About MBT

Current Resident Minister

Rev. Todd Tsuchiya became the Resident Minister of the Midwest Buddhist Temple in November 2023. Born in Minneapolis, Rev. Tsuchiya has been a lifelong member of the Twin Cities Buddhist Association (TCBA). He had a busy dental practice for over 27 years in Minneapolis and in 2015 he took the step to begin his ministerial studies at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, California. Rev. Tsuchiya, now retired from dentistry, earned his Kyoshi certification in August 2022 and served as MBT’s Assistant Minister under Rev. Ron Miyamura’s mentorship through October 2023. In addition to his responsibilities at MBT, Rev. Tsuchiya is the supervising minister for the Twin Cities Buddhist Association.

Rev. Todd has many ties to Chicago and MBT. In the 1980s he lived in Chicago to complete his dental residency at the University of Chicago. During that time he started attending MBT services and became involved in the MBT Taiko group. There he met his future wife Connie Taura. Though they lived in Minneapolis over the next several decades, they made frequent trips to Chicago to visit with Connie’s family and to bring their Kogen Taiko Group to perform at MBT’s annual Ginza Holiday festival. Connie and Todd have a son Kyle, who lives and works in Minnesota. Connie and Todd have relocated to Chicago but maintain very close ties to both Chicago and Minneapolis

Our Founding Minister

Our founder, Rev. Gyodo Kono, served our temple from 1944 until his death in 1975. Born on April 5, 1911, in Sakamachi, Hiroshima, he was the first of eight children of the Rev. and Mrs. Gyojo Kono. Young Rev. Kono received his degree in Shin Buddhism from the Ryukoku University in Japan, making him the 24th generation of ministers in his family.

Rev. Kono arrived in the United States on April 9, 1937. His first temple assignment was in Hanford, Calif. During WWII, he was sent to the Fresno Assembly Center in 1942 and then to Jerome and Rohwer, Arkansas Relocation Centers.

Upon his release from Rohwer in 1943, Rev. Kono moved to Chicago and founded the Midwest Buddhist Church (the original name for the Midwest Buddhist Temple) on July 10, 1944. Following the death of his father, he was asked to return to Japan to take over the Sairinji Temple, but chose instead to remain in Chicago and lead the Midwest Buddhist Temple. His longevity at one location is a testimonial in the ministerial field.

On Sept. 30, 1945, Rev. Kono married Grace Fumiko Nishi of Hanford, Calif., and their son, Ronald Tets Kono was born in Chicago in January 1953.

In 1964, Rev. Kono spearheaded the campaign to build our new temple. Seven years later, on Nov. 7, 1971, he proudly officiated the dedication ceremony of our Temple of Enlightenment. Rev. Kono personally selected the beautiful naijin (altar) that was subsequently enshrined on Nov. 26, 1972.

We lost our compassionate teacher, leader and friend on Dec. 30, 1975.

Recently Retired

Rev. Ron Miyamura retired in November 2023 after 50 years of ministerial service to the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA), the BCA Eastern District Temples and to the Midwest Buddhist Temple. Rev. Miyamura served as the minister of the Midwest Buddhist Temple from 1973-1981 and 2010-2023. We are grateful for his dedication to our temple and wish him well in his retirement.