Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii members chant while they twirl the matoi. The traditional matoi consists of a body called “toban” made of wood or brass & “baren” hanging strips of leather or paper. The toban sits on a wooden staff with a metal bottom & weighs 45 pounds. Rissho Kosei-kai uses the matoi during parades because the enthusiasm used to hoist and twirl the matoi is symbolic of the way one should embrace life and Buddhist teachings.