Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple

Rev. Kaz Nakata

Interim Rimban

Rev. Kaz Nakata, M.A., M.B.A., has been a Kaikyoshi minister at Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple and oversee Visalia Buddhist Temple, Hanford Buddhist Church, Buddhist Church of Fowler, Reedley Buddhist Church, Dinuba Buddhist Church, and Buddhist Church of Parlier since August 2019. He joined Myoganji Temple in Hyogo Japan for his ministerial training in 2000. He received both Tokudo Ordination and Kyoshi Certification in 2001, and completed Kaikyoshi Overseas Minister Training Program at Kyoto Hongwanji International Department in August of 2001. Late 1990s, he studied Jodo Shinshu Buddhism mainly under Dr. Risho Ohta Kangaku, Dr. Ryusei Takeda and Prof. Naoki Nabeshima at Ryukoku University in Kyoto Japan.

In the U.S., he attended Sacramento City College for his English proficiency training under Prof. Barbara Toupadakis, and he completed a Chaplain training (Pastoral Counseling and Intervention) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He also received a Chaplaincy training by FEMA, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Joint Force Headquarters. In June of 2014, he acquired his M.B.A. under Prof. Melinda L. Swigart, focused on Management Strategies for a Religious Institution at Strayer University, Graduate School of Business with 4.0 GPA. In May of 2016, he completed the Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Concentration in Buddhist Studies at University of the West under Prof. Miroj Shakya, and received M.A. He developed the language skill of Sanskrit, and researched Sukhavativyuha (Sanskrit Pureland Sutra). In June of 2016, he was admitted to the doctorate program in Buddhist Studies as a PhD student at the University of the West under Prof. Darui Long, and he continues his research on the Pure Land Sutras in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Uygur. His additional research topics are Tanakh, The Holy Bible, Quran, Phenomenology, Pragmatism, and Analytical Philosophy.

Previously he served Buddhist Church of Sacramento, Ekoji Buddhist Temple, and Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple as BCA Kaikyoshi Minister and also he was endorsed by BCA to work as a Campus Chaplain at George Mason University, a Community Chaplain at Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management, and an interim hospital chaplain at Inova Hospital. In 2009, at the request of Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Rev. Kaz spoke at the Interfaith Hearing About Universal Healthcare at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington D.C. providing the Buddhist viewpoint on behalf of the Buddhist community. In June of 2014, he was invited as a special panelist to the Thai Buddhist Monk conference with his royal highness, King Bhumibol of Thailand. As his honor, he was nominated for a first Buddhist Chaplain at National Institute of Health in 2012.