About Us – Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church

About SACBC

SACBC was established on May 26, 1961 and became independent from the Alameda Buddhist Temple on April 8, 1965. As a member of the Buddhist Churches of America, which has its headquarters in nearby San Francisco, we are part of the Jodo Shinshu branch, or what is also known as the Pure Land sect.

Services were held in homes, a grammar school and a hall in Fremont until the purchase of 3.5 acres in Union City on April 24, 1961. The temple was first built in the early 1960’s and classrooms were soon constructed next to the hondo in 1965. A shrine was donated by the Oxnard Buddhist Temple in March of 1967. Then, in the 1970’s the minister’s residence and Sangha Hall were built.

Affiliated and Associate organizations established includes: Japanese Language School (1964), Fujinkai/Buddhist Women’s Association (1965), Jr. YBA (1965), Dharma School (1965) Choir (1970), YABA (1994), Boy Scouts and O’ Nami Taiko group (1997).

In October of 2002, the Church celebrated 40 years in its current location in Union City, CA.

On Sept. 23, 2012, SACBC celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

The public is always welcomed to attend weekly Dharma Family Services held in English, led by Rev. Miyaji, Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. with Dharma School (Children K-12) and Cafe Dharma (Adult Discussion) immediately following the service.

The Church holds two major fundraising events per year: Annual Japanese Food Bazaar in July and our Obon Festival is held in August.

Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji has been a minister of the Tacoma Buddhist Temple since December of 2017 and concluded his position on July 31, 2020. As of August 1, 2020, Rev. Miyaji is currenlty the minister of Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church. In addition, he teaches at the Institute of Buddhist Studies located in Berkeley, California.

He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Japanese language and literature, Institute of Buddhist Studies at Berkeley, California with a Master’s in Buddhist Studies, Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan with a Master’s Degree in Shin Buddhist Studies, and completed the doctoral coursework at Ryukoku University. He specializes in the areas of Japanese Buddhism and religion, translation of Buddhist scripture, and Jodo Shinshu doctrine and ethics.

Miyaji received his Tokudo and Kyoshi qualifications at the Honpa Hongwanji school located in Kyoto, Japan. He also obtained the academic ranking of hokyō recognized within Hongwanji. He most recently completed his doctoral dissertation entitled, “Shin Buddhist Ethics,” through Ryukoku University.