BCSF, San Jose to Host Grateful Crane Shows

‘Living Gratitude’ Is Musical Journey Celebrating BCA’s 125 Years

FYI The Grateful Crane Ensemble will perform two shows of the BCA-commissioned “Living Gratitude” on: 

• Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco (BCSF). Purchase information will be on BCSF website: bit.ly/3IbKgJv

• Sunday, Nov. 16 at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin (SJBCB). Purchase information will be on the SJBCB website: bit.ly/4pqrM8T

To view a promotional video of the Grateful Crane Ensemble’s BCA project, go to: bit.ly/423i2Ya

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The acclaimed Grateful Crane Ensemble will present a musical program titled “Living Gratitude” — a celebration of BCA’s 125-year history — at one Bay District and one Coast District temple.

"Living Gratitude” will be presented at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 15, and at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin’s on Sunday, Nov. 16. 

Prices for both performances are the same: $50 for pre-ordered bento lunch and show, $25 for show only, and free to youth 18 and under. San Francisco has a shuttle bus option from the Japan Center parking lot.

The performances are made possible by a grant from BCA’s Dharma Forward. For more information about Dharma Forward, go to: bit.ly/4nsmfNg

“It’s 125 years of BCA history told through captivating storytelling and the singing of favorite Japanese, American and Buddhist songs,” said the show’s writer, Soji Kashiwagi, the Executive Producer for the Los Angeles-based Grateful Crane Ensemble.

“The show is seen through the eyes of the Yamashita family as we follow their Jodo Shinshu journey through pre-war life on the farm, life in camp and the difficult life they lived after camp, where they stayed in Buddhist church hostels and struggled to rebuild their lives and temples after the war.”

The Grateful Crane Ensemble was founded in 2001 to inspire and educate the public about the experiences of first - and second -generation Japanese Americans. The ensemble’s theme, “Performing Out of Gratitude,” defines its mission of highlighting the hardships and accomplishments that are inspirational for the present generations.

The Grateful Crane performers will include Haruye Ioka, Keiko Kawashima, Merv Maruyama and Ping Wu. 

Interspersed throughout the show are period and classic Japanese, American and Buddhist songs to set the musical tone for the show.Pre-war songs include “Shina no Yoru,” “Soran Bushi” and “Otomi-san.” Camp songs include “Don’t Fence Me In” and the “Viva YBA Gatha.” Post-war songs include “America the Beautiful,” “Over the Rainbow,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “If I had a Hammer.” Buddhist gathas include “Buddha Loves You,” “Ondokusan 2” and original song “Namo Amida Butsu.”  

BCA affiliated groups mentioned in the performance will include the Young Men Buddhist Association, Fujinkai/Buddhist Women’s Association (BWA),  Dharma School, Japanese language schools, Jr. YBA (Young Buddhists Association), Sr. YBA, YABA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and Sangha Teens.

“It’s our own way of storytelling using dramatizations and humorous depictions,” Kashiwaji said. “In ‘Living Gratitude,’ four skilled actors are telling the BCA story through the eyes of one family and singing the songs that have meaning throughout our history. Because of the minimal nature of the show, it asks the audience to listen to the words being said and form their own pictures and memories in their minds.” 

The idea for a performance to highlight the BCA’s 125-year history came from Bishop Rev. Marvin Harada, who wanted to share the story of the BCA in an entertaining way. 

The BCA commissioned the Grateful Crane Ensemble to create a show through the Bishop's Expansion Fund and the BCA Archives and Historical Preservation Budget. The show premiered at the 2024 BCA National Council Meeting in Sacramento, the kickoff to a yearlong celebration.

Rev. Harada was so impressed by the show that he wanted it to go on the road, so that other BCA Sangha members could experience the performance. It was presented at the Southern District Conference in October 2024.

Thanks to funding from the Dharma Forward campaign, the show will be presented in each of the BCA’s eight districts. For more information to book a show, BCA District leaders may contact former BCA President Terri Omori at tomori@bcahq.org