Howard Shintani, president of the Buddhist Temple of Alameda (left), and the son of a temple member, Hunter Dixon, invite the public to join them at the annual Obon Festival set for this Saturday, July 21, starting at 4 p.m. The free event features live music, an ikebana exhibit, taiko drums and a mini food bazaar. Talks will be held on the history of the temple and the “Training Wheels of Buddhism.” At 7:30 p.m. a traditional Bon Odori dance will take place. The temple is located at 2325 Pacific Ave. Find out more at btoa.org.
Alameda’s Buddhist Temple on Buena Vista Avenue welcomed the community to its annual Vacationland Bazaar and Carnival last weekend. Hundreds of local residents and guests gathered to enjoy bingo and other games, food, drink and festivities. The event supports the temple’s effort to “offer a place to connect at individual, family and community levels to deepen our path to grounded stability that true and real life provides,” according to Rev. Joshin Dennis Fujimoto’s statement on the temple website.
Members of the Buddhist Temple of Alameda are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their autonomy this weekend. They have attended services here since 1906, the first 10 years or so as a branch of the Oakland Buddhist Church. By 1914 they were attending service in rented rooms at the former home of William T. S. Ryer at 2325 Pacific Ave. Ryer had built the Stick-Eastlake villa for his family in 1886.
