BISHOP DWIGHT RYOKAN NAKAMURA Retired Bishop Dwight Ryokan Nakamura quietly entered Nirvana on March 23, 2015 in Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was 88. Born Takeo Nakamura on June 6, 1926 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Ordained as a Jodo-shu Buddhist minister he was given the name Ryokan. He first came to Hawaii in 1954 as a missionary devoted to rebuilding Jodo Buddhism in Hawaii. His ministry began at the Jodo Mission of Hawaii; resident minister at Kurtistown Jodo Mission (1956 -1964) and Hilo Meishoin Mission (1964 -1980). Served as Bishop of the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions for 10 years until his retirement in 1990. Returned to his native Japan where he was appointed resident minister at Seikyuji Temple in Shiga and Tokuunji Temple in Aihi and as Abbot of the historical Daijuji Temple in Okazaki, the official memorial to the Shogunate Ieyasu Tokugawa. In September 2003, Ryokan was nominated and accepted to become the Bishop of the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions for the second time. He returned to Hawaii to devote his final life's period to perpetuate the Jodo Buddhist movement in Hawaii. During his tenure as Bishop and over 60 years of scholarly labor in the quiet moments that punctuated a grueling round of priestly and administrative duties he produced a steady stream of articles, sermons, letters and translations and found time not only to participate in a wide range of community affairs, but also to give religious instruction and spiritual counsel to anyone who sought them. Over his career he officiated countless weddings, blessings, memorial services and funerals as well as broadcast over 1500 radio sermons and taught religion classes at the local universities. He served as President of the Hawaii Buddhist Council and was actively involved in the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists (HAIB) movement. Survived by daughters Chandra (Ronald) Kanemaru of Honolulu & Dana Nakamura of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; grandson Kellan Kubo (Jennifer Aquino) & great grandson Kolten Kubo of Las Vegas, Nevada; granddaughter Carly Kanemaru of Aiea; brothers Takao (Keiko) Oshima, Masaomi (Tomiko) Nakamura, Yukio (Shizuko) Nakamura & sisters Michiko Omori & Kazuko Shibagaki of Nagoya, Japan and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death: wife of 35 years, Edith Namiye (Kida) Nakamura & son Earnest Wasui Nakamura; brothers Takachika & Dr. Tomoharu Nakamura and sister Kiyoko Funabashi, of Nagoya, Japan. A special "Kyokuso" memorial services to be held 11:00 am, Sunday, May 31, 2015, Jodo Mission of Hawaii, 1429 Makiki Street. Visitation from 10 am. Private inurnment services to be held at Daijuji Temple, Okazaki, Japan.
BISHOP DWIGHT RYOKAN NAKAMURA Retired Bishop Dwight Ryokan Nakamura quietly entered Nirvana on March 23, 2015 in Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was 88. Born Takeo Nakamura on June 6, 1926 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Ordained as a Jodo-shu Buddhist minister he was given the name Ryokan. He first came to Hawaii in 1954 as a missionary devoted to rebuilding Jodo Buddhism in Hawaii. His ministry began at the Jodo Mission of Hawaii; resident minister at Kurtistown Jodo Mission (1956 -1964) and Hilo Meishoin Mission (1964 -1980). Served as Bishop of the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions for 10 years until his retirement in 1990. Returned to his native Japan where he was appointed resident minister at Seikyuji Temple in Shiga and Tokuunji Temple in Aihi and as Abbot of the historical Daijuji Temple in Okazaki, the official memorial to the Shogunate Ieyasu Tokugawa. In September 2003, Ryokan was nominated and accepted to become the Bishop of the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions for the second time. He returned to Hawaii to devote his final life's period to perpetuate the Jodo Buddhist movement in Hawaii. During his tenure as Bishop and over 60 years of scholarly labor in the quiet moments that punctuated a grueling round of priestly and administrative duties he produced a steady stream of articles, sermons, letters and translations and found time not only to participate in a wide range of community affairs, but also to give religious instruction and spiritual counsel to anyone who sought them. Over his career he officiated countless weddings, blessings, memorial services and funerals as well as broadcast over 1500 radio sermons and taught religion classes at the local universities. He served as President of the Hawaii Buddhist Council and was actively involved in the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists (HAIB) movement. Survived by daughters Chandra (Ronald) Kanemaru of Honolulu & Dana Nakamura of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; grandson Kellan Kubo (Jennifer Aquino) & great grandson Kolten Kubo of Las Vegas, Nevada; granddaughter Carly Kanemaru of Aiea; brothers Takao (Keiko) Oshima, Masaomi (Tomiko) Nakamura, Yukio (Shizuko) Nakamura & sisters Michiko Omori & Kazuko Shibagaki of Nagoya, Japan and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death: wife of 35 years, Edith Namiye (Kida) Nakamura & son Earnest Wasui Nakamura; brothers Takachika & Dr. Tomoharu Nakamura and sister Kiyoko Funabashi, of Nagoya, Japan. A special "Kyokuso" memorial services to be held 11:00 am, Sunday, May 31, 2015, Jodo Mission of Hawaii, 1429 Makiki Street. Visitation from 10 am. Private inurnment services to be held at Daijuji Temple, Okazaki, Japan.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
