The Asian American and pacific Islander (AAPI) community has recently become victim to a spike in racially motivated hate crimes. As everybody tries to heal from these growing wounds, the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist community has shown strength and unity with the recent vandalism of their own Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles.
The Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple was opened in 1976 as a worship place for Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, a Japanese sect of Buddhism. It is located in the Little Tokyo District, a historically prominent Japanese American district in downtown Los Angeles.
On February 25th, Revered Masa Fujii heard commotion outside the temple building during a Zoom conference meeting. A vandal had jumped over the fence to knock over two handmade metal lanterns, set fire to two lantern stands, and threw a lime-sized rock through a glass door. Luckily, Fujii was able to run outside to quickly extinguish the flames.
The destruction of a place of worship is an horrific act that greatly hurts a community. America’s First Amendment freedom of religion feels threatened. Any religious community would agree it is terrifying to have what feels as a second home, a safe and sacred place, be destroyed. The Buddhist community has definitely felt a pang of heartbreak to see this kind of destruction.
Wayne Itoga, the president of Higashi board of directors, said in a quote to a Japanese LA-based newspaper The Rafu Shimpo, “It’s something that our members are left with. It chips away at that sense of security.”
The vandalism and arson has not yet been deemed a hate crime by the Los Angeles Police Department, but it cannot be ignored these acts have come in a time when AAPI hate crimes are spiking. Additionally, many temple members feel the crime had to have intent considering the tall fences the criminal had to jump over.
However, in true Jodo Shinshu Buddhist spirit, they have felt immense gratitude for the support they have received and the damage was not worse than it was.
In a statement following the attack, Bishop Noriaki Ito says, “We were receiving calls and messages from members and friends from all over the United States and even some from Japan.” He continues to express gratitude for the kindness the temple has received.
Nikkei Progressive, a Japanese American progressive organization, and the temple’s youth leadership Jr. YBA has started a GoFundMe for the Higashi Honganji Temple. The community and allies have raised their initial goal of $30,000 in less than 24 hours and over $80,000 in less than three days.
As Jodo Shinshu Buddhist continues to try to hold strong during this rise of Asian-targetted attacks, others must be mindful of the pain many are feeling. The destruction of the Higashi Honganji Temple, a place of worship, is a disgusting act, but despite all of this the Buddhist community has expressed gratitude for support and hope for a better future.