Visalia Buddhist Church

Visalia Buddhist Church (or Visalia Buddhist Temple) is a Buddhist temple in Visalia, California. It is an affiliate of the Buddhist Churches of America.

Visalia Buddhist Church
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
LeadershipRinban Kakei Nakagawa
Rev. Alan Sakamoto
Location
Location514 E Center Ave
Visalia, California
Geographic coordinates36°19′52.9″N 119°17′13.4″W / 36.331361°N 119.287056°W / 36.331361; -119.287056
Architecture
Date established1907
Website
https://visaliabuddhistchurch.org/

History

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After World War II, the Buddhist community in California struggled to recover due to the displacement of Japanese American citizens. Ministers from the Visalia Buddhist Church would travel to Bakersfield, California on a monthly basis to provide the community at the Buddhist Church of Bakersfield with religious services.[1]

Over the course of its development, the Visalia Buddhist Church has sponsored affiliated organizations including the Visalia Buddhist Church Club and the Samurais basketball team.[2]

Temple leaders have commented on the community's socially eclectic atmosphere due to its inclusion of people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.

References

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  1. ^ Waugh, Isami Arifuku; Yamato, Alex; Okamura, Raymond Y. (December 1988). "A History of Japanese Americans in California: Buddhist Church of Bakersfield". Five Views: An Ethnic Sites Survey for California. California Office of Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on 2001-07-02. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Visalia Buddhist Church YBA basketball team". Calisphere: University of California. 1976. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
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