Photo Photo By Margaret Abe/Strictly Candids

The Jun Daiko (taiko drums) entertain guests at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple’s 50th anniversary event.

Nearly 500 people gathered to celebrate the Mountain View Buddhist Temple’s 50th anniversary Sept. 29.

With traditional court music playing, children dressed in pink and green robes led the formal processional with the Rev. Dean Koyama and eight fellow ministers from other temples. Others followed, carrying candles, flowers, fruits and rice offerings for the special Buddhist ceremonial service.

The event included congratulatory messages from Bishop Rev. Kodo Umezu and Mountain View Mayor Mike Kasperzak, as well as remarks from keynote speakers Traci Inouye and Bruce Morimoto. NBC Bay Area TV’s traffic anchor Mike Inouye, a Mountain View High School graduate, served as master of ceremonies and presided over the evening’s speeches and entertainment by various temple organizations.

Amy Imai and Aiko S. Miyamoto co-chaired the event.

In the 1930s, local Buddhists established the temple to serve Mountain View, Los Altos and Sunnyvale. In 1954, they purchased a 1.5-acre site, now 575 N. Shoreline Blvd., where they built the temple and a social hall. Construction was completed in 1957.

The Buddhist Churches of America granted the Mountain View Buddhist Association independent status in 1961. The Rev. Sensho Sasaki was the first resident minister. Later, temple members purchased additional land to build a gymnasium, educational wing and minister’s residence. The present temple was completed and dedicated in 1979.

To the general public, the temple is best known for its annual Obon Festival, a celebration of Japanese food and culture, held every July.

For more information, visit mvbuddhisttemple.org.

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