1989 - Foundational Interpersonal Encounters 1/2
In 1989 a Japanese businessman, Mr Kenji Toda, arrived in London. His business soon brought him into contact with members of University College London (UCL). As a result of his own deep spirituality, born of his long ties in Japan with Shogyoji Temple, and the sincerity of the people that he encountered through UCL, he soon developed firm friendships with them.
1989 - Foundational Interpersonal Encounters 2/2
From that time onward, this group of friends continued to deepen their mutual feelings of respect and trust towards one another. It was this foundation that later led to the establishment of Three Wheels, Britain’s first Shin Buddhist temple.
1993 - Echoes of Earlier Encounters 1/3
Through his collaboration with UCL Mr Toda discovered that its relationship with Japan is a long-standing one. The first five Japanese students ever to study outside Japan came to UCL from the Choshu domain in 1863 and were soon followed in 1865 by fourteen young men from Satsuma. Between them the two groups subsequently formed the first Meiji Government and founded modern Japan.
1993 - Echoes of Earlier Encounters 2/3
In 1993 it was planned that a monument commemorating the original Choshu and Satsuma students be erected within the precincts of UCL. On hearing that Gagaku, a traditional form of Japanese Court music, was to be performed at the unveiling ceremony, Mr Toda explained to the organisers the long history of Gagaku performances at Shogyoji.
1993 - Echoes of Earlier Encounters 3/3
As a result Gagaku performers from Shogyoji were invited to London to take part in the ceremony. Fuelled by their experience of this event, a fruitful series of encounters took place involving some of the Japanese and British people who participated in it.
1993 - The London Eza 1/2
Later that same year the Head Priest of Shogyoji Venerable Chimyo Takehara sent Professor (later Reverend) Kemmyo Taira Sato to London with the threefold aim of further developing these profound friendships, increasing Anglo-Japanese understanding and promoting spiritual exchange.
1993 - The London Eza 2/2
It proved to be a great success and increasing numbers of people from Shogyoji began to visit Britain to support this project. It was at this point that the first London Eza meetings started. These were held at the house of Mr Toda and attended by his friends living in the U.K.
1994 - Establishment of Three Wheels 1/2
In 1994, when Mr Toda relocated back to Japan, it was decided that a suitable property be bought for the continuation of the Eza meeting and for Professor Sato to indefinitely extend his stay.
1994 - Establishment of Three Wheels 2/2
Shortly afterwards Three Wheels was established in Acton, London as a permanent meeting place, and Rev. Sato was joined by his wife, Hiroko, who would become another pillar of the growing community. Soon, many others joined these friends and Three Wheels continued to develop.
1994 - Creation of the Zen Garden 1/3
Soon after Three Wheels was established, a project to build a Zen Garden in its grounds started. Japanese, British and friends from many other nationalities began the building work in June 1994.
1994 - Creation of the Zen Garden 2/3
The Garden was designed by an Englishman, Professor John White, based upon his many admiring visits to the Zen gardens of Kyoto; and the construction work was supervised by a highly respected master gardener from Kyoto, Mr. Masayuki Ogawa. Mr John Read designed the garden viewing shelter.
1994 - Creation of the Zen Garden 3/3
The garden was finished in July of 1996. It had taken almost two years to complete and had required the work of numerous individuals. People of many nationalities, men and women, students, doctors and professors, the young and the not so young, all contributed their time. In the process of creating the garden, the garden itself became the creator; nurturing and deepening the friendships of all those involved.
1997 - Inauguration of the Buddha Shrine
In 1997 the new Buddha Shrine was installed and a combined inauguration ceremony for the new shrine and the Zen garden, held on 29th of June 1997, was overseen by Ven. Chimyo Takehara, head priest of Shogyoji. The Buddha statue was donated by Prof. John White, and the Buddha’s halo designed by Mr Keri House.
1997 – First Reconciliation Ceremony to Pray for World Peace 1/2
At the request of Mr Masao Hirakubo, a WW2 veteran, There Wheels began holding an annual reconciliation ceremony to pray for world peace. Since then many British and Japanese war veterans who had suffered in the terrible battles in Burma, and who had nothing but hatred for their enemies, were amazingly able to meet and reconcile, and at last be able to find peace. They were even able to form strong friendships with their once enemies.
1997 – First Reconciliation Ceremony to Pray for World Peace 2/2
In light of his work with the Reconciliation movement and other contributions to Anglo Japanese relationships, in May 2019 of this year Rev. Sato was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor, a very prestigious award. When Rev. Sato accepted this honour on behalf of all the people involved in the reconciliation movement, especially the late Mr Masao Hirakubo.
1998 - First Spring School
The first Spring School was held in 1998, and since then it has taken place almost every year in early Spring. It has enabled groups of young people from Japan, mainly teenagers, to undertake a “Journey to Discover Oneself”, and to encounter other in the setting of a country with a different social structure, culture, language and landscape. During their three week stay, Buddhist educational sessions are interspersed with visits to sites of interest both in London and in the country.
2003 – Ordination and Confirmation Ceremony
On 15th June 2003, the Dharma Lord of Tokyo, Higashi Honganji, His Eminience Otani Koken honoured Three Wheels with a visit, and conducted ordination and confirmation ceremonies for various members of the community.
2006 – Arrival of Rev. Kenshin Ishii
In 2006 Ven. Chimyo Takehara, head priest of Shogyoji, appointed Rev. Kenshin Ishii to be Deputy Director of Three Wheels and assist Rev. Sato with the development of the nenbutsu movement at Three Wheels. Soon afterward, Rev. Ishii was joined by his wife Sanae and his two children, bringing much new energy to the community.
2007- Construction of the Brookwood Stupa of Namu Amida Butsu 1/2
In the summer of 2007, under the supervision of Masayuki Ogawa, a Stupa to contain the ashes of departed Buddhists of all traditions was constructed in Brookwood Cemetery outside London. The scheme originated in a bequest by Reverend Zenko, a Zen Priest who died on 19th February.
2007- Construction of the Brookwood Stupa of Namuamidabutsu 2/2
Venerable Chimyo Takehara decided that, as the best way to use the bequest, it should go towards building a Stupa, and this idea was warmly welcomed by Reverend Zenko before he died. The stupa now contains the ashes of many dear departed members of the Buddhist sangha.
2008 - Development of the Twice-Yearly Shokai Retreat 1/2
Witnessing the spiritual development of the Three Wheels sangha, Rev. Kemmyo Sato obtained the blessing of Ven. Chimyo Takahara to start a special retreat as an opportunity for nenbutsu followers to deepen their faith-experience, The first Shokai Retreat was held in May 2008 and has subsequently been held every Spring and Autumn.
2008 - Development of the Twice-Yearly Shokai Retreat 2/2
The two characters in the term ‘Shokai’ mean respectively ‘letting flow’ (sho) and ‘opening’ (kai) and thus describe a period of spiritual practice designed to allow the waters of faith to flow freely both in the individual and inter-personal dimensions.
2009 – Building on the Foundations 1/2
Over the past decade and a half, the sangha has continued to develop with many U.K. Dharma friends going to Shogyoji in Japan to undertake introspection retreats, attend training assemblies, and undertake pilgrimage.
2009 – Building on the Foundations 2/2
The sangha has also navigated and grown through the challenges of the Covid pandemic, and the loss of members to old age and illness. Among many developments, we now offer many activities online as well as in person, have a romanised chanting book, and have incorporated English into appropriate parts of the liturgy.
2024 – A New Step Forward 1/2
In April 2024, following the retirement of Rev. Kemmyo Sato, Rev. Kenshin Ishii was appointed as the new Director of Three Wheels.
In May, Venerable Keimei Takehara was inaugurated as the 16th Head Priest of Shogyoji, the head temple of Three Wheels. With this, both Shogyoji and Three Wheels took a new step forward, cherishing their traditions while opening new paths for the future.
2024 – A New Step Forward 2/2
In December of the same year, Venerable Keimei Takehara, together with Mrs. Sanae Takehara, the temple's responsible guardian, were warmly welcomed to Three Wheels from Shogyoji for the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Three Wheels, marked by a special commemorative service.
In June 2025, both Venerable Master Chimyo Takehara, former Head Priest of Shogyoji, and Venerable Keimei Takehara, the present Head Priest, attended the unveiling of a memorial monument at Brookwood Cemetery in honour of the late Professor John White. Together, these occasions symbolised the transmission of the Dharma to a new generation.