Reverend Yukei Ashikaga (1929-2023) served as minister at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago for over 50 years. Born in Aichi, Japan, Rev. Ashikaga experienced the tragedy of war when his family’s temple was destroyed, and his mother and sister perished due to the bombing of Tokyo in April 1945.

He first served as an overseas minister in Hilo, Hawaii in 1958, then relocated to Chicago and became an assistant minister at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago in 1961. He served as head minister from 1981 until his retirement in 2013.

During his long service to the temple, he directed the choir, served the Boy Scouts program as chaplain, led the Japanese language school, taught calligraphy and the martial art of iaido, enhanced the education center by inviting great thinkers in Buddhism as speakers as well as being active in community groups.