Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
In 2018 we started our Hare Kṛṣṇa center in Tsukuba, known for its research and scientific studies internationally and a city of pride in Japan for its innovations to improve health and the standard of living for communities locally and worldwide.
Now we have a vibrant, growing community with locals enthusiastically participating in learning Kṛṣṇa consciousness by studying Bhagavad-gītā As It Is in Japanese and embracing the lifestyle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is very challenging for the Japanese due to their conservative society and traditional lifestyles. Under the expert guidance of His Holiness Kavicandra Swami Mahārāja, and by sharing Your Divine Grace’s love and compassion, we are making friends with both Japanese people and expats, keeping the cultural sensitivity, serving them prasādam, and serving them with kirtan music and the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. With Mahārāja’s guidance we are serving those in Japanese bodies.
In this journey over the past eight years, we are helping the local Japanese through
- Cooking classes: teaching vegetarian recipes using local ingredients, which helps them to prepare them in their homes. We also teach a few Indian recipes, such as samosas, kachoris, chapatis, and various dals, which include protein.
- Classes in nutrition: especially teaching practitioners how to feel safe to replace meat with lentils and other vegetarian foods, which have all proteins and nourishment. This is helping Japanese families safely adopt a vegetarian diet and subsequently learn to offer the food to Kṛṣṇa’s pictures and honor it as prasādam.
- Teaching English through reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in English: This is for advanced students whom we meet online once a week. We are still in the First Canto, since we began reading the Bhāgavatam from the beginning. Here we read and discuss the word-by-word meanings given in your books so we can understand context and depth of Vedic culture, and its relevance to the present time.
- Home programs: These are vibrant and cozy programs, which all the Japanese like. We all come together, chant Vaiṣṇava bhajanas, read the translations of the verses, and discuss the pastimes in Japanese. We also relate some Japanese folktales and enjoy this sādhu-saṅga with prasādam and bonding. This is helping us to become friends, discuss your teachings through your books, sing together, and embrace the message of Lord Caitanya.
While all these things are happening, His Holiness Kavicandra Swami Mahārāja has expressed his desire to have more Kṛṣṇa conscious centers in Japan the way we have MacDonalds and Starbucks – high accessibility in every nook and corner. With this vision in the heart, my husband and I have thought of buying property for our Kṛṣṇa conscious center that can help us hold more diverse programs, such as retreats and educational activities with more accessibility for the locals.
We did buy land, but the construction costs increased a lot after COVID-19 subsided. Our son was boarding at university, and we geared up to build a center after discussing it with Mahārāja. He guided us that there should be no loan – we should stay simple and serve more.
We searched for more than two years and could not find an agent who could build a center that was within our budget without a loan. We were almost exhausted and kind of disappointed that we questioned whether we were on the right path. Then one day, we thought we would try one more time, and after this, halt for some time.
On that day, we found a place near the Tsukuba area – a Japanese house. We immediately rushed and spoke with the agent, who arranged a visit that same day. After a good amount of struggle, we bought the place for our Hare Kṛṣṇa Center in Tsukuba. It is a wonder Japanese Heritage House, 180 years old – a beautiful house with a history of a Samurai’s dynasty.
On this auspicious Vyāsa-pūjā of offerings to Your Divine Grace, we offer to Your Divine Grace our Hare Center in Tsukuba, Japan, and we all humbly beg that you bless us all that we continue to progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As per Mahārāja’s desire, we serve the locals and give more access to Kṛṣṇa conscious through retreats, educational activities within their cultural settings, and to make them welcome.
Your servants at the Hare Krishna Center in Tsukuba
Ujjvalā Gopī Devī Dāsī (RNS), Sudāmā Dāsa (KCS), and team