The Orange County Buddhist Church, located in Anaheim, California, serves Orange, Riverside and Southern Los Angeles counties. The church membership of over 500 families includes residents from Norwalk and Whittier to the north, San Clemente to the south, Long Beach to the west and Riverside to the east -- a populous area of variegated landscape covering a thousand square miles.

Early Beginnings
Like many fellow countrymen in their adopted land, the early Japanese settling here near the turn of the century took up farming as a means of livelihood. They raised such crops as sugar beets, chili peppers, and celery. Later years saw an increase in truck farms which furnished a variety of fresh produce for the dinner tables of the southland. Some early Japanese names in the Smeltzer area, now part of the city of Huntington Beach, included Tsurumatsu Asari, Yusei Egawa, Shigeru Nishimura, and Zenjiro Nishio. From about 1920, howakai (dharma talk gatherings) were held in private homes with ministers coming from Los Angeles 40 miles away.

In the late 1920's, Sunday School was started for a few youngsters at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Toichi Kodama in Santa Ana. Ministers from the Los Angeles temple conducted the services in the Japanese language. Later, the services were held in a hall above a grocery store operated by Mr. and Mrs. Gunjiro Tashima of Wintersberg. The community is now part of the city of Huntington Beach.

From 1931, a Sunday School utilized the facilities of the existing Japanese school in the farming community of Talbert, now part of the city of Fountain Valley.

In 1932, a Young Women's Buddhist Association (YWBA) was organized with about 15 members. A year later a Young Men's Buddhist Associatoin (YMBA) was formed, again with about 15 members. Paul Nagamatsu of Talbert was its charter president. Rev. Hirofumi Kuwahara assisted in the formation of both groups. The clubs combined in 1935 to form the YBA with Paul Nagamatsu as president. Major activities included monthly devotional services, athletics, and religious conferences.

Construction of Church Building and Establishment as Branch of Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji
In 1935, a church building was erected on the property of Mr. and Mrs. Taikichi Kato on Bushard Avenue in Talbert, the first permanent church structure in the history of the Orange County Buddhist movement. The building was physically constructed by the Buddhist families in the area. In May of 1936, dedication service was held and the church was established as a branch of the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. The Sangha was then composed of only a dozen families. Rev. Giko Abiko was in charge of the Sunday School, as well as the Japanese Language School, from 1938 until the outbreak of World War II. With the forced evacuation of all persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast in 1942, most of the Orange County Sangha was exiled to the Poston Relocation Center in Arizona.

When the Japanese returned, the church building was reopened in 1946 as a hostel for those who did not have a place to live. After the people were resettled in permanent homes, Sunday School was resumed on Saturday mornings -- Sunday being a work day in the farming community -- followed by Japanese Language School in the afternoon. This was the beginning of the present day Orange County Japanese School, which is affiliated with the church.

Church moves to Stanton
In early 1958, the group moved to Stanton, about eight miles north, with the purchase of a church building located on Flower St. A dedication service was held on February 1 of that year. Rev. Shoki Mohri, assigned in the latter part of 1957, was in charge of the church; Henry Y. Sawada of Stanton became the first president.

Rev. Satoshi Hirata arrived in the latter part of 1958. At this time the Sunday School Teachers Staff was established. The Senior YBA was organized in 1959 with Jim Hiraoka as president.

In 1959, a fund raising campaign was started for the main altar. The new altar was dedicated during Hanamatsuri service of the following year. This event was of great spiritual import for it aroused in the members the profound feeling that for the first time the Church was truly theirs.

Years of Rapid Growth
A fund raising campaign for a new church building was initiated in September, 1962 with the realization that the expanding membership would soon out grow its quarters in one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. Bill H. Wada of Garden Grove was the church president during this crucial period. Incorporation of the church occured on May 6, 1963.

Church Progress since the 75th Anniversary of the BCA
In the two and a half decades since the 75th anniversary of the BCA, the Orange County Buddhist Church has been challenged by a huge increase in the sustaining membership. Since 1965, the families as sustaining members increased from 85 to over 500 families at the present time. There was an acute need for rapid expansion of programs and facilities and future planning to accomodate the needs of the expanded Sangha.

In 1972, acquisition of an adjacent property was made to locate a multipurpose building. The building, after much planning, was constructed in 1982. The MPB as it is referred to, is utilized seven days a week, with Dharma School classes on Sundays, martial arts practices and adult basketball on weekdays, Japanese school on Saturdays, and youth basketball practices and games on the weekends. This facility allowed the church to conduct all Japanese school classes on the church complex, rather than renting classroom space at neighboring Dale Junior High School. It is especially utilized at both major bazaars for dining and stage performances.

The Orange County Buddhist Church Japanese Language School also had a rise in enrollment of students. It has grown from an initial enrollment of about twenty students with three teachers including the superintendent, Rev. Hirata, to an enrollment of over 600 students and a staff of 31 instructors. The school also became accredited for granting foreign language credits for Japanese I, II, III, and IV each year, making possible the accumulation of up to 40 units for four years of high school. Over the years, the Japanese Language School has graduated over 2563 students from the four categories. The school has been a major component of church activities and continues to flourish.

Also within the past twenty five years, many affiliated organizations were either created or expanded to meet the needs of the increased membership of the church. The major affiliated organizations and their activities will be discussed further in the sections titled, Education and Propagation and the section titled, Cultural Programs.

From the financial aspect, the church in the late 60's and early 70's experienced some lean years. As a result, many fund raising activities evolved so that with frugal measures such as using the many talents of the Sangha, expenses were kept down and fund raising activities included paper drives, parking lot sales, script sales, cookbook sales. The main fund raising activities were associated with the Hanamatsuri festival and Obon. An example of a fund raising project which was extremely successful was the cookbook project which printed and sold approximately 23,000 books. With these measures and fundraising activities, the church was able to meet its financial obligations for the hondo, classrooms and social hall in 1979, and the multipurpose building in 1986. The sustaining membership fees have not been raised since 1967 to the present time.

Another example of a successful evolution of affiliated organizations has been the scouting program which began in 1978 with approximately 8 scouts. Since then, approximately 180 boys have participated, 62 achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and 65 earning the religious Sangha Award. This program has received strong parental support and is well organized. Currently the troop numbers over 70 and is growing. Following the successful troop 578, an equally successful Girl Scout program with scouts ranging from the youngest Daisies to the oldest Seniors has over 100 girls involved in the program. Within the past few years a Cub Scout pack was formed and has had a membership of over 50 boys. All of the scout organizations help at the major church activities, such as the general cleanup and bazaars.

Looking forward, the church is currently in the process of building a minichapel and nokotsudo (columbarium). This will enable greater flexibility in scheduling of services, and will also provide easy overflow seating of the hondo. Long range plans may include expansion of the hondo and the establishment of a branch in the South Orange County area.

The ministerial staff currently consists of Rev. Satoshi Hirata as the head resident minister, assisted by Rev. Marvin Harada. In 1965, Rev. Hirata was the sole minister, but was aided by part-time ministerial staff consisting of the late Rev. William Terao, Rev. John Ishihara, and Rev. Arthur Takemoto, who each served at various intervals between 1965 and 1986. Rev. John Doami continues to assist the ministerial staff as a part time minister from 1975 to the present. The current ministerial staff consists of two full time and one part time minister. Rev. Hirata was honored by the Ryukoku University Alumni Association in 1995 for his outstanding achievements at the Orange County Buddhist Church. This covered a period of 38 years in which he led the church to its present status.

The Orange County Buddhist Church has been recognized by many outside organizations for activities related to community service. Recently, "Project Kokoro" was honored by the Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California. This program was established by the late Bill Wada to serve the senior citizens. The intent was to enhance understanding between the Issei and the youth groups who provide the organizational manpower for this project.

The Orange County Buddhist Church continues to serve the members of its Sangha and greater community. Religious services such as weddings, funerals, and memorial services are provided for both members of the Sangha and non members within the greater Orange County community. Its cultural programs reach hundreds of individuals throughout the area, and its youth programs help to involve many young people in wholesome religious, cultural and athletic activities. These young people grow up to become responsible adult members of the Orange County Buddhist Church, insuring its growth and continuation for generations to come.