Reverend Shuichi T. Kurai

Born in the town of Katada on the Shima Peninsula in Mie Prefecture, Japan, Rev. Shuichi Kurai came to Los Angeles in 1953. He was raised in East Los Angeles attending the First Street School in Boyle Heights, then Belvedere Elementary School before going on to Griffith Jr. High and graduating from Garfield High School in 1966.

After studying architecture at East Los Angeles City College, Rev. Kurai transferred to California Polytechnic University in Pomona where he majored in landscape architecture and park administration. In 1970, Rev. Kurai was drafted into the Army and served his duty in Heidelberg, Germany. He returned to Los Angeles two years later and resumed his education at Cal Poly.

In 1980, Rev. Kurai went to Japan and attended ICU University in Tokyo and after two years began his study of Zen Buddhism. He returned in 1983 to help his father with temple duties at Sozenji. In September of 1986, Rev. Kurai took over the temple after his father passed away.

Between 1987 and 1992, Rev. Kurai continued his priest training at Sojiji Soin Monastery in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. In 2001, while celebrating the 30th anniversary of Sozenji, Rev. Kurai became the 2nd abbot of the temple in a Shinsan Shiki (Mountain Climbing) ceremony.