With Rev Oku Kyokai in 2004

Rev Oku Kyokai of Zuikoji temple in Osaka passed away last night at 85 years old. First time I met him in 2004 (I was 27 at that time) when I visited Japan for the second time. He found about me on internet and invited me at his temple on his expanse where he offered me accommodation for three weeks. He greeted me warmly and kindly helped me to visit mount Koyasan as well as various religious sites in the Kansai area. We held religious services together at his temple and in the houses of people from his parish. I remember fondly how I recited Nembutsu, Sambutsuge and Juseige in a tiny Japanese house for a big family with parents, grandparents, children and a dog, all gathered together in front of their obutsudan (home altar).

Rev Oku Kyokai teaching me how to wear a complicated ceremonia robe

Oku Kyokai Sensei has always been a friend of my Dharma activities. I visited him again in 2011 on the occasion of Shinran’s 750th Memorial and stayed at his place. The big scroll with Amida (2015) you see in this article and the statue from the main altar in the Amidado (Amida Hall) of Amidaji temple as well as various ritual objects from the main altar were kindly offered by him. In 2015 and 2021 we met again when he visited me at Amidaji and gifted me two beautiful robes and kesas.
I am now on the road but when I return to Amidaji I will hold a proper religious service for him. I also intend to make a memorial plaque in his honor in the courtyard of the temple.

With Rev Oku Kyokai and the big scroll with Amida Buddha offered by him in 2015