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Conference History
Conference History
Under the leadership of Bishop Kenko Yamashita and Bishop Gyokuei Matsuura, the directors of the Soto Zen Buddhism North America and Hawaii Offices respectively at the time, the first “US Mainland and Hawaii Sotoshu Conference” was held at Zenshuji Betsuin and Hotel New Otani in Los Angeles on October 7-9, 1988. The conference enabled the many Nisei (second generation Japanese American) members from the Hawaii and west coast temples to network and stay in contact with one another. Since then, the gathering has been held every two to four years, with the responsibility of hosting changing hands after each conference.
1st US Mainland and Hawaii Sotoshu Conference
October 7-9, 1988 Zenshuji Betsuin and Hotel New Otani, Los Angeles, California
2nd US Mainland and Hawaii Soto Conference
October 7-8, 1989 Hawaii Betsuin and Hawaii Regent Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
3rd US Mainland and Hawaii Soto Conference
October 31- November 1, 1992 Sokoji and Miyako Hotel, San Francisco, California
4th US Mainland-Hawaii Soto Conference
October 7-8, 1995 Kuilima Resort, Kahuku, Hawaii
5th Mainland-Hawaii Soto Conference
October 26, 2000 Imperial Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
6th U.S. Soto Conference
October 24-26, 2003 Hawaii Betsuin and the Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
7th U.S. Sotoshu Members Conference
October 21-22, 2007 Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
8th U.S. Soto Conference
March 10-11, 2012 Hawaii Betsuin and the Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
9th U.S. Soto Conference
Oct. 26th, 2019 Golden Nugget Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic wiped out plans for the conference to meet again in 2021. We are excited to resume having this conference after such a long pause.
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