Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, a historic community hub for Japanese and Japanese Americans in Seattle, is working to recover after a fire on New Year’s Eve caused significant damage. The blaze, determined to be intentionally set, began in the basement and spread throughout the temple, resulting in extensive smoke and water damage. The temple has been closed for restoration, with services temporarily relocated to a neighboring building, which houses Densho, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The fire damaged key parts of the temple, including the main altar in the main hall (Jp: hondo), which is being refurbished in Japan, as well as historical archives dating back to 1901. The archives contained valuable records of the temple’s history, including documents from World War II incarceration camps where many Japanese Americans were detained. While volunteers have been able to recover and preserve some items, many irreplaceable documents were lost.
The president of Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, Tyler Moriguchi, spoke of the emotional impact of the fire on the community. “There’s people that I used to see every Sunday that I haven’t seen for months,” Moriguchi said. “It’s especially hard for our older members. . . . The longer we’re not fully open, I think there’s just a chance of people losing those [social] connections.” (Seattle Times)
Efforts to rebuild the temple are ongoing, with US$450,000 raised so far to support the restoration and upgrade of the facilities, including improvements to the gym, heating, security, and audiovisual systems. The temple’s insurance has covered many of the cleanup costs related to smoke and water damage. The temple aims to reopen in stages by 2025, although the timeline has faced delays.
Seattle police charged Waylon James Williams, 42, with first-degree reckless burning, second-degree burglary, and residential burglary in connection with the fire. A judge has ordered Williams to receive mental health treatment.*
The temple grounds briefly reopened in July for the annual Bon Odori festival, a traditional Japanese celebration that honors ancestors, drawing nearly 3,000 attendees. The event offered a moment of reconnection for many community members, despite the ongoing renovations.
Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple has been more than a place of worship; it has served as a cultural center, hosting activities such as taiko drumming, youth programs, and social gatherings. For many, the temple is a vital link to their heritage and community.
The co-chair of the temple’s archives committee, Andrea Mano, emphasized the importance of preserving the temple’s history: “It represents the history of Japanese Americans in this area and we want to preserve it. We want to make it known.” (Seattle Times)
Despite the challenges, the temple community remains committed to rebuilding and maintaining their traditions. Temple members such as Janice Deguchi and Chris Grabowski, who have been attending services since 2007, continue to participate in the scaled-down weekly services at Densho.
“It’s not necessarily all about the fancy altar or fancy space,” said Deguchi. “It is ultimately about the Dharma, the message, and the sangha. So we have all of those things, even though we don’t have our temple back.” (Seattle Times)
As Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple continues its recovery, the dedication of its members and volunteers reflects the resilience of the community, keeping the spirit and teachings alive despite the physical challenges they face.
* Historic Seattle Buddhist Temple and Documents Destroyed in Fire (BDG)
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Seattle Buddhist temple recovering physically, spiritually after fire (Seattle Times)
Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
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