San Jose Betsuin

Practical Shin Buddhism in Everyday Life
2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-21 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Jose Buddhist Church – Office – Board Room, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, 95131, United States
Have you thought about how Jodo Shinshu may help address the difficulties of our present life? Then look no further! Rev.Dr. Kenji Akahoshi will talk about how Jodo Shinshu can help in this series of seminars about how to apply Jodo Shinshu into our lives.
Dates & Times: May 7, 14, 21 2025 at 7:00 pm
Locations: In-person: San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Board Room (2nd Fl of Office building)
Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89364107475?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 893 6410 7475
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Topics:
May 7 Benefits of Practicing Gratitude
May 14 Introspection: Finding Our True Self
May 21 The Clarity of Being Awake

Gotan-E Service/Infant Presentation/Kieshiki Service
2025-05-18 10:00 - 11:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Gotan-E Service/Infant Presentation/Kieshiki Ceremony
You are all welcomed to attend the Gotan-E service celebrating the birthday of our founder, Shinran Shonin.
If you would like to commemorate the birth of your infant, or if you would like to obtain a buddhist name and participate in the Kieshiki Ceremony, then please contact the Betsuin Office at sjbc@sjbetsuin.org.

Memorial Day Service - Morgan Hill
2025-05-25 09:30 - 10:30 | Mt. Hope Cemetery, 314 Spring Ave, Morgan Hill, CA, 95037
Memorial Day Service at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Morgan Hill, CA

Memorial Day Service - Gilroy
2025-05-25 11:00 | Gavilan Cemetery, 900 1st St, Gilroy, CA, 95020, United States
Memorial Day Service at the Gavilan Cemetery in Gilroy, CA

Boy Scout Troop 611 Goodwill Drive
2025-05-31 09:00 - 14:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church – Fourth Street Lot, 624 N. 4th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Goodwill Drive
Hosted by Boy Scout Troop 611
Date: Saturday, May 31st, 2025 9 am – 2 pm
Location: San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Education Building Parking Lot, N 4th Street Entrance, 624 N. 4th St, San Jose, CA
Steps:

Gather your stuff
Check it over
Brain to our Drive!

Items Needed:

Household Goods: kitchenware, small appliances, bedding, furniture, home decor, books, and toys.
Clothing & Accessories: clothing & accessories for men, women and children, including formal wear, everyday clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry.
Electronics: computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, televisions and audio equipment.

Non-acceptable items:

Hazardous materials or liquids, flammable items, trash, weapons, food

Items will be donated to the Goodwill of Silicon Valley.

Baccalaureate Service
2025-06-01 10:00 - 11:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Baccalaureate Service
Please join us in celebrating the graduation of our high school and community college students.
In addition, the winners of the various Betsuin scholarships will be announced.
The service will be followed by a reception for the graduates and their families organized by the Jr YBA.

Obon Dance Practice
2025-06-23 19:30 - 20:45 | San Jose Buddhist Church Annex, 632 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
2025 Obon Odori Practices
This year’s Obon is fast approaching! In anticipation of the festival, we’ll have five Obon dance practices this year.

Monday, June 23
Wednesday, June 25
Thursday, June 26
Monday, June 30
Wednesday, July 2

Practices will run from 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. at the gym in the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Annex (632 North 5th St, San Jose)
The music for the dances range from Japanese folk songs (ex. Tanko Bushi) to Japanese popular tunes (ex. Sukiyaki and Pokemon Ondo) to ones created by Japanese Americans (Ei Jai Nai Ka). Every is welcomed to attend! No previous experience necessary.
This year’s Obon Festival is scheduled for July 12th and 13th .

Obon Odori Practice
2025-06-25 19:30 - 20:45, 2025-06-26 19:30 - 20:45, 2025-06-30 19:30 - 20:45, 2025-07-02 19:30 - 20:45 | San Jose Buddhist Church Annex, 632 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
2025 Obon Odori Practices
This year’s Obon is fast approaching! In anticipation of the festival, we’ll have five Obon dance practices this year.

Monday, June 23
Wednesday, June 25
Thursday, June 26
Monday, June 30
Wednesday, July 2

Practices will run from 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. at the gym in the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Annex (632 North 5th St, San Jose)
The music for the dances range from Japanese folk songs (ex. Tanko Bushi) to Japanese popular tunes (ex. Sukiyaki and Pokemon Ondo) to ones created by Japanese Americans (Ei Jai Nai Ka). Every is welcomed to attend! No previous experience necessary.
This year’s Obon Festival is scheduled for July 12th and 13th.

2025 San Jose Obon Festival
2025-07-12 12:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
2025 San Jose Obon Festival & Bazaar

2025 San Jose Obon Festival
2025-07-13 12:00 - 19:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
2025 San Jose Obon Festival & Bazaar

Annual Obon Festival

Obon Service
2025-07-20 10:00 - 11:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Obon Service
Guest speaker: Rev. Michael Endo

ABA Rummage Sale
2025-08-02 09:00 - 14:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Annex, 632 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Location: San Jose Buddhist Church Annex
632 North 5th St., San Jose, CA 95112
Donation Drop-Off Dates:
July 31 (thu) & August 1 (fri) 9 am – 7 pm

No early drop-offs will be accepted
No pick-up arrangements available
No books, used water bottles
No large furniture, TVs, appliances, or computers parts.

Ten Feet Concert
2025-08-09 19:00 - 22:00

First Day of Japanese Language School
2025-09-06 09:00 - 12:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church – Education Building, 639 N 5th St,, San Jose, CA, 95112
Beginning to Intermediate Classes
For Students 1st through 12h Grade and Adults
Schedule: From September 6th, 2025 to May 9, 2026, Saturdays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Registration: sjbetsuin.org/programs/japanese-language-school

2025-2026 priority registration ended on August 1st, 2025

Contact: email: jls@sjbetsuin.org – phone: 408-293-9292 (payment/tuition inquiries only)

First Day of Dharma School
2025-09-07 09:30 - 10:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
First Day of Dharma School!
Please register if your student would like to attend. Per liability reasons, we require all students to be registered. There is no fee.
However, we require parents to volunteer for activities such as crosswalk and snack duties throughout the year. The number of activities required varies on any given year.
Please contact the Betsuin office: sjbc@sjbetsuin.org for information.

Organization Day/Open House
2025-09-07 09:30 - 23:30 | San Jose Buddhist Church Annex, 632 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
All the various organizations of the Betsuin will have tables set up in the Annex.
Come and join one of the various clubs and organizations of the Betsuin!

Fall Ohigan
2025-09-14 08:00 - 17:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Service to celebrate the Fall Ohigan (autumnal equinox).
Guest speaker: Rev. Melissa Opel, San Francisco Buddhist Church

Reiko Iwanaga's NEA Fellowship Award Ceremony
2025-09-17 14:30 - 17:00
Our own Reiko Iwanaga will be honored with the 2025 The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowships on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 2:30 pm US/Pacific at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.
It will be live webcast at this website: https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage

Soul Line Dancing Class
2025-09-21 11:30 - 13:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Annex, 632 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Be sure to join us for our Soul Line Dancing class this Sunday, Sept. 21st from 11:30am – 1:00pm. It’s our first class after our summer break. So, we need to get up and dance the day away!!! You don’t need to know how to dance. Every class is a beginner class and we go over each dance step. Our dance instructor (Juanita Croft) is an excellent teacher and she’ll get you moving and dancing to the music.

This class is for anyone who wants to get some fun exercise. You don’t have to be a BWA member to attend this class. It’s open to everyone!

So, plan on joining us and bring your friends!!!

Troop 611 E-Waste Collection
2025-10-04 09:00 - 15:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church – Fourth Street Lot, 624 N. 4th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Boy Scout Troop 611 E-waste Event
This is a FREE event in on October 4, 2025 from 9 am to 3 pm at the 4th Street parking lot. (Enter from the 4th Street).

All Wire and Cabling
Desktop PCs/Laptops/PDA, Servers
DLP/CRT/Plasma/LCD/LED Monitors, Televisions
Printers, Mice, Keyboards & Accessories
Copy & Fax Machines
Audio & Video Players
Cell Phones & Accessories
Electrical household appliances
NO metals, microwaves, large appliances or large office equipment

For more details, please review the flyer.

Pet Memorial Service
2025-10-05 09:30 - 10:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
A service to memorialize our pets that have passed in the past year.
Please contact the Office (See our “Contact” link above) for further information for putting a photo of your pet up in the altar.

Soul Line Dancing Class
2025-10-05 11:30 - 13:00, 2025-11-02 11:30 - 13:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Annex, 632 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
The San Jose Buddhist Women’s Association
Invite you to attend our:
Soul Line Dancing
This is a beginner’s class for anyone wanting to learn
“classic & basic” Soul Line Dances.
Soul Line Dancing is line dancing done to
classic R&B, jazz, zydeco, & blues music.
Juanita Croft is the Soul Line Dancing instructor at
Stanford University & an amazing teacher.

BCA Founding Day/Bishop's Memorial Service
2025-10-12 10:00 - 11:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Service to commemorate the founding of the Buddhist Churches of America and to remember all the bishops who have led the organization for over 100 years.

Coast District Nembutsu Family Conference
2025-10-19 10:00 - 15:00 | Buddhist Temple of Salinas, 4 California St, Salinas, CA, 93901, United States
Coast District Nembutsu Family Conference
Set your dates for the 2025 CD Nembutsu Family Conference at the Salinas Buddhist Temple!
The theme is “Fun with Namo Amiuda Butsu” and will feature Rev. Harry Bridge (English) and Rev. Hibiki Murakami (Japanese).
The opening service will be at 10:30 am and the closing service at 2:30 pm. Carpooling is suggested as parking is somewhat limited.
Buddhist Temple of Salinas
14 California St
Salinas, CA 93901

Flyer
Registration Form

For any questions, please contact:

Gary Hongo: garyhongo711@gmail.com, (916) 508-1751
Joan Henretta: joan_henretta@yahoo.com, (805) 878-9498

Rinban Sakamoto Retirement Party
2025-11-01 11:30 - 15:00 | San Jose Buddhist Church Annex – Multipurpose Room, 632 N. 5th St, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
SAVE THE DATE!
This is the retirement party for Rinban Gerald Sakamoto who has been at the San Jose Betsuin over 40 years.
