Home | Temple | History | Calendar | Services | Events | People | Organizations | Shingon | Pilgrimage | Newsletter | Website | Links

Reverend Shutai Aoyama

1875 Born at Furusato-mura, Toyama-ken, Japan

1882 (Tokudo Initiation)

1891 Entered the Buddhist priesthood at Jimyoin, Mt. Koya.

1896 Earned a B.A. degree from Koyasan College, Japan.

Completed the esoteric requirements including the Abihiseka for the transmission of Dharma (Denpo-kanjo)

1905 Appointed as the chief priest of Kakuganji Temple, Toyama-ken, Japan.

1909 Appointed as the minister of foreign mission by Koyasan Headquarters, Japan.

Arrived in San Francisco by boat and hospitalized due to septicemia.

1910 Engaged in manual labor at a farming ranch in San Jose.

Moved to Los Angeles and took a job at a ship yard in Long Beach Harbor.

1912 Esablished the Koyasan Daishi Mission in Little Tokyo of Los Angeles with Mr. Kiyotaro Nakano, owner of Miyako Hotel located at East First Street.

1913 Moved the Mission to Elysian Park, Los Angeles.

1914 Moved the Mission to a new assembly hall located at 355 Commercial St., Los Angeles.

1920 Relocated the Mision to 133 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles, near the present JANM.

1921 Returned to Japan on Tacoma-maru and succeeded as head minister at Kakuganji Temple.

1934 Passed away at Kakuganji Temple at the age 59. Bestowed the honorary title, Daisojo.

2006 Honored and remembered with a bust erected in the courtyard of the Los Angeles Koyasan Betsuin.