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February Events Recap

Jan 31   Letter to My Parents – Hawai’i 2013 follow up
Feb 2014  New Locations – Oriental Fusion Handcraft
Feb 09  Mrs. Kimi Kotani’s 44th Memorial Service
Feb 21   2013 Craft Contest Winners Announcement
Mar 01  Letter to My Parents – Chicago 2014

Picture1Jan 31 Letter to My Parents – Hawai’i 2013 follow up: Reiyukai America returned to Hawaii for a follow up with this years winners and parents. Many new ideas were discussed and shared to improve the contest and make it available to more people. They shared there appreciation for the event and how it has changed there family life style.

Visit our website for more pictures and information about this contest!
www.lettertomyparents.com

Picture2 Picture3Feb 2014 New locations: Reiyukai America is happy to announce not only one but two new locations for OFH. One is found in Waipahu, Hawai‘i and the other in Lima, Peru. Come down and Visit!

Visit our website for more pictures and information:
Oriental Fusion Handcraft

Picture4Feb 09 Mrs. Kimi Kotani’s 44th Memorial Service: With Honor and Pledge, Reiyukai members living in the Los Angeles area gathered together to commemorate the efforts and achievements of Mrs. Kimi Kotani’s — co-founder of Reiyukai and editor of “The Maitreya Bodhisattva Sutra.” The group attending recited this sutra and watched a DVD documentary of the contributions from Mrs. Kimi Kotani’s to Reiyukai.

weeeFeb 21 2013 Craft Contest: Oriental Fusion Handcraft is proud to announce its winners. We have three lucky participants out of nine who won.  The link is to the Oriental Fusion Handcraft post about 2013 ‘Photo Frame’ Craft Contest winners.

OFH 2013 Craft Contest: www.OrentalFusionHandcraft.com

winMar 01 LMP Chicago: Winners for Trip to Japan / $1,000 Scholar Ship — Viridiana Quiroz & Armando Gallegos 3rd Place Karen Sarai Flores and the Finalists are Daisy Aguilera, Luis Fernando Alvarez Huizar, Salma Gonzalez, Daniel Lara, Alma Mendoza, Isha Miranda, and Juan Manuel Rosales. Detailed report and more photos in the April issue. Don’t miss it!!!

Visit our website for more pictures and information:
www.lettertomyparents.com

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Winter Events Recap 2

Nov 24   Letter To My Parents – Hawai’i 2013
Dec 7      72nd Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration
Dec 7      Reiyukai America at the Posada Celebration
Jan 10     “Photo Frame” 2013 Contest – Voting Begins!

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Nov 24   The first Letter to My Parents Contest™ in Hawai’i was held this year where participants wrote a letter to their parents in order to improve communication within the family which is essential for a strong family unity.  Breaking down the barriers between daughter and parents, Maria Andrea Jurado wrote an endearing heart warming letter which won her a $1000 scholarship!  Good job Maria!

Visit our website for more pictures and information about this contest!
www.lettertomyparents.com

72nd Pearl Harbor Day (3)

Dec 7   Reiyukai members in Honolulu, Hawaii paid their respects at the 72nd Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration.  This day is memorial to the fallen soldiers who risked their lives for the hopes of achieving world of peace. Their dedication, courage, and sacrifice is an inspiration to all.  Reiyukai members recognize their passion by making a pledge to continue applying the teaching and share with many more people to create a world of peace.  A flower wreath was placed in their honor.

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Dec 7   Reiyukai America participated in its very first Posada Celebration Danza Floricanto in Los Angeles.  The celebration consisted of Floricanto dancing, crafts, food, and pinatas for people to enjoy.  Closely associated with Reiyukai for their strong community involvement, Reiyukai was invited to join the celebration where a booth was set up to sell craft donated by active Reiyukai members of the Oriental Fusion Handcraft to raise funds for the Typhoon Haiyan victims.

Photo Frame Contest

Jan 10    The voting for the “Photo Frame” 2013 Contest has begun.  There were 9 crafts that were submitted for the contest and our participants are looking for your vote!  Head over to our Facebook page and take a look at all the beautiful warm submissions into our contest.  You are allowed to only vote for TWO crafts by going to the main picture and clicking “Like” to place your vote.  Feel free to leave a comment or two telling us what you think about the crafts.  The participants would love to hear from you!  After voting has completed we will announce the winner for the contest.

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Winter Events Recap

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Happy Holidays! It has been an amazing year filled with wonderful memories.
Let’s take a look at some of the events that transpired towards the close of 2013.

Nov 3        Yoshie Matsunaga & Mr. Hisatoshi visit members in Connecticut
Nov 6-13   Mr. Yoshihisa Nogami visit members in California & Illinois
Nov 8-10   Pacific Media Expo — “Decoding Japanese Culture” presented by ReACT
Nov 10      Family Day Festival — Chicago 2013
Nov 17      Reiyukai Founder’s 70th Memorial Service

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Nov 3     Branch leaders from the Reiyukai 12th Branch in Japan and spiritual mentors of Mari Lewis came to visit Connecticut and enjoyed a special meeting with the local Reiyukai members.  Mr. Hisatoshi & Mrs. Yoshie Matsu naga and members all shared their personal experiences gaining insight that  nothing in this universe happens by chance and that members are encouraged to seek spiritual guidance when searching for the appropriate actions to take.

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Nov 6-13  Mr. Yoshihisa Nogami, Branch Leader from the 8th Branch in Japan, came to California & Illinois to invite members as well as other guests to find out more about Reiyukai core principles — the idea of self-development through the action of remembering, thanking, and honoring your own ancestors.  Through his life experiences and realization for the solution, members where once again reminded that staying true to your individual practice will lead you in the direction that benefits everyone.

The Oriental Fusion Handcraft? — Recycling Workshop thanks you for making a Thanksgiving Turkey Napkin Centerpiece with them!

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Nov 8-10  ReACT representatives attended the Pacific Media Expo at the LAX Hilton Hotel to presented a 2 hour panel discussion entitled “Decoding Japanese Culture”. This entertaining panel utilized a movie clip from “Mr. Baseball” (1993), which demonstrated an American baseball player making cultural mistakes in Japan, in order to dispel common American stereotypes of Japanese culture and to enlighten others about the needs all humans naturally feel and how culture develops around our inspired ideals.  Guests were able to share their reflections upon topics and find answers to their questions through the viewpoint of Reiyukai’s ideals of caring and compassion which also surrounds the idea of Japanese compassionate hospitality known as Omoiyari.

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Nov 10     Family Day Festival — Chicago 2013    Celebrating all things family, local young Reiyukai members came together and organized it into a warm memorable experience.  The event opened with a variety of presentations which included a report from the winner for the Letter to My Parents Contest in Chicago 2013, Andrea Godinez. Lizelle Marcial also highlighted the event giving a deep reflection about her family and ancestors mentioning that she was finally able to define the word “family” using her own words.  Afterwards to close the night, guests enjoyed breathtaking musical performances, amazing dance performances, and warm family building games.

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Nov 17    With Honor and Pledge, Reiyukai members living in the Los Angeles area gathered together to commemorate the efforts and achievements of Mr. Kakutaro Kubo — co-founder of Reiyukai, who passed away November 18, 1941.  The group attending watched a DVD documentary of Kakutaro Kubo and learned about his passion to make the world a better place.  Members confirmed about the Five Basic Practices that Reiyukai encourages everyone to have in their lives.

  1. Let us recite the Sutra
  2. Let us gather the names of our ancestors as much as we can and offer them posthumous names to each of them.
  3. Let us actively invite people to join to the cause of Reiyukai, cultivate a positive relationship with our members, and obtain a delightful personal experience.
  4. Let us participate in the gatherings.
  5. Let us involve ourselves in activities that would contribute to the society.