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Universal Teachings For Everyday Living Page 1N E N E S SOIn MemoriamRev. Gyomay M. Kubose1905 - 2000Rev. Gyomay Kubose passed away onWednesday, March 29, 2000 at St. Jo-health. Never before in his 94 years hadwith severe pneumonia. His family isRev. Gyomay Kubose was born“Masao Kubose” in San Francisco onJune 21, 1905. When he was only 3years old, his parents divorced and hewas sent to Japan to be raised by hisopened agricultural school. Then at theage of 17, he returned to the UnitedStates. He learned English by enrollingat the Piedmont Elementary School inOakland, California (“I was the tallest in“school boy” and lived with the Puseyfamily in Piedmont. He later started athe Oakland area.morial service at the Oakland BuddhistTemple, the minister, Rev. Taigan Hata,gave him a book written by Rev. HayaWhen Rev. Akegarasu toured the UnitedStates in 1929, Kubose accompaniedhim as his interpreter. This was the be-Kubose attended the University of Cali-with a B.A. in philosophy. In January,1936 he married Minnie Taniguchi ofFowler, California and went to Rev.first son, Don, was born at the temple,where they lived for five years. Duringthis time, Kubose accompanied histeacher on lecture tours throughout Ja-pan, China and Korea. Rev. Akegarasugave Kubose the Dharma nameBefore Rev. Kubose left Japan, Rev.pendent temple in the United States sothat he could freely present the Dharmateachings in a way that could be under-States in July, 1941 just prior to Worldestablished the American Buddhist As-sociation in 1955 and later a Buddhisttion group.Among his many honors and awardsare: The 5th Class Order of the SacredTreasure Gold and Silver Rays from HisMajesty the Emperor of Japan; Worldsociation; Senior Citizen Hall of FameAward from the City of Chicago; Distin-th gen-of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea; SilverBeaver Award from the Boy Scouts ofAmerica; Honorary Life Member of theUptown Lions Club and Uptown Cham-ber of Commerce; Brotherhood Awardfrom the Japanese American Citizensthe Japanese American Association ofChicago.Although Rev. Kubose was kept verybusy with temple and community activi-ties, he always had time for his family.There are many treasured memories ofhim enthusiastically sharing life with hisloved ones: wrestling with his grandchil-at age 70 in his dress shoes, goinghorseback riding in Moab, Utah at agedandelions!” “WOW, look at the traffic!”94 years and was a true example of howto live the Dharma teachings. His life is

Quarterly Newsletter of the Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose Dharma Legacy Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2000

seph Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was

so fortunate to have had a lifetime of good

he been hospitalized until he was afflicted

grateful that his passing went peacefully.

grandparents. After finishing elementary

school, he completed studies at a newly

my class!”), graduating in 1924. He went

on to graduate from the prestigious Pied-

mont High School in December, 1931. He

started out supporting himself by being a

thriving landscape gardening business in

While attending his grandmother’s me-

Akegarasu, a famous Jodo Shinshu min-

ister. Reading this book turned the young

Masao Kubose’s life completely around.

ginning of a long and meaningful relation-

ship. Rev. Akegarasu counseled Kubose

to complete his college education and in-

vited him to study at his temple in Japan.

fornia at Berkeley and graduated in 1935

Akegarasu’s temple, Myotatsuji, for min-

isterial study in Buddhism. The Kubose’s

“Gyomay” which means “bright dawn.”

Akegarasu advised him to start an inde-

stood by Americans. He returned to the

War II. After a brief stay in Los Angeles,

he was interned for two years in the Heart

Mountain Relocation Camp in Wyoming.

He came to Chicago in 1944 and estab-

lished The Chicago Buddhist Church. He

Educational Center as well as a medita-

Buddhist Mission Cultural Award from the

Japanese Buddhist Mission Cultural As-

guished Service Award from the 15

eration Grand Tea Master, Sen Soshitsu,

League; Outstanding Community Service

Award from the Japanese American Ser-

vice Committee; and the Chicago Nikkei

Community Father of the Year Award from

dren, playing basketball with his children

87 with wife Minnie and family. He con-

stantly found WOWs in life, and showed

others wonders that they would not have

noticed otherwise. “WOW, look at those

“WOW, this tastes delicious!”

Rev. Kubose lived fully every day of his

a tremendous inspiration for us all.