Our Minister

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.