The Los Angeles Gedatsu Church sits on Hill Drive in Rosemead, a quiet residential street in the western San Gabriel Valley, where members and visitors have gathered every Sunday morning for decades. The church is the southern anchor of Gedatsu Church USA, a small, Japanese-American religious community that teaches a nonsectarian path of gratitude rooted in a 1929 Japanese spiritual movement and shaped, in America, by internment, displacement, and rebuilding. Visitors arriving at ten o'clock on a Sunday are welcomed into a sanctuary centered on a wooden altar with three enshrined symbols, greeted by ministers and members who lead the service in plain English, and invited afterward for refreshments in the social hall. Newcomers need not convert, declare a faith, or even know what "Gedatsu" means to attend. The church's only request is that visitors come with an open mind and a willingness to pray.
From a Japanese Founder to a Sacramento Shrine in 1950
Gedatsu, a word that literally means "to undo," was founded in Japan in 1929 by Seiken Okano, who took the posthumous name Gedatsu Kongo. Born in Japan in 1881, Okano lived the first half of his life as a layperson. At the age of 48 he received divine revelation and devoted the remaining twenty years of his life to guiding others toward spiritual awakening and world peace. The Gedatsu teaching he established is strongly influenced by Shugendo, an ancient Japanese religious tradition that blends Shinto, Buddhist, and other native spiritual practices, and it embraces a nonsectarian philosophy: people of any religious background can practice Gedatsu without converting.
The establishment of Gedatsu in America is credited to two of Gedatsu Kongo's early disciples. Kenyu Kiyota, who left Japan for America at eighteen, met the founder during a visit home in 1937, studied intensively with him, and was instructed to return to the United States to propagate the teaching. During World War II she was confined with thousands of other Japanese Americans in a California internment camp, where she continued to teach Gedatsu to fellow internees. After the war, Kiyota, affectionately called "Mother Kiyota" by her followers, continued teaching among former internees in San Francisco and Sacramento.
Following Gedatsu Kongo's death in 1948, Mother Kiyota persuaded Eizan Kishida, then head of the Gedatsu Church in Japan, to come to America. In 1950 Kishida left Japan at age 45 and established the first Gedatsu Church in America in a rented room in San Francisco's Japantown. That same year, members who owned farmland in Sacramento erected a small shrine dedicated to the Universal Life Force on a corner of their property and celebrated the first Grand Festival in gratitude. The land was later donated, and the Sacramento "holy grounds" became the spiritual home of the American church. Beginning in the early 1950s Kishida, who had been given the title of bishop, and Mother Kiyota began commuting to Los Angeles, where members opened their homes for gatherings. Over the decades, larger church buildings were constructed in Sacramento and Los Angeles to accommodate the growing congregations, and the American services, practices, and ceremonies of the parent church in Japan were gradually adapted to meet the needs of a younger, English-speaking congregation.
Reverence for the Universal Life Force and Ancestral Gratitude
At the heart of the Gedatsu teaching is the principle of reverence to the Universal Life Force and respect toward ancestors. Members recognize that all life derives from a single Universal Life Force, often translated simply as God, which permeates the universe, creates and nurtures all living things, and directs the movement of celestial bodies, the changing of seasons, and human bodily functions. Alongside this reverence, members honor ancestors for the gift of life and the chance to live each day.
From this twofold reverence flows the practice of gratitude, which the church describes as its single most important attitude. Gedatsu identifies five sources from which every person receives immeasurable blessings: country, parents, teachers, society, and all living things. Members are encouraged to recognize these blessings in everyday life and to express thanks for them in thought, word, and deed. The teaching also emphasizes that all things in the world are interconnected and mutually supportive, that nothing exists by itself, and that unconditional gratitude dissolves complaint, argument, and blame.
The church takes a deliberately inclusive stance toward other religions. Its literature states plainly that no conversion is required, that integrating religious and spiritual practices encourages mutual respect, and that people of any faith may attend services, meditate, and study Gedatsu. This nonsectarian welcome is part of the founder's original vision and remains central to the American church's identity today.
The Altar and Its Three Symbols
The most distinctive feature of any Gedatsu sanctuary is its altar, on which three primary symbols of reverence are enshrined side by side. In the center stands the Universal Life Force, surrounded on the left by the Creative Principle and on the right by Gedatsu Kongo, the posthumous name of the founder. Devotional services weave together three key elements: the offering of prayer to the Universal Life Force and ancestors, the recitation of the Heart Sutra drawn from Mahayana Buddhism, and the performance of the Amacha holy tea blessing, in which members pour sweet hydrangea tea over memorial tablets to invite the spirits of the deceased to receive the offering.
The Creative Principle, known in Japanese as Gochi Nyorai, represents the inexhaustible life substance that allows the universe to continue its activity uninterrupted. The Gedatsu teaching holds that while the varied species of life differ in form, they all derive their existence from this single principle. Together the three symbols express the fullness of Gedatsu's worldview: a transcendent source, a sustaining creative force, and a human teacher who showed the way.
A Sunday at the Los Angeles Gedatsu Church
Sunday is the heart of the week at the Los Angeles Gedatsu Church. Each Sunday begins at ten o'clock in the morning, but the focus of the service rotates through a four-week pattern that gives members and visitors a different experience each week. On the first Sunday of the month, the morning is devoted to "Hiho" meditation, a unique Gedatsu practice that unifies heart, mind, and body with the Universal Life Force. The second Sunday brings the "Never Forgotten" Memorial and Prayer Service, a chance to honor deceased loved ones. The third Sunday is the formal Appreciation Prayer Service, conducted in English, with a sermon by one of the ministers, personal reflections from members, and group singing. The fourth Sunday centers on "Ajikan" meditation, drawn from the esoteric Buddhist tradition in Japan.
When a month contains a fifth Sunday, services are suspended, and the church offices are also closed. On regular Sundays, light refreshments are served in the social hall after the service, especially during holiday celebrations, and visitors and members are encouraged to stay for conversation and fellowship. Sunday School for children ages three through the teen years runs concurrently with the third-Sunday Appreciation Prayer Service, so families can attend together.
Church offices at 7850 Hill Drive are open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the sanctuary is also available for private meditation sessions and personal consultations by appointment.
"Never Forgotten": Honoring Those Who Have Passed
Every second Sunday at ten o'clock, the Los Angeles church holds its monthly "Never Forgotten" Memorial and Prayer Service. Members and visitors gather to remember loved ones, both members and non-members, who have passed away in that particular month. The Gedatsu teaching holds that the souls of departed family and friends remain close and continue to guide and protect the living. During the service, each soul being honored is called by name while the Heart Sutra is recited. Participants may step forward to offer incense and Amacha holy tea, or they may simply sit in silent prayer.
Refreshments and fellowship follow the service, and applications to add a name to the next month's list are available at the church or through the church's online resources. The service is open to anyone wishing to honor a deceased friend or family member, regardless of religious background.
Hiho and Ajikan: Two Forms of Meditation
The Los Angeles Gedatsu Church encourages regular meditation as a foundation for personal spiritual cultivation and offers guided group meditation practice twice a month. On the first Sunday the focus is Hiho, a sacred Gedatsu practice designed to unify the practitioner's heart, mind, and body with the Universal Life Force. On the fourth Sunday the focus is Ajikan, a form of meditation traditionally practiced in esoteric Buddhism in Japan. Regular practice of both is said to develop the intellect, strengthen the will, and calm the emotions, helping practitioners meet the everyday stresses of life.
Both Sunday meditation sessions follow the same gentle structure: an opening prayer, an instructional video on the practice, a period of seated meditation, a brief ancestor blessing, and a closing prayer. Private meditation sessions can also be arranged at the church by appointment. Throughout the year, brief periods of meditation are incorporated into the regular Sunday Appreciation Prayer Service as well.
Spring and Autumn Observances on the Calendar
Beyond the weekly rhythm of Sunday services, the Los Angeles and Sacramento churches share a year-long cycle of seasonal observances. Each February, members mark the founding of the Sun Spirit Monument, first dedicated by Gedatsu Kongo on the holy grounds in Japan in 1940. The monument's central image, a large red sun, symbolizes selflessness, fairness, and boundless compassion, and the Sun Spirit Service encourages members to cultivate these qualities in their own lives.
In the summer, the Benzaiten Water Appreciation Service gathers members to give thanks for water as a blessing of the Universal Life Force and to recognize water as a precious, limited resource. The traditional Japanese seasonal observances of Higan, observed at the spring and autumn equinoxes, and Obon, the summer remembrance of ancestors, are also kept, with services that have expanded to include respect for the country's ancestors: American pioneers, Native Americans, and the land itself. Dates for these services vary from year to year and are coordinated with each local congregation.
The year's two largest gatherings are the Spring and Fall Grand Festivals, held on the Goreichi holy grounds at the Sacramento Spiritual Center. Members from across the country travel to Sacramento for these celebrations, which express collective appreciation to the Universal Life Force and to the guardian spirits enshrined on the grounds. A distinctive feature of both festivals is the Saito Goma fire ceremony, an ancient Buddhist tradition performed before the stone statue of Fudo, in which participants burn wooden plaques inscribed with words of thanks for various aspects of their lives. The public is welcome to attend both Grand Festivals.
The Goreichi Holy Grounds in Sacramento
Since 1950 the Sacramento Spiritual Center has been the spiritual home of the American church, set on what members call the Goreichi, the holy grounds of Gedatsu Church USA. The original small shrine, erected on member-donated farmland in 1950, grew into a permanent sanctuary known as the Gochi Sanctuary, surrounded by various monuments and shrines dedicated to nature spirits, ancestors, and other figures in the Gedatsu devotional landscape.
The Sacramento church holds its own Sunday schedule: Appreciation Prayer Services in English on the second and fourth Sundays, the "Never Forgotten" Memorial and Prayer Service on the first Sunday, and Sunday School on the first and fourth Sundays. Office hours run Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Grand Festivals, Higan and Obon services, and other seasonal observances are typically held on these grounds, drawing members and visitors from across the region.
Sunday School and Youth Formation
Sunday School at the Los Angeles Gedatsu Church meets on the third Sunday of each month, simultaneously with the Appreciation Prayer Service. Classes welcome children ages three through the teen years and use simple activities, lessons, and value-based stories drawn from the Gedatsu teaching to introduce young members to ideas of gratitude, self-reflection, and respect for others. The program is designed to help build character in a relaxed, family-friendly setting, and parents are encouraged to bring their children along to the service.
Kendo, Nippon Kenpo, the Way of Tea, and Ukulele
The Los Angeles church grounds include a recreation hall adjacent to the main building, which serves as home to several ongoing programs open to the wider community. Gedatsu Dojo offers instruction in kendo, the traditional Japanese martial art of bamboo sword, footwork, and disciplined voice. Every practice session begins with a prayer before the altar in the dojo, and the instructors emphasize the same values at the heart of Gedatsu itself: respect, appreciation, courtesy, and self-awareness. Kendo classes meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings and accept students from age seven through adult.
The iForce Dojo, also based in the recreation hall, teaches young people ages five through sixteen the modern Japanese mixed-martial-arts discipline of Nippon Kenpo. Students wear traditional protective gear and gloves and learn striking, throwing, and ground combat in a structured environment designed to build self-confidence, mental and physical strength, and strong character. Classes meet from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
On Saturdays, the recreation hall hosts ukulele classes taught by professional musicians Stan and Rocena Tashiro. Three levels are offered: beginner at 9:30 a.m., intermediate at 10:30 a.m., and advanced at 11:45 a.m. The program, sponsored by the Gedatsu Church and the AIJO Foundation, accepts students from second grade through adult, and no prior musical experience is required.
At the Sacramento Spiritual Center, a tea ceremony class introduces students ages seven and older to Chado, the "way of tea." The beginner-level class meets on the fourth Sunday of each month at 11:30 a.m., immediately after the Appreciation Prayer Service. Intermediate instruction is also available, and drop-in attendance is welcome.
Personal Consultation and Pastoral Support
Ministers of the Los Angeles Gedatsu Church are available by appointment for personal consultations that address the practical and spiritual dimensions of daily life. Topics include personal spiritual guidance, personal and home blessings, instruction in meditation, hospital and home-wellness visits, funeral and memorial services, and weddings. Members of the congregation are encouraged to call the church office to arrange a meeting.
Membership and the Gedatsu Kongo Appreciation Fund
Becoming a member of the Gedatsu Church is described as a way of affirming personal commitment to spiritual growth and fellowship in the Gedatsu community. Individual annual membership is $60, with a $600 lifetime option available; family annual membership, including each child up to age 30 living at home, is $100, with a $1,000 lifetime option. Members receive discounts on certain services and use of church facilities for weddings, memorials, and similar occasions, and may participate in church decisions, including the election of Board members.
The Gedatsu Kongo Appreciation Fund provides sustaining support beyond general membership dues. Members who pledge $600 a year, payable as a lump sum, two biannual payments of $300, or twelve monthly installments of $50, join a recognition list published annually in the Gedatsu Companion newsletter. Donations to the fund are tax deductible.
A members-only portal, accessible by passcode, provides communications, images, and information specific to Gedatsu members. Members may also subscribe to the Gedatsu Companion, the monthly newsletter mailed in both paper and digital formats, and to the In Touch bulletin for ongoing updates between issues.
Sermons, Pamphlets, and the YouTube Channel
For those who cannot attend in person, Gedatsu Church USA maintains an active YouTube channel featuring recorded sermons, morning prayer, meditation instruction, the "Never Forgotten" memorial services, and excerpts from appreciation services. A library of PDF study guides is also available, covering the Gedatsu teaching, the Heart Sutra, the Saito Goma fire ceremony, the Amacha holy tea blessing, the "Never Forgotten" services, and a tour of the Goreichi holy grounds.
Sermons delivered by the ministers at recent Sunday Appreciation Services are archived as written texts on the church's resources page, and past editions of the Gedatsu Companion newsletter are available as well. The materials are shared freely with anyone curious about the Gedatsu study, regardless of membership.
The Ministers of Gedatsu Church USA
Bishop Teruo Okano serves as Bishop of Gedatsu Church USA and Chairman of Gedatsu-kai in Japan, providing spiritual and organizational leadership across both countries. At the Los Angeles church, Reverend Naoya Okano serves as Resident Minister, with Reverend Hisakazu Taki serving as Guest Minister. At the Sacramento Spiritual Center, Senior Reverend Akira Sebe serves as Senior Minister and Reverend Micaela (Mica) Rodriguez serves as Minister. Reverend Kazuo Yamada serves as Minister of the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii in Honolulu. Together these ministers carry on the work begun by Bishop Kishida and Mother Kiyota more than seven decades ago.
The Los Angeles Gedatsu Church, the Sacramento Spiritual Center, and the Gedatsu Church of Hawaii remain three points of a single community connected by a common altar, a common teaching, and a common commitment to gratitude. Members gather in two languages of practice, English and Japanese, to remember their blessings, to honor those who came before, and to encourage one another in the work of inner spiritual awakening.