Berkeley Buddhist Temple was started over 90 years ago by Issei pioneers. The formal dedication of this temple was on February 13, 1921. This wedding portrait was taken only 4 years after this dedication.
--
Description
1 photographic print : sepia toned. | Portrait of Handa wedding party in front of shingled building, Berkeley Buddhist Temple, Berkeley, California, 1925-1927. Bride and groom stand in center on walkway in front of church, flanked by three girls carrying bouquets of flowers. The bride stands on R in white tea-length dress and a cap with veil down back while holding a bouquet of flowers. Groom stands at L in dark tuxedo; he has a thin mustache, eyeglasses and his hair is combed back. Two priests in kimono, necktie and vestsments stand to L, Rev. Matsuda, Rev. Hosho Sasaki (behind flower girl on L). Two women to the L of Matsuda is Chisato Kawamoto. Standing to the R and behind the bride in eyeglasses is Albert Shigeru Kosakura. Man seated in front row between little boy and flower girl is Heihachi Oda. Boy in cap standing to R of bench is Yukio Kawamoto. Third boy to the R is Sam Oda. Man at far R is J. Kami. Mustached man in tuxedo and bow tie standing next to two women in flapper hats and behind seated man and girl is Yehan Nemoto. Second man to the L of Nemoto, holding hat is Kumejiro Kawamoto. Men wear suits and some women wear coats and flapper hats. There is a small sign above the door to church, "Buddhist Temple."

Inscription
Written in blue ink on edges of photograph with lines pointing to individuals, T (L-R): Kumejiro Kawamoto, Yehan Nemoto, Chisato Kawamoto, Rev. Matsuda, Albert Shigeru Kosakura, Sam Oda, J. Kami. Written in blue ink on photograph with lines pointing to individuals, B (L-R): M/M Handa, Heihachi Oda, Yukio Kawamoto (Later YBA. Pres.). Written on border, B: Berkeley Buddhist Temple / (about 1929). Embossed on border, BRC: Tsuji Studio / Oakland. Stamped on back, C: Tsuji Photo Studio / 331 Sixth St. / Oakland California.

History
Reverend Matsuda assigned to Berkeley between 1925-1927, therefore date could not have been ca. 1929.

panoramic photograph
H: 8 in, W: 27 in

Tsuji Studio (Oakland, Calif.)

Berkeley, Calif., 1925-1927

(99.201.16)

Buddhist Churches of America Collection

To see other collections:
Japanese American National Museum Collections Online

Copyright is held by the Japanese American National Museum. Short-term educational use with limited circulation is permitted. For all other uses, please contact the Hirasaki National Resource Center at the Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org)