SOTO ZEN MISSION OF SAN FRANCISCO - SOKOJI

1934-Present

1934	Founded by Reverend Hosen Isobe and Japanese-Americans in San Francisco
Dec  1934	Founders purchase the Bush Street Synagogue at 1881 Bush Street, San Francisco (the original Sokoji temple building). Dedication ceremony performed.
May 1937	Incorporated in the State of California
April 1942	Temple closed due to World War II (payments toward the purchase of the building continued voluntarily by congregation members from U.S. relocation camps)
1948	Temple re-opened for services by Reverend Rien Takahashi after World War II
1950	Reverend Hodo Tobase assigned to Sokoji. Reverend Tobase begins lectures for a small of group of non-Japanese speaking Soto Zen followers.
Aug 1951	Fujinkai (Women's Club) officially recognized
1959	Reverend Shunryu Suzuki assigned to Sokoji
1961	Reverend Shunryu Suzuki established Zen Center at Sokoji for non-Japanese speaking members to practice zazen (meditation)
1967	Reverend Shunryu Suzuki founds Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Zenshiji
1969	Reverend Shunryu Suzuki resigns from Sokoji in order to lead the San Francisco Zen Center at 300 Page Street San Francisco
1970	Soko Joshi Judo Class by Professor Keiko Fukuda is established. Fukuda Sensei was the highest ranked female judoka in history (10th dan from the US Judo Foundation).
1970	Reverend Daigo Moriyama assigned to Sokoji. New style Goeika, Baika, (Sutra chanting) is introduced by Reverend Renpo Niwa from Japan. Sokoji Goeika group begins practicing Baika.
1973	Reverend Kyoin Fujikawa assigned to Sokoji
1970s	Sokoji Board of Directors begins discussing options to repair the temple located at 1881 Bush Street or build a traditional Japanese style temple in another location. The decision was made to build a new temple and a building committee was formed to oversee budget, fund raising, building plans, etc.
1978	Reverend Shozen Hosokawa assigned to Sokoji
1979	Shorinji Kempo Martial Arts School is established by Sensei Yuji Harada
1980	Construction of the new temple begins at 1691 Laguna Street, San Francisco
Apr 1984	Dedication ceremonies are held at the new temple
Feb 1986	"O-Jukai-E" (Receiving of the Precepts Ceremony) officiated by Renpo Niwa Zenji Abbot of Eiheiji
Sep 1988	Initial issue of "Baika" newsletter published by the Fujinkai
1992	Third United States Soto Conference is held at Sokoji
Oct 1994	Ceremonies for the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Sokoji and the 10th Anniversary of the new temple building are held/td>
1997	Reverend Ikki Nambara assigned to Sokoji
1999	Soto Zen Education Center moves to Sokoji. In 2002 the name is changed to Soto Zen Buddhism International Center.
2002	Reverend Kiko Tatedera assigned to Sokoji
Oct 2002	Pilgrimage to Eiheij for the 750th Anniversary of Dogen Zenji's Entering Nirvana
Oct 2004	Ceremonies for the 70th Anniversary of the founding of Sokoji are held
Oct 2009	Ceremonies for the 75th Anniversary of the founding of Sokoji are held
2012	Reverend Kiko Tatedera resigns to return to his family temple in Miyagi-ken, Shinryuin, due to the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami
2015	Reverend Koshi Kurotaki assigned to Sokoji