Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and its members as they celebrate their Centennial Anniversary.  The temple is located in downtown Los Angeles in my 34th Congressional District.

The Temple, which began in 1905 in Little Tokyo on Jackson Street and Central Avenue, was established due to the strong and faithful desire of the followers of the teachings of Buddha to have a place to congregate after emigrating from Japan.  The Issei (first generation) pioneers brought with them their Japanese culture, traditions, customs, and their Buddhist religion. 

In 1925, a new temple was built on the corner of First and Central streets.  The Temple - fondly called "Nishi" by Buddhists in Southern California - is currently housed in a traditional Japanese-style temple building on First Street in the eastern sector of Little Tokyo.  Nishi is one of sixty temples around the United States that make up the Buddhist Churches of America.

Since its inception, Nishi has continuously served its members and the Little Tokyo community.  Even during WWII, when the temple was used as an initial assembly site for many of the 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans who were evacuated from the west coast of the United States to internment camps, the temple provided the evacuees a haven to safely store their belongings until after the war.  Throughout their internment, Nishi ministers continued to administer to the faithful Buddhist members.
 
Today, the temple offers Sunday services, as well as services for weddings, funerals, and family memorials.  Nishi also provides a children's day care center, and community programs for youth and adults, such as sports and cultural activities. 

The Centennial Anniversary Celebration commemorates the dedication and commitment of the Issei pioneer members that laid the foundation of the temple.  It also commemorates the hard work of succeeding generations that built the temple as it stands today.  The addition of the new Wisteria Chapel and the Muryo Koju-do (nokotsudo-columbarium) were built as a centennial project to commemorate the pioneering members and to continue the legacy of the Issei for future generations.  The dedication service of this new addition to the temple will be part of the Centennial Celebration weekend of August 27-29, 2005.  Nishi members will also conduct a memorial service in honor of past members and ministers and host an evening banquet.

I congratulate the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and its members on reaching this historic milestone, and I join them in celebrating their 100th anniversary.