Images from Toro Nagashi, Japanese Friendship Garden (Aug. 11 & 12)

Since at least the time of Rev. Kenji Akahoshi, the Temple has assisted with the Toro Nagashi Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. On Kenji Sensei’s retirement in 2020, Rev. Laverne Imori has taken over hosting duties, but this year Bill Teague, Certified Minister’s Assistant, was able to step in as our ordained Minister’s Assistants were out of town.

Bill said he was touched by the participants who told him how meaningful they found the ceremony. Many were there to remember a loved one who had passed away, often a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter.

Here’s a brief video from the first day of the two-day festival.

Fox 5 San Diego Video

Beautiful Days

Both days of the festival were beautiful, with picture perfect skies and good attendance.

Five sessions of lantern floating took place over the two-day festival. For each session, two queues of people lined up in opposite directions, along the lower level koi pond.

Sample Lanterns

Some sample lanterns appear below; drawings and messages were creative and unique to the maker. Lanterns shown were set out to dry to be picked up later.

The lower level koi pond, before the lines of people with their lanterns.

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