The birthday of the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, Shinran Shonin, is commemorated during the month of May in all Jodo Shinshu temples in Japan and worldwide, including Hawaii and the US mainland. Known as Gotan-e, this is one of the six major services observed annually by Jodo Shinshu temples to honor and pay respect to Shinran Shonin.

About Our Guest Speaker, Rev. Kerry Kiyohara

Rev. Kerry Kiyohara, Makawao Hongwanji

Reverend Kerry Kiyohara is the resident minister of Makawao Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Maui. He was born and raised in Los Angeles; graduated with BA and MBA degrees from the University of Southern California. Reverend Kerry previously had a career as CEO, COO, and CMO in the advertising agency business, partner in start-up ventures, strategy consultant, and copywriter in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, and Honolulu.

Kiyohara Sensei was tokudo ordained in 2016, graduated from Chuo Bukkyo Gakuin Seminary in Kyoto, and was certified as a kyōshi teacher in the Jōdo Shinshū Hongwanji tradition in 2018. Kerry speaks native English, is fluent in Japanese, has command of basic Spanish, survival Chinese, and struggles with da kine pidgin Hawaiian Creole English. He and his wife, Mimy, have a son, Kendall Akira, a lovely daughter-in-law, Arlene, and a precious six-year-old granddaughter, Melody Hatsune, who live in Honolulu.