The Coast District Planning Committee for this year’s BCA National Council Meeting envisioned including music offerings for the virtual Eitaikyo service held on Feb. 26.
After Sambujo and Sanbutsuge, San Jose Taiko presented “Ei Ja Nai Ka” as a tribute in memory of the late Rev. Hiroshi Abiko, who was a founding member of taiko in San Jose during his first ministerial assignment at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
PJ Hirabayashi composed “Ei Ja Nai Ka” and was inspired to name the song after long and deep conversations with Rev. Abiko about its meaning and significance to taiko. The piece has evolved to become a Bon Odori dance.
June Kuramoto and Kimo Cornwell of the legendary band Hiroshima followed with “Heritage” on koto and electric keyboard.
After San Jose Betsuin Rinban Rev. Gerald Sakamoto’s Dharma message, Ko-Ha (Miharu Okamura and Miko Shudo) presented a new composition “Golden,” performed with Buddhist Church of Oakland Resident Minister Rev. Harry Bridge on bass guitar.
As chairperson of the BCA Music Committee, however, I wish to communicate appreciation for the request for collaborative gatha videos for the BCA National Council Meeting opening service and Eitaikyo service.
The BCA Service Music Subcommittee convened on Jan. 4 with short notice to discuss how we could record and produce two new gatha videos representing all eight districts of the BCA. How grateful and proud I am that the team of many contributors rose to the occasion! Some vocalists and instrumentalists had already learned during the pandemic to record and transmit tracks for collaborative recordings. Others were willing to learn.
“We Are One,” a Northwest District favorite gatha composed by Donna Sasaki of Tacoma Buddhist Temple, was chosen as an upbeat opening service musical offering, in part because the Ekoji Buddhist Temple Sangha and Ekoji’s former Resident Minister Rev. Nariaki Hayashi, now at Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple, were also familiar with it.
Others agreed to learn the gatha melody or the new harmony part. The four-part harmony arrangement of “Ondokusan II” by the late Yumiko Hojo was proposed for the Eitaikyo service. In addition to the archived virtual Eitaikyo service on the BCA YouTube channel, the gatha video of “Ondokusan II” has been posted along with “We Are One” on the BCA Music Committee YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@buddhistchurchesofamericam9267
Elaine Jones from the San Jose Betsuin accepted the challenge and accomplished the audio mixing of both gathas. Alex Sakamoto (Seattle Betsuin) with Clarynne Blanchard (Tri-State/Denver) produced the video of “We Are One.” Paul Endo (San Jose Betsuin) with Clarynne Blanchard produced the video of “Ondokusan II.”
In gassho with appreciation also to all the recording artists:
“We Are One”
Singers
Clarynne Blanchard, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Audrey Charness, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Jackie Davenport, Vista Buddhist Temple
Paul Endo, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
Alice Fukushima, Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
Tony Hale, Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Rev. Nariaki Hayashi, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Allan Hikoyeda, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
Nancy Hikoyeda, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
Sue Ann Kashiwagi, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Julie Kawaye, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Irene Mano, Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
Merv Maruyama, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Rene Maruyama, Orange County Buddhist Church
Paul Mori, Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
Karen Mukai, Buddhist Church of Fowler
Rod Nishikawa, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Pilar Uelmen, Ekoji Buddhist Temple
Dennis Yamashita, Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
Richard Yoshida, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Piano
Donna Sasaki, Tacoma Buddhist Temple
Flute
Annette Inouye, Vista Buddhist Temple
Guitar
Rev. Nariaki Hayashi, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Bass Guitar
Rev. Harry Bridge, Buddhist Church of Oakland
“Ondokusan II”
Singers
Clarynne Blanchard, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Audrey Charness, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Jackie Davenport, Vista Buddhist Temple
Rev. Michael Endo, Buddhist Church of Oakland
Paul Endo, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
Alice Fukushima, Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
Tony Hale, Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Rev. Nariaki Hayashi, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Allan Hikoyeda, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
Nancy Hikoyeda, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
Sue Ann Kashiwagi, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Julie Kawaye, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Elaine Marume, Vista Buddhist Temple
Merv Maruyama, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Paul Mori, Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
Karen Mukai, Buddhist Church of Fowler
Rod Nishikawa, Buddhist Church of Sacramento
Naomi Takemura, Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
Pilar Uelmen, Ekoji Buddhist Temple
Dennis Yamashita, Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
Richard Yoshida, Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple
Michael Yoshihara, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
Piano
Elaine Jones, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin