Ministers of Rissho Kosei-kai
Dharma Center of Orange County

Rev. Takashi Yoshizawa
Director, Rissho Kosei-Kai International of North America
Email: KYoshizawa@buddhistcenter-rkina.org
Phone: (949) 336-4430

Rev. Takashi Yoshizawa serves as the Director of the Buddhist Center - Rissho Kosei-kai International of North America. He has been a member of Rissho Kosei-kai since 1955.

Before becoming a reverend at RK, Yoshizawa-san worked at several international financial institutions in Manhattan for 28 years. He has Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Culture from Sophia University in Tokyo. Rev. Yoshizawa now lives in Irvine, California with his wife Hitomi.

Rev. Ken Nagata
Email: KNagata@rkina.org
Phone: (949) 336-4430

Ken Nagata was born in in Tokyo. His Maui-born father met his Japanese wife while working in Japan. Nagata grew up near Yokohama. Although Ken was not involved, his mother and maternal grandmother were devoted Rissho Kosei-kai members.  His mother had weak health, and Rissho Kosei-kai teachings returned her strength and wellness. 

After high school, Ken moved to Los Angeles to pursue his interest in airplanes.  There he earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.  He was then hired by Rockwell International. Through his volunteer work with fatherless boys through the YMCA, Nagata began to explore religion. Upon his mother's suggestion, he visited Rissho Kosei-kai in Los Angeles, and then became an active member. In 2000, as the aerospace industry ebbed, Ken turned to missionary work for Rissho Kosei-kai.