The Bussei Script Collection
Finding aid created by Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego staff using RecordEXPRESS
Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego
2020
PO Box 22349
San Diego, California 92192-2349
(619) 338-8181
jahssd@sbcglobal.net
http://www.jahssd.org/
Title: The Bussei Script Collection
Dates: 1997-2005
Collection Number: AC 5
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 2 linear feet (4 boxes)
Repository:
Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego
San Diego, California 92192-2349
Abstract: A collection of the Buddhist Temple of San Diego monthly newsletter, the Bussei Script for the dates, January 1977 – November
2005.
Language of Material: English
Collection open for research.
The Buddhist Temple of San Diego holds the copyright to the unpublished materials. Restrictions may apply.
The Bussei Script Collection. Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego
Biography/Administrative History
The Bussei Script is produced in San Diego, California by the Buddhist Temple of San Diego as a newsletter for its members.
The origins of the San Diego Temple can be traced back to the Otay flood disaster of January 27, 1916. The flood killed eleven
Japanese residents and brought many of the early immigrants closer together due to their strong Jodo Shinshu upbringing. They
began to meet more frequently and also gathered on weekends at various locations to hold religious meetings. On May 19, 1926,
the upper floor of a building on Sixth and Market served as the first official Buddhist Temple of San Diego. The Temple remained
at that location for five years until, with a growing membership, it moved to its current location on 29th and Market St.
In the early years of the Temple, the Bussei Script was initially called the Kaiho and was a bulletin written in Japanese
and English. The version we know today as the Bussei Script was first produced in 1947 by the Young Buddhist Association and
serves to inform members of the various activities of the Temple.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Bussei Script Collection does not contain any of the earliest or current issues.
The contents are in both English and Japanese and are primarily related to news about Temple and community activities. The
newsletters provide information on recreational activities, special events, school announcements, donors, members and their
families, as well as summaries of board meetings and upcoming services.