Rev Kodo Umezu

 

Brief Biography

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Rev. Kodo Umezu was born in Fukuoka, Japan. He graduated from Ryukoku University in 1973 majoring in Buddhist Studies. He came to the US in the same year and was assigned to the Fresno Betsuin. He took a leave of absence from the BCA and went to the IBS in 1976 and received his MA.

 

He served in the US Navy for 4 years in order to immerse himself in the US culture and language. After being discharged, he was assigned to the Los Angeles Hompa  Hongwanji Buddhist Temple for seven years and the later to the Buddhist Church of Oakland. In 1996, he was assigned as the Executive Assistant to the Bishop under Bishop Watanabe and Bishop Ogui for 9 years.

In 2005, he became the first director of the BCA Center for Buddhist Education in Berkeley. In 2012, he was selected as Bishop of the BCA and served for two terms till he retired in March 2020.

 

He is currently serving as the President of the Jodo Shinshu International Office.  He is married to Janet Teraoka and has three children, Amy, Norio, and Michelle and one granddaughter, Mari.

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