri
Fukusako, Kimiko
Funai, Kazue
Furukubo, Toru
Grant, John
Harada, Elaine
Hattori, Terri
Hida, Ernest & Carol
Hirai, Atsuko
Hirosawa, Ron
Hisamoto, Jodi
Honda, Kenneth
Horiuchi, Edna
Ige, Thomas S.
Ikuji, Kimio
Inouye, Jean
Inoye, Joyce Kakita
Ishibashi, Kunio
Ishigame, Yoshie
Ishihara, Saburo
Isobe, David
Ito, Kenneth
Ito, Noriaki
Jinkawa, Fumiko
Kageyama, Takashi R.
Kamiya, Mary H.
Kanemoto, Gary
Kanogawa-Johnson, Lori
Kawaharada, Allan & June
Kawahata, Miyoko
Kimura, Sadao
Kondo, Cynthia
Kurihara-Johnson, Nancy
Kusaba, Cli_ ord
Kusumoto, Judy
Lee, June
Leivici, Dimitrie & Leivici, Joanne
Masumiya, Asao
Matoba
Matsushita, James
Mio, Jeffery Scott
Miyagishima, Kay
Miyake, Junko
Mizota, Louise K.
Monarrez, James
Morales, Mildred
Mura, Tsuyoshi & Mie
Myodo, Tamiko
Nagamine, H.
Nagao, Wayne K.
Nakamura, Frances
Nakasuji, Naomi
Nichiren Buddhist Temple
Nicholson, Patricia
Nishihara, Jean
Norimoto, Masayasu
Oda, Takashi
Ohashi, Masayuki
Okada, James
Okaniwa, Osamu & Sayoko
Okuhara, Albert
Oshiro, Reid H.
Oshita, Mitsue
Osumi, Janice
Osumi, Takako S.
Ota, Irene
Oyama, Ted
Sakata, Barbara
Sakauye, Toshihiko
Sakioka, Grace
Sayano, Koichi
Sayano, Shoichi & Nobuko
Serizawa, Grace
Shibata, Keiko K.
Shigenaga, Winston
Shirtcli_ , Yukie
Sommers, Hubert
Sugiura, Masako
Sunabe, Eleanor
Suzuki, Victor
Takahashi, Miyoko
Takashima, Iris & Wilbur
Takehara, Sumi
Taketa, Elaine
Takeyasu, Elaine
Tanaka, Bessie
Tanaka, Val
Tanita
Toyoshima, Michael
Ujiie, Albert
Ukkestad, Tayemi
Urata, Jane
Uyeda, Roy
Uyehara, Kimiko
Watanabe, Michael T.
Watanabe, Takeshi
Winters, Jane
Yamada, George
Yamashiro, Grace
Yamauchi, Mihoko
Yasuhara, T.
Yomogida, Atsuko
Yoshimura, Masako
