A tour of the temple

Paul Vandenberg

The art and culture of Japanese Buddhism comes alive this Sunday as the

Newport Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple hosts its second annual Cultural

Festival.

The temple, operating here for the past nine years, often receives

visitors curious about Buddhism and Japanese culture. This interest by

the community prompted the Rev. Tsuyoshi Hirosumi to develop and continue

the festival as an annual event.

During the festival, Hirosumi will don the traditional Buddhistvestments

as he leads tours throughout the temple. Scheduled tours will be at 11

a.m., 1:45 and 3:45 p.m., and will give visitor’s insight into a large

world religion.

Scheduled throughout the day are demonstrations by experts in the arts of

Japan:

*10:30 to 11 a.m.: Traditional Japanese Koto Music (Awaya-kai) presented

by Mrs. Kamikihara.

Created around the fifth to third century B.C. in China, the koto is

probably the most familiar and the most popular of the traditional

Japanese instruments. It is a large, wooden instrument with 13 strings,

and, like a guitar, performers use picks worn on the fingers. The left

hand presses down on the strings to bend notes and create other effects.

Sadly, modern Japanese rarely hear koto music being played live these

days. This rare performance should not be missed.

*11:10 a.m. to noon: Madame Seifu Arimura will present Ikebana, the art

of Japanese flower arrangement.

Ikebana is the art of beautifully manipulating cut stems, leaves and

flowers in vases and other containers. Arrangements typically express an

Eastern view of nature, in which the space around the flowers strikes a

perfect balance among the various elements.

It is one of Japan’s oldest formal arts and many believe it has grown

from the practice of offering flowers at the altar of the Buddha. Because

of its simple elegance and beauty, the form gained great popularity among

the common people and has come to be an integral part of modern daily

living.

*1 to 1:45 p.m.: Bonsai demonstration (the art of dwarfing trees)

presented by Takenori Ueno and Takeshi Kawahara. A dedicated art that

illustrates the strong love of nature found running deep in Japanese

thought.

*2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: Shodo (Japanese calligraphy demonstration)

presented by Master Kanshu Ikuta. Using large rolls of paper and dark

black sumi ink, audience members will participate in the creation of

various Kanji characters.

*3 to 3:45 p.m.: Cha-no-yu (Japanese tea ceremony) presented by Madame

Soyu Koizumi.

A ritualization of a simple domestic act, the tea ceremony is an

aesthetic pastime common in Japan. In a rite that is many centuries old,

it simply features the serving and drinking of matcha, a powdered green

tea.

Characteristic of Zen thought, the ceremony employs a subtle interplay of

contrasts. The soft flow of water with the hardness of cups, for example,

illustrates the way in which many diverse, apparently conflicting

elements exist together in the harmony of the universe.

*4 to 4:45 p.m.: The Rev. Kensho Furuya will guide an Aikido

demonstration. According to founder Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), the goal

of this martial art is not the defeat of others, but the defeat of

negative characteristics that inhabit one’s own mind and inhibits its

functioning. Gentle in philosophy, Aikido is a powerful form with many

adherents worldwide.

*5 p.m.: Raffle for a trip to Japan.

*6 to 6:45 p.m.: The festival will close with a performance by Kishin

Daiko, a Taiko drum ensemble. In the hands of skilled practitioners,

these large instruments produce a dramatic booming that is impossible to

ignore. Seeming to athletically attack their individual drums, ensemble

members produce a rhythmic reverberation that drives the crowd wild. Past

performances of the Kishin Daiko ensemble include performances at the

L.A. Philharmonic’s 75th anniversary, the L.A. Marathon, Olympic skater

Michelle Kwan’s Homecoming Celebration, and the 1998 Super Bowl pregame

show in San Diego.

For the hungry crowd, Kyoto-trained Master Chef Kozo Terashima will

prepare traditional Japanese fare. Served throughout the day, specialties

will include a moderately priced sushi combination plate (California roll

and nigiri) and a teriyaki plate (chicken teriyaki, rice and

tsukemono).Beverages (beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea) will also be

available.

FYI

WHAT: Cultural Fair

WHERE: Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, 254 Victoria St., Costa Mesa

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. SundayHOW MUCH: Free