Thanks for your interest in the BCA Bookstore. We've moved from the BCA Headquarters in San Francisco to the new Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley. The bookstore's manager is Gayle Noguchi.

We will be adding extra features as new items are introduced, so come back regularly.

Bringing the Online BCA Bookstore into the 21st century also allows us to be open virtually 24 hours, 7 days a week. There's a good chance you might catch us during off hours to answer any questions you may have -- online that is.

You can contact us at: sales@bcabookstore.com or by phone at (510) 809-1435; Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are now open Saturdays for your convenience.

We are located at: 2140 Durant Avenue in Berkeley, CA 94704

For directions, click here for a Yahoo map.

Brief History of the Bookstore

The Buddhist Bookstore was officially registered with the State Board of Equalization in October 1959. Buddhist books in English were primarily sold to members of the BCA. Prior to this date, the Sunday School Materials Department under Rev. K. Fujinaga sold books and educational materials for children. With the organization of the Bureau of Buddhist Education in 1959, under Rev. Takashi Tsuji, the Sales Department was initiated. There was no capital available to finance this department, but fortunately there was a large stock of "Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu" which had not moved for many years. A massive campaign was launched to sell these books in order to accumulate a certain amount of capital. The books sold well, and the initial capital was obtained to stock other titles.

The Sales Department was still a small operation with the sales handled mostly through mail orders and Rev. Tsuji displaying the materials during his district tours. Total gross sales in 1959 were $2,000, but in 1960, this total jumped to nearly $20,000. During this time, one-sheet leaflets bearing such titles as "Karma," and "Is There a God? The Buddhist Answer" were published and widely circulated. In 1960, the Western Young Adult Buddhist League made a generous donation of $1,000, making it possible to obtain the services of a part-time clerk. The bookstore is now handling Buddhist literature in English.

Reprinted from the BCA 75th Anniversary book.

For questions or problems regarding this web site, contact Jeffrey Kimoto at manager@bcabookstore.com

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