Toronto Nichiren Buddhist

Church

Our Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church originated with Nichiren Buddhist Reverends and Congregation who were Japanese immigrants living in Vancouver before WW2.

When WW2 broke out, Japanese immigrants had to enter into a concentration camp without any personal belongings and the Vancouver Nichiren Church was closed in 1941. However, the candle flame of Nichiren Buddhism never faded, even in the camp.

When the War ended in 1945, the Canadian Government ordered the Japanese immigrants to move to the east. The Vancouver Nichiren Church would never be opened again. The statue of Nichiren Shonin, which now resides in the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church, is the statue that the people worshipped in Vancouver before WW2.

1951    Rev. Yohaku Arakawa was the Chief Reverend of the Portland Nichiren Buddhist Church and he visited and researched the major cities of North America, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Hamilton and Montreal. He realized a need and founded Churchs in Chicago and Toronto. On November 2^nd Rev. Arakawa founded the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church along with the co-operation of Mr. Senzo Isojima, who lived in Toronto. Rev. Arakawa took upon himself to be the first Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church. Also, on September 9th he had moved to Chicago and founded a Church there. He held two posts as Chief Reverend concurrently, Chicago and Toronto.

1957    On September 21^st Rev. Zenkei Ezaki, who was the 3^rd Chief Reverend of the Vancouver Nichiren Church, was invited to Toronto and he was inaugurated as the 2^nd Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

1977    On February 24^th Rev. Ezaki passed away. Rev. Arakawa was inaugurated as the 3^rd Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

 1978    The present budding and land were purchased with the help of Mr. Shizuo Hozaki.

 1980    In August the opening ceremony for the new building was held.

 1983    In July, Rev. Koyu Suzuki was inaugurated as the 4^th Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

 1986    In April Rev. Kyoryo Okuno was inaugurated as the 5^th Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

 1990    In April Rev. Gyoken Kuroyanaga was inaugurated as the 6^th Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

 1992    Rev. Shingyo lmai was inaugurated as the 7^th Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

 1994    In July the 8th Exchange Program of American and Japanese Youth was held.

 1996    In March, Rev. Kant Tsukamoto was inaugurated as the 8^th Chief Reverend for the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church. On August 31, Rev. Arakawa passed away at his home in Virginia. U. S. A. at the age of 91. He had lived in the U. S. for 66 years.

 1997    In August we held the North America Overseas Reverends Conference.

2000    June 17^th and 18^th, we held the first Dharma Conference in Toronto.

 2001    October 21st we held the Memorial Ceremony for the 750^th Anniversary of Nichiren Buddhism and the 50^th Anniversary of the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

2007 March    Rev. Kenno Fukushima was inaugurated as the 9th Chief Reverend of the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church.

2010 October   Rev. Kenno Fukushima returned to Japan. 

2010 - Present   We invite ministers from the United States to perform our services: Bishop Shokai Kanai from "The Nichiren Buddhist Kannon Temple of Nevada", Rev. Ryuoh Faulconer from "The Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Greater New England", and Rev. Shogen Kumakura from "The New York Daiseion-Ji".

This year, Rev. Myoran Gifford, who resides in Ontario, performed our Sunday services.