BCA Ministers Share Memories of Rev. Watanabe

The Wheel of Dharma sought remembrances about BCA Minister Emeritus Rev. Hakubun Hirofumi Watanabe, who served as both Bishop of the BCA and President of the IBS from 1996 to 2004.

Rev. Watanabe passed away on Jan. 6 at the age of 86. 

What follows are statements and comments about Rev. Watanabe:

Rev. Michael Endo, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, who served as Secretary to Bishop Rev. Watanabe:

“It was back in December of 1995 that Rev. Watanabe’s nomination to become the next Bishop of the BCA was presented and accepted by the BCA National Board. Following that meeting and the ratification of Rev. Watanabe as the next Bishop of the BCA by the BCA National Council in 1996, Sensei asked Rev. Kodo Umezu and me to join him as part of his staff at the Office of the Bishop at BCA Headquarters. It was an honor to serve under Rev. Watanabe and to watch his governing and business style.  

“Many of my memories coincide with those of Rev. Umezu. Always forward thinking and looking to the future of the BCA, once Sensei had an idea in his head, he would pursue it to its conclusion. This was the case of the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley. Without his vision and his negotiating skill with leaders of our Hongwanji-ha headquarters in Kyoto and the BCA, we would likely not have the JSC today. The JSC is, without a doubt, the cornerstone of Sensei's legacy.  

“And it would be at Rev. Watanabe's encouragement that I would pursue my Tokudo ordination with the Hongwanji-ha. This has become a very personal memory that I will cherish. Rev. Watanabe was also one to incorporate some time for relaxation and enjoyment. His way of doing so was through golf. As a result, I had the pleasure of enjoying many rounds at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.  

“Sensei, it is with deep gratitude that I remember you for your friendship, guidance, and leadership.”

Bishop Rev. Marvin Harada: 

“I too will be indebted to Rev. Watanabe for having the vision to initiate and complete the purchase of the Jodo Shinshu Center. Along with Rev. Hirano, I first thought it was too expensive and was against the purchase, but I have happily eaten those words over the years. Where would we be without the Jodo Shinshu Center? I recently hosted the Lion's Roar board meeting at the JSC and they were all so impressed with our facilities.  

“As the present Bishop, I doubt that I can leave a legacy that is even a fraction of what Rev. Watanabe's contributions were to the BCA, but I continue to try to do what I can in the years I have remaining. His shoes are impossible to fill.” 

Rev. Jerry Hirano, Resident Minister of the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, and Supervising Minister of the Ogden and Honeyville, Utah, temples, and the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple. He also is BCA Center for Buddhist Education director: 

“I remember quite clearly, in June of 1971, at our Salt Lake Buddhist Temple's picnic at Jordan Park, when this small Japanese man and his wife came over to my family's picnic space. This was Rev. Watanabe and his wife. My family had always been friends with our temple's ministers. Rev. Shintatsu Sanada and then Rev. Seiki Ishihara were before him. At the picnic, Rev. Watanabe approached me and said, ‘I am a baby; please be kind to me.’ Little did I know what an influence he would have in my life. 

“In 1973, my grandfather suddenly died in his sleep. There was something about this death that bothered me. He seemed healthy, and suddenly, he was gone. I had heard that when you have questions about death or spiritual questions, you should ask your minister. More than any one from our temple telling me this, I would see that in movies and television, so I went to ask Rev. Watanabe. He listened to me, but as I explained, his English wasn't that great. He told me it was a difficult question to answer, but he had a book he thought I should read. When I look back on this time, I have to laugh. He gave me a translation of the ‘Tibetan Book of the Dead.’ It is a very difficult text for even an advanced student of Buddhism. Although I read it, I thought, ‘What is this?!’ It began to make me curious about what my religion thinks about death. I often consider this as the starting point of my genuine study of Buddhism and other religions. 

“Another reflection was about an experience about a year after my grandfather's death. Brent Koga, Mike Furubayashi and I wanted to go to the Western Young Buddhist League (WYBL) conference in California, but airline tickets were expensive. Rev. Watanabe volunteered to drive the three of us to California. I have written many times about how much the WYBL conferences had influenced my becoming a minister. It's true that at that time, I went to the conference to meet girls. However, Rev. Watanabe's kindness to us young Sangha members also reminded me how a minister can influence the Sangha with their actions as much as their words. 

“Rev. Watanabe was a very smart and shrewd man. When he was the Bishop of BCA, some of the younger ministers would discuss how Rev. Watanabe would have made a great politician or CEO of a company. However, one thing that we Sansei ministers remember is how Rev. Watanabe always took care of the younger ministers. As example, in my early years as a minister, after various national meetings, my friends and I would play cards. It was a little difficult with no tables big enough in the hotel room. Rev. Watanabe would contact the hotel staff and make arrangements for a table to be set up in one of our rooms, so we could play cards. As a result, in my ministry, I have always tried to do what I can for younger ministers. 

“Rev. Watanabe was also the reason that BCA built the Jodo Shinshu Center (JSC). It's interesting how it is rarely talked about, but Rev. Watanabe is the one who envisioned the center even though many people opposed it. To be honest, I was one of those that opposed it. However, I now realize the foresight Rev. Watanabe had. The JSC is the most important asset our BCA has. The BCA Center for Buddhist Education of which I am the director is now headquartered at the JSC. The Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS), our graduate school, is at the JSC and now so is the Office of the Bishop. I always hear how important the JSC is for BCA. However, I have never heard anyone express their appreciation for Rev. Watanabe's contribution to this building. Maybe now that he is physically no longer with us, they may appreciate him a little more. 

“I will always be grateful for Rev. Watanabe and what he has done for me, as a Dharma School student and a minister.”

BCA Minister Emeritus Rev. Koshin Ogui, Bishop from 2004 to 2012:

“Rev. Hakubun Watanabe served as the 12th Bishop of BCA from 1996 to 2004. It was Bishop Watanabe that the present Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, California, was initiated in 1997. He worked with then Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Governor General, Bishop Daijo Toyohara, who served from 1977-2000. Because of Rev. Watanabe's efforts, we were able to receive financial support for this important project. Rev. Watanabe was very talented in politics, especially in working with the Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan. I also express my sincere appreciation to his wife, Mrs. Kuniko Watanabe, who always quietly supported him. I was honored to succeed Rev. Watanabe as Bishop of the BCA and to take on the challenges of the task that come with being Bishop.”