About

For over 75 years, our beloved Bazaar has always been something to look forward to and to reminisce. For one day in August, visitors and Sangha members alike enjoy a vast array of Japanese food, cultural events, music, and games.

The words “Thank You” are not enough to express our gratitude to the Greater Sacramento community for their patronage over the decades. It is through the continued support of our families, friends and visitors, as well as hundreds of dedicated volunteers, that enable us to keep this longstanding tradition alive as a highlight of the summer!

History

1947 marked the beginning of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento Bazaar, as the Japanese rebuilt their community following their forced removal from the West Coast by Executive Order during World War II. The Bazaar was primarily a social festival where church members and the local Japanese community shared good food, great memories and lasting friendships. In later years, the Bazaar was expanded to include Japanese cultural exhibits and demonstrations such as flower arranging (Ikebana), classical dancing (Odori), calligraphy, concerts, Taiko drum performances, and more.

Hundreds of volunteers, ages 7 to 90, invest thousands of hours to bring the Bazaar to life. We gratefully welcome back annual attendees and are thrilled to see new visitors, traveling from miles around, to join in the festivities. Proceeds from our Annual Bazaar support the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, as well as our affiliated organizations: Dharma School, youth basketball teams, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Sakura Gakuen Japanese language school for children and adults, among other groups at the temple.