BUILDING HISTORY

More than a dozen years ago, the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin commissioned a report on two of its aging buildings. That report concluded the Annex Building or gym (located south of the temple) and the Education Building (across from the temple) posed serious safety risks in the event of a major earthquake. The temple then launched a major two phase campaign to retrofit or replace the two buildings. The temple decided to first seismically strengthen and modernize the Annex (gym) Building, a $5 million+ project that was completed in 2016. 

Rather than also retrofit the 2-story Education Building, the temple proceeded with an ambitious plan to build a state-of-the-art $15 million replacement facility that would serve the temple’s Lotus Preschool; the century-old Japanese Language School; Dharma (Sunday School) School; Boy and Girl scouts; other temple groups; and the wider Japantown community.

The 11,000-square-foot building will be substantially larger than the existing Education Building, with a conference room, classrooms, multi-purpose room, library/multimedia center and space for Lotus to add more students and a modern playground.

SAN JOSE BUDDHIST CHURCH betsuin

The Issei (first generation immigrants) worked back-breaking long hours to build a better life for themselves and their families. They also sought spiritual guidance and comfort from their religion, for most of them, Buddhism.

To fill that void in their lives, the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin was established in 1902. From almost the start, the temple was more than a religious center; it also served as a social and cultural hub for the community.  Most of the Japanese cultural activities in the United States either started or were promoted by Buddhist temples, among them judo, kendo, flower arranging. It was no different in San Jose. For example, the Betsuin’s Japanese Language School started in 1907.

Temple leaders also launched other activities for their American-born children. The San Jose Zebras, a renowned Asian American youth basketball organization, began at the temple in 1930. A Zebra baseball team soon followed and the temple also formed a marching band.

San Jose Taiko, one of the most well-known taiko groups in the world, began at the temple in 1974, founded by Roy Hirabayashi, Dean Miyakusu and Rev. Hiroshi Abiko, one of San Jose’s resident ministers at the time.

Over the years, the temple participated in the start of Yu-Ai Kai; supported the San Jose Japanese Community Youth Service, founded in the 1960s by Dr. Tom Taketa, who served as temple president in 1971; and planned the Fuji Towers senior citizen housing project down the street.

The first temple was constructed in 1911 about where the temple’s Annex Building is located. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, temple members – most of them farmers – raised money to build a new temple that was finished in 1937. 

In 1983, the temple underwent a seismic upgrade, strengthening interior supports and adding new bracing. The interior and altar were remodeled for the Betsuin’s Centennial celebration in 2002.

In 1954, the temple purchased three lots across the street for a hostel and social hall. Completed in 1956, the one-story hostel later became the Sunday School building. A second story was added in 1964.

Continuing its tradition of being a religious, social and cultural center, the Betsuin in 1958 built the Annex Building, located on the opposite of the garden from the temple. It featured a gym, classrooms, multi-purpose room, stage, and kitchen. 

For the past 65 years the Annex has been home to a number of continuing activities - from the CYS Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast to Nikkei Matsuri events, from bonsai exhibitions to Chidori Band concerts, youth basketball practices to the annual Day of Remembrance for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. The Dharma Center will enhance the temple’s ability to provide space for community use.