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A collection of photos contributed by our community that depicts their home obutsudans, Buddhist objects, and spaces dedicated to remembering the teachings of the Buddha

Home is Where the Buddha is

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Wherever we are in this world, we can find comfort in knowing that Home Is Where The Buddha Is. For many of us in the Americas, Buddhism is not only a religion but a cultural identity that has crossed the Pacifc Ocean with us and has endured the same hardships that many of us have had to face. The teachings of the Buddha will continue to be with us through each and every hardship we face without prejudice to those who practice. We may not be able to go to temple, but we can still be connected through the Buddha’s teachings. Each Obutsudan has a story to tell. Whether it survived incarceration or is new to a family. Please enjoy reading about the importance these Obutsudan have in our lives.

Kujiraoka Family Obutsudan
”my obutsudan I think was from my obaachan. It’s always set up by my mom now because I’m not home, and my dad isn’t as religious. Do I know what it is? I’d like to hope so I know it’s not a rice shrine like I thought when I first saw it as a kid”

Obutsudan of Tomiko Zumoto

(Ashley) MacDonald Family Obutsudan

“My grandma bought the Obutsdan about 35 years ago. It is a treasured symbolic token in my family that we visit every day to pay respects to those friends and family that have passed. To show our appreciation and remembrance of them we also give rice and sweets as an offering. We usually put a picture of those that we want to remember and sometimes tokens that remind us of them.” - Ashley MacDonald 

Obutsudan of Devon Matsumoto

“I made this Obutsudan when I was in Dharma school. It sits in my bookshelf at my home in Sunnyvale. I also put my grandpa’s 442nd hat as a way for me to remember the strength he had and that I am here partly because of his sacrifice.”

Gee Family Obutsudan

“My sister and I made these through my Girl Scout/temple Padma Award. A temple member helped us make them as part of getting our award. Since we already have two in our house, these have kinda been collecting dust.” - Morgan Gee

Watanabe Family Obutsudan

“Our Obutsudan was a gift from an old family friend. They had no children and wanted me to have it because as they told me they knew that I would honor it. They bought it in Kyoto in the 1950s. It has been my inspiration for many years. I have a few different ones but this is my favorite. The people who gave it to me I still see often and they are in their late 90’s. They are happy that I like it.” -Troy Watanabe

Obutsudan of John Mullins

“I received the Obutsudan from San Fernando Valley HBT. As you may know, families often bring their relatives’ Obutsudans to the temple when they pass away. It was empty when I received it and I don’t know exactly who owned it before me, but Rev. Patti Usuki helped me populate it with “spare parts” that she had at the temple. I also treated it to restore the lacquer finish. It was very meaningful to bring the Obutsudan into my home. It sits in my office directly across from my desk where I basically can look at it at all times (including right now).”

Kita Family Obutsudan

“Me and my brother made this Obutsudan in Dharma school. It sits on a shelf in our house.” - Cayla Kita 

Kunisaki Family Obutsudan

“The Obutsudan was inherited. The house we live in was Kevin's dad, so when we moved here the Obutsudan was here. The original owner was Kevin's grandparents. We think one of Kevin's father's uncles brought about five of the Obutsudans back from a visit to Japan in the 50s on a boat. It is special because Kevin's dad would open the butsudan when Jason and Justin were small and tell them about their great-grandparents who have pictures in the Obutsudan. I believe Jason and Justin know more about their Buddhist family than the Christian side because of this Obutsudan. Today, we don't open it often, but Kevin opens it on the day his dad passed away, and I open it every New Years”. - Sheryl Kunisaki

Obutsudan of Marissa Wong 

“My scroll and Buddha are a way for me to remind myself of what is really important in life and reflect on the past and our impermanence so that I can live in the present and be grateful for all I have. I carried a small Obutsudon with me to Seattle because it had only been a year since my dad passed away and I wanted a way to be reminded of him.”

 Li Family Obutsudan

“Our Obutsudan was inherited from my great-grandma who brought it over from japan when she married my great-grandpa.” -Mia Li

Mukojima Family

This photo of the Myogo (namo amida butsu) was written by Rennyo Shonin. This is Rennyo's handwriting and the Myogo is at my family temple in Japan. - Rev. Mukojima

Nodohara Family Obutsudan

Sueoka Family Obutsudan

“Our Obutsudan was inherited from my great-grandma. My mom thinks it was purchased in 1960. I always took our Obutsudan for granted until I learned that it has been passed down from my great-grandma and grandma. It is nice to have something in my home that represents my family.” - Sammy Sueoka

Nakashima Family Obutsudan

“The Obutsudan belonged to my great grandfather, Tatsuya Ichikawa. 

On the Obutsudan: we put some macadamia nut cookies as an offering, but in these middle is amida, then there's an empty candle stand on the top left and a little Shakyamuni buddha on the top right.”

Yokoyama Family Obutsudan

“I was given this Obutsudon from Rev. Castro. Seattle Betsuin used to have an Obutsudon adoption program from which I was able to receive it. I recently moved apartments and this image was from the first time i set it up.” - Jason Yokoyama

Obutsudan of Amanda Borges

“A friend got me the Buddha statue from Hong Kong. The little cabinet behind the Buddha I got at the Sacramento Bazaar, and I received the onenju from a YBA conference. Having them in my room is just a constant reminder of my beliefs and principles that I strive to follow each day. Even when I don’t go to the temple each week I still have something that reminds me of the Buddhist teachings.”

Gee Family Obutsudan

“My grandma’s Obutsudan came from my grandpa’s mom. My grandma said that it was in my grandpa’s family and she received it from my grandpa’s mom, who was from Koyasan school. According to my grandma, someone from his family was a minister at Koyasan, so they were heavily involved in shin Buddhism there.” - Morgan Gee

Imamura Family Obutsudan

“Our family Obutsudan was an inheritance from my great grandfather (ironically my dad who grew up Christian, his grandpa). He kept it in the corner of the dining room for years until he passed at the age of 100. I’m not sure when it was purchased however my dad can remember as long as he’s been alive (56yrs) that it was in the exact same corner of the dining room until grandpa Shiba passed. I am grateful to have such a precious item. The other Obutsudan was from a salt lake Buddhist church dharma school project where we assembled our own Obutaudan and if I remember correctly the written “Namo Amida Butsu” was written by the late shodo master and Tokudo recipient, Masami Hayashi.” -Trey Imamura

Obutsudan of James Amioka

“This Obutsudan was made by my best friend and fellow Sacramento Buddhist church member Jim Watkins. My younger brother needed an Obutsudan since I inherited the family one and Jim was starting to make urns and Obutsudans as a business. He has made several since each being a one of kind piece of art handcrafted with the family in mind with each piece he has a Facebook page of his urns and Obutsudans. If I didn’t have the family piece I would have gotten one from him it was built probably early 2000’s.”

Kinoshita-Chu Family Buddha Statue

“I made the small Obutsudan in Dharma school. It sits in our windowsill near the dinning room table.”  -Evan Chu

Makishima-Tsukahara Family Obutsudan

Obutsudan of Marissa Wong 

“My scroll and Buddha are a way for me to remind myself of what is really important in life and reflect on the past and our impermanence so that I can live in the present and be grateful for all I have. I carried a small Obutsudon with me to Seattle because it had only been a year since my dad passed away and I wanted a way to be reminded of him.”

Imamaura Family Obutsudan

“This Obutsudan came from the Salt Lake Temple when we all made one. Right now it is where I put all of my memorial pieces for friends and family that have passed away.” -Mitch Imamura

Nakano-Chan Family Obutsudan

“The Buddhist side, Taylor made it in Sunday school class when she was about 8 years old. It is made from an Altoid mint container. Other stuff is acquired from her Grandma (my mom). The other side is based on my husband’s side of the family which also practices Confucianism. Some stuff was acquired through his parents and I bought a few things from goodwill from both sides.” -Cheryl Nakano-Chan

Nakano-Matsumoto Family Buddha

“This Buddha lights up different colors. I think my mom bought it somewhere. I just took a picture of it because I thought it was cool and we never turn the light on.” - Devon Matsumoto

Ohtani Family Obutsudan

Sueoka Family Obutsudan

“Our Obutsudan was inherited from my great-grandma. My mom thinks it was purchased in 1960. I always took our Obutsudan for granted until I learned that it has been passed down from my great-grandma and grandma. It is nice to have something in my home that represents my family.” - Sammy Sueoka

Horn Family Obutsudan

“We were given our family Obutsudon by my aunt and uncle, Fusako and Jack Shimizu. Inside, I keep a small ojuzu bag which was given to me as a young child by Reverend Sunya Pratt, who was a good friend of my grandmother. I display our Obutsudon in a central place in our home where I see it daily and it reminds me to live by the Buddha’s Teachings” - Pam Shimizu Horn

Obutsudan of Allison Tanaka

“I built my own personal Obutsdan with Buddhist related objects that I brought with me to college. It makes my room feel more like home because it reminds me of the constant presence of the Dharma. My Obutsdan is subject to change with what I collect and find meaning in. Wherever I live in the future, I will always have a shrine or Buddhist element to connect me to the Nembutsu teachings.”

Gee Family Obutsudan

“This is my family’s and was my mom’s Bachan’s. So, she inherited it from her. The history of it is that Bachan came from a Buddhist family and they started a temple up north (my mom can’t remember which one) and they started the sangha out of their house. So my mom thinks, but doesn’t know, it has been passed down for a while. before my mom got it. The Obutsdan was restored and that’s why it’s so “new” looking.” - Morgan Gee

Yamagiwa Family Obutsudan

“My Obutsudan was inherited in 2005 from my great uncle after he passed away. Both of my aunt’s felt that I would appreciate the sentiment and importance of the Obutsudan the most, coming from a family that regularly practiced Buddhism. As a kid, I never really understood why we had an Obutsudan, but as I got older, I began to see it as a way to honor and remember loved ones that have passed.” - Gillian Yamagiwa

Inokuchi-Matsumoto Family

Kinoshita-Chu Family Obutsudan

“I made the small Obutsudan in Dharma school. It sits in our windowsill near the dinning room table.”  -Evan Chu

Marisa Eng

“We all made one in Dobo Gako at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple. It reminds me of Japanese and shodo class that we would take after church on Sundays.”

Mitsunaga-Eng Family Obutsudan

“Our Obutsdan was from my mother’s side, I know it is at least 3 generations. All I remember is that I used to meditate and chant with my Obachan and Ojichan every night when I was just 3 or 4 years old with them. Even though I was just a very young child, I have very distinct memories of meditating with them each night after dinner. My grandmother was blind but she raised me and had a significant influence on my life. I think that is why I have a strong following for the Buddhist religion. My grandmother really followed and lived the life of the nebustsu and truly was one of the kindest and compassionate persons I have ever known.” -Faye Mitsunaga

(Miyeko) Tanaka Family Obutsudan

Nakano-Furubayashi Family Obutsudan

“I am holding the Obutsudan for my nephew Devon. It was my mom's Obutsudan but my sister will know the history.  The obstudan reminds me of family and religious traditions.  It’s a place to go and talk to your family members and to honor them by placing some of their favorite treats and saying Namu amida bustu.” -Joy Nakano-Furubayashi 

“Grandma and grandpa didn’t have a lot of money but they felt it was important to have a nice Obutsudan to honor those who had passed away. When they had an opportunity to purchase one, they saved for it. We were always reminded to share our treats at the Obutsudan before we were able to enjoy them ourselves. I still do this - whenever I remember, especially when I have a special treat. It reminds me of grandma and grandpa and the things they enjoyed.” - Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto

Nakano-Matsumoto Family Obutsudan

“Our Obutsudan was purchased when the kids were all young. We had several different Obutsudans that we had when we were in Dharma School made of paper or kamaboko boards or plastic. As we had young Dharma School kids we thought it was important to have a nice Obutsudan at home. It is a beautiful Obutsudan but I still like the old one that grandma and grandpa had, and the very old plain one that Bachan had.” - Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto

(Roy) Matsumoto Family Obutsudan

“The Obutsudan was inherited. It was brought over when our Uncle Passed away.”

(Tsuneko) Matsumoto Family Obutsudan

“This is my bachan’s Obutsudan which was in their home in Rocklin, CA and is now in my grandma’s apartment in Sacramento.  She takes very good care of it and replenishes fruit and snacks very frequently.  It’s a way of connecting with the Buddha and honoring my jichan.” -Allison Tanaka