About our Minister

Rev. Kiyonobu Kuwahara, the oldest son of a temple family in Kure City, Hiroshima, has been supervising minister of the Berkeley Buddhist Temple since January 2018. Rev. Kuwahara brings a positive and caring sense of enthusiasm and thoughtful, scholarly knowledge of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

Rev. Kuwahara has also served as: co-director of the BCA Center for Buddhist Education; coordinator for both the Jodo Shinshu Correspondence Course and the International Ministerial Orientation Program in the Hongwanji Office of the BCA Jodo Shinshu Center; and in the International Department of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha.

He has a master’s degree in Jodo Shinshu studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies, completed the Ph.D. program in Jodo Shinshu studies from Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan, a master’s degree in Jodo Shinshu studies from Ryukoku University, and a bachelor’s degree inEnglish education from Hiroshima University.

Rev. Kuwahara is married to his wife, Hitomi. They are the parents of three sons: Takato, Eight and Hiroto.

His favorite foods are American foods – including potato chips, pizza, hamburgers, and French fries!

Photography by The Visual Iza