OREGON BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Reverend Yuki Sugahara became the resident minister of the Oregon Buddhist Temple June 1, 2017. He is originally from Shimane Prefecture located just north of Hiroshima. He comes from a temple family on both his father's (Kōrinji) and mother's (Gokurakuji) side. Because he was born a son of a temple family he was able to receive his Tokudo Ordination in 1996, he was only a freshman in high school at that time.

 

During Reverend Yuki's junior year in high school he came to the United States and lived in Rochester, New York for a year as a Rotary Club exchange student to pursue his dream of becoming a translator for the United Nations.

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Reverend Yuki studied Political Science at the Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. During that time his mother suddenly passed away and it was shortly after that Reverend Yuki decided to get his Kyoshi Certification which he received in 2002.

 

In 2009 Reverend Yuki came to the United States to attend the International Ministerial Orientation Program at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, California. Then in July 2011 he was assigned to the Buddhist Church of Florin. Rev. Yuki also obtained a B.A. in Human Studies (major in Buddhist Studies) from Musashino University and M.A. in Buddhist Studies from Musashino Grad School.

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One of Reverend Yuki's hobbies is playing the bass guitar. After graduating from the university he played in a rock band called Jelly Belly.

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He also teaches Ying Jow Pai (Eagle Claw School) Kung Fu to the children, age of 7-12, on Tuesdays, 3pm - 4pm.