SANGHA SPOTLIGHT
Kaori Sakauye has many brilliant facets like a diamond. She’s a caring and loving wife and mother, an incredible Taiko instructor, active in the community and makes time for athletic activities.
Kaori was born and raised in Saitama, Japan which is located near Tokyo. She attended a childhood temple for funerals and memorial services when she was young but didn’t know it was also a Shingon Temple. When her father became very ill in 2008, Rev. Fukuda gave her a booklet containing the Heart Sutra to read every day. When her father passed, she learned that her whole family in Japan follows Shingon Buddhism and she felt that it wasn’t just a coincidence that she teaches taiko at the Koyasan Temple. She travels to Japan twice a year to visit her 92-year old mother and older brother and also video chats often. Other relatives include a niece in Hong Kong and a niece in England.
Did you know Kaori and Dave got married in the Koyasan Temple officiated by Reverend Asahi in 2002? Dave and their son, David, have been involved in Karate for many years and support the Temple’s fundraisers. David currently attends CSU, Sacramento and you may remember David’s Boy’s Scout Eagle Scout project of painting the interior of the Social Hall, Hallways, and bathrooms. A great improvement to our facilities.
Taiko led Kaori to Koyasan. She was part of the Sacramento Taiko Dan when her instructor, Tiffany, asked if she would assist her teaching at Koyasan. Tiffany stated if she wanted to be a great instructor she should go to Japan and learn from a professional Taiko instructor. So off she went to Japan for two years to study and then returned. With her leadership, the Taiko group performs an average of 40 performances per year. Wow! The exposure has been great as the number of performances grow each year. She has recruited Greg Wada to assist her in classes. She also teaches at the Hart Senior Center on J Street once per week.
Her love for taiko also led Dave and her to the Drum Circle at a Dignity Health memory care facility twice a month. Some residents cover their ears when they see her coming. Class ends with drumming to John Denver’s Country Road and the American favorite, Take Me Out to the Ballgame. What an hour of enjoyment for the residents! 
Kaori loves the outdoors: standup paddle boarding at Lake Natoma and Lake Tahoe and in Japan; has completed 10 full marathons and 70 half marathons (wow, many hours of training); and enjoys walking or slow jogging around her neighborhood!
An activity that brings her joy is volunteering in the Asian Community Center Senior Services Friendly Visitor/In-Home Respite Program. She spends two hours, twice a week with different families to provide respite for the caretaker and an opportunity for the resident to visit and share with Kaori.
BUT her real compassion is Hello Kitty! While in Japan, she was in heaven when visiting the Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary exhibit. Look for her Hello Kitty and friends when you see her. Hint: purse or necklace!
Kaori is surely one of Buddha’s shining jewels!
