Koboji maintains a culture of indoor masking. Wearing well-fitted quality masks significantly reduces the risk of transmission. Because COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through the air, it is essential to improve air quality and ventilation to make indoor gatherings safer. The temple hall and downstairs social hall are open-air. Additionally, Corsi-Rosenthal Boxes built by volunteers are used to increase airflow and filtration. We encourage members to stay home if unwell. Temperature checks at the door are requested so that those with symptoms can excuse themselves. Most services are streamed online for those unable or who chose not to attend in-person. None of these strategies are meant to stand alone. Combined, they offer layers of precaution that support the safety and inclusion for the temple community.
HOSHI OMAMORI PICKUP
Your individually prepared and blessed hoshi omamori will be available for pickup following the service. If you do not attend the service but would like to pickup your omamori, please arrive after 11:30am to allow us to serve the congregation. Hoshi omamori will be available for pickup on February 5 from 11:30am until 2:00pm. If you requested your hoshi omamori be mailed to you, please allow two weeks for processing. Each family's omamori request must be weighed, packaged, and prepared for shipping. Hoshi omamori will be mailed beginning the week of February 13. If you did not receive your omamori by March 1, please contact the office for a tracking number. ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL HOSHI OMAMORI Your hoshi omamori was individually made according your birth year and star. It was then individually prayed over during the Goma Fire Rite. Please carry your new hoshi omamori with you or respectfully place it on your home altar. If you received more than one hoshi omamori in a packet, you may separate the omamori. Your old hoshi omamori should be returned to Koboji at November's saito goma service to be deconsecrated before the new year.
Learn more about the new omamori designs that will be available during your New Year's visit to the temple. These omamori are only available in-person beginning during the New Year's period. Other omamori, including those for your personal health, household, and vehicles will continue to be available at the temple. Due to the high volume of visitors, we are not able to offer online orders at this time. Please contact the temple office if you have any questions. ILLNESS RECOVERY The illness recovery omamori appeals to the universal energies for the recovery of sickness and illness. The prayer called tobyo heiyu was well known during Hawaii's plantation days when families would visit the "Odaisan" temple for healing. A Shingon ritual implement called katsuma is prominently featured on the front of the red or green omamori. Please carry this omamori for Kobo Daishi's compassionate healing. KID'S SAFETY Koboji's new kid's omamori features colorful and playful scenes from daily life. The prayers for this omamori are for safety, especially while travelling to and from school. Blue or yellow. Study, children's, and sports omamori are still available at the temple. HAPPINESS OMAMORI A colorful scene of falling sakura blossoms adorn the happiness omamori. This design, chosen by the late Archbishop Dean Zenei Okimura, evokes feelings of happiness. The happiness omamori reminds us of Kobo Daishi's promise to walk with us always. Available in red or blue. Koboji members have been mailed instructions to request a 2023 Hoshi Omamori. If you did not receive the request form in the mail, you may download it below. Hoshi omamori are carefully handwritten and then blessed during a goma fire rite conducted at the Hoshi Matsuri service, which will be held on February 5, 2023.
Each person should request the regular hoshi omamori. A special omamori should additionally be requested if a person's star is fully or partially black. Request forms are due to the temple office by January 9, 2023. Because each hoshi omamori is carefully hand written, a late fee may be assessed for requests received after this date. Unfortunately, no requests will be accepted on the day of the service. Additional information about the Hoshi Matsuri service will be sent to members in December 2022. Please contact the office with any questions.
The choba reception desk will be open by 8am for attendees to return their old omamori amulets and to receive their goma-gi prayer sticks. Instruction will be given on how to handle goma-gi. Attendees with goma-gi will participate in the service by throwing their prayer sticks into the holy fire. The ceremony will be officiated by Archbishop Esho Yagi of Myojo-In Temple of Hiroshima, Japan, with assistance from Rev. Bryan Zenju Yanagihara.
Please return your 2022 omamori at this service. Old omamori will be deconsecrated in appreciation for their protection of us throughout 2022. If you are unable to attend this service in-person, please come to the temple to receive your goma-gi before November and a minister will throw your blessed prayer stick into the fire. |