“Heart of Compassion, Words of Gentleness”

Dharma Talk by Reverend Gihan Unmo

Saturday, June 14 @ 11:00 a.m.

Via Zoom & In-person

“About ten years ago, I visited Nagasaki for the first time with a group of fellow monks. As someone with no personal experience of war, I was initially drawn to the city’s historical ties to Europe. However, I soon realized that the deeper story of Nagasaki centers on the lasting impact of the atomic bombing. During our visit, we explored the Peace Park, stood before the iconic Peace Memorial Statue, and went to the Atomic Bomb Museum to hear firsthand accounts. There, we met Etsuko Nagano, an 88-year-old survivor who shared her experience of the bombing on August 9, 1945, when she was just 16 years old. Her story left a profound impression on all of us.”

PERSONAL HISTORY

Reverend Gihan Unno graduated from the Science and Mathematics Program at Morioka First High School in 1988 and later earned his degree from the Department of Physical Education at Nippon Sport Science University in 1992.

After graduation, he worked for a ski wear brand before signing with the travel agency Top Travel Service to become a professional skier. Alongside his career as a ski athlete and coach, he also produced sports events and contributed articles to specialized sports magazines.

Representing Tokyo, he competed 17 times in the All-Japan Ski Technique Championships and was certified as a Demonstrator by the Ski Association of Japan.

At the age of 38, he entered monastic training at Sojiji, one of the two head temples of the Soto Zen school. Even after becoming the vice abbot of Eishoji Temple, he continued to represent Iwate Prefecture, competing in the All-Japan championships seven more times while deepening his study of Buddhism and religious outreach. In 2019 (Reiwa 1), he became the head priest of Eishoji.

Striving to create a temple that welcomes and brings people together, he regularly hosts terakoya (temple-based learning activities for children and youth) and zazen meditation gatherings.

Currently, he serves as a Specially Appointed Preaching Teacher (Tokuhafu Kyōshi) of the Soto Zen School and as a Missionary Preacher of Shōbōji Temple, traveling across Japan to share the teachings of Buddhism.

In 2020, he received the Iwate UNESCO Award in recognition of his temple’s terakoya activities.

(If you have any questions, please contact Myoki at programsteward@zcla.org)