Welcome to Rev. Izumi and Mrs. Izumi

Rev. Yasuo Izumi was born in Kawasaki, and has an extensive education starting with a B.A. from Taisho University in Tokyo. He subsequently graduated from Tokyo Bukkyo Gaku-in Academy and studied at Ryokoku University, Dendo-in Academy in Kyoto. He has also studied at the Vancouver School of Theology, and received a Master of Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley.

After obtaining his training, Rev. Izumi came to southern Alberta and remained from 1970 to 1975. This was during the time when Honpa and Raymond had their own minister, and Rev. Izumi served the Northside, Coaldale, Taber and Picture Butte. So there are a great many people in southern Alberta who have fond memories of Rev. Izumi's time here and are very happy to see him return.

For almost twenty years, from 1975 until 1994, Rev. Izumi was the minister at the Vancouver Buddhist Church and the Fraser Valley Buddhist Temple. After this assignment, Rev. Izumi went to Toronto for three years and then returned to the lower Mainland in 1998 to be the minister of the Steveston Buddhist Temple.

Rev. Izumi is married to Sachi, and they have five children who are all on their own now. They have a Labrador Retriever named Hanako.

Rev. Izumi and Mrs. Izumi have come through a difficult time with this move and I know that all of the Buddhists in southern Alberta will open their hearts and show them the true meaning of western hospitality. Southern Alberta presents a challenging situation for any minister, so we are very grateful to the BCC for sending us an experienced minister and one who already is held in high esteem. There is tremendous potential for Buddhism in southern Alberta, and we know that Rev. Izumi brings the right talents to the job, a deep understanding of the needs of the Issei, and a knowledge of how to communicate Buddhism to the many non-Japanese who are searching for an alternative spirituality.

We are extremely pleased to welcome Rev. and Mrs. Izumi to southern Alberta, and we look forward to a long and productive association.