第３種郵便物認可 The Japan Times Monday, March 18, 2013 3 asia-pacific

(Advertisement) AGON SHU HOSHI MATSURI 2013 weather didn’t bother him. mi, and received a rap- “It was cold, but it felt good. turous reception from Fire Rites Festival held in the spirit of peace During the performance the the audience. sun started to shine, which This year’s Fire Rites pyres leap heav- spiritual path taught by the Grand Shrine, one of the cen- was kind of like a natural spe- Festival started, as enward from the Buddha in the belief that this ters of the Shinto religion, cial effect.” always, at 7:30 a.m. with a m p h i t h e a t e r is the only sure way to per- this year. Shikinen Sengu a burst of brightly col- where the Fire sonal fulfillment and to peace refers to the rebuilding of the Majestic music ored fireworks against R i t e s F e s t i v a l and harmony in the world. shrine every 20 years. When Togi’s majestic, haunting the morning sky. Soon was held. Besides For Agon Shu believers, the it was last rebuilt in 1993, music added a new flavor to after, a procession of d i s p e l l i n g t h e Lord Buddha is the ultimate Agon Shu held a Fire Rites the festival. His playing of Agon Shu members cold with their object of worship and is the ritual at a site adjacent to the the hichiriki bamboo flute dressed as yamabushi warmth, the blaz- first element of their faith. shrine and commemorated featured incredibly subtle mountain priests entered ing pyres provid- The second element is the Shikinen Sengu. Kiriyama nuances that created the the amphitheater to the ed a focus for the , which comprises the decided this year to once impression of a plaintive, sound of symphonic p r a y e r s o f t h e Buddha’s teachings and train- again celebrate the rebuild- yearning human voice — very music especially com- t h o u s a n d s o f ing methods, while the third ing of Ise Grand Shrine. much in keeping with the Fire posed for the Hoshi Mat- faithful as well element is the — the Agon Shu invited Hideki Rites Festival’s theme of suri by Mayuzumi. They as curious visi- community of believers and Togi — probably Japan’s spirit of prayer and spiritual gathered in front of the tors who’ve gath- its leaders. Agon Shu is a best-known performer of seeking. richly decorated main A huge, brightly colored specially made in Bhutan e r e d a t A g o n sangha led by Kiriyama. gagaku (ancient court music) Togi first met Kiriyama altar piled high with S h u ’ s t e m p l e This year’s festival was — as a special guest at this when they recorded a dia- various offerings to Bud- c o m p l e x i n special in a couple of ways. year’s Fire Rites Festival. logue for Bungei Shunju mag- dha, including a relic of later this year. Kyoto’s Higashi- One is that the 2013 Fire Rites Backed by a group of other azine. “He’s always expecting the historical Buddha. “We will establish a Peace and stability yama district. Festival was the first to musicians richly attired in new things,” says Togi of Kiriyama was then carried in Israel where a relic of Kiriyama said Agon Shu The Fire Rites incorporate of period costume, Togi played Kiriyama. “He understands into the amphitheater on a Buddha will be placed,” will also hold a Goma Hoyo Festival is the Bhutanese . three pieces (including one many people’s feelings and palanquin and took his place Kiriyama said. He noted that ceremony in Taiwan to pray The Rev. Seiyu Kiriyama, founder and biggest event of “Bhutanese Buddhism is a specially written for the festi- unites them and expresses it. on the special “Shishi-za” or in 2008 Agon Shu held a Goma for peace and stability in president of Agon Shu the year for Agon branch of , val) before the goma-dan He is very old, but his heart is “Lion Seat,” which refers to Hoyo ceremony to pray for East Asia. Shu. The festival which is esoteric Buddhism pyres were set alight. It was very open to new things like the seat on which the histori- world peace in Jerusalem, at “Agon Shu has been active In mid-February, the and Agon Shu itself are main- with mystical spiritual pow- the first time Togi had attend- my music.” cal Buddha sat to give his the invitation of Israel, which in Taiwan for about 20 years, Brazilian city of Sao Paulo ly Buddhist in inspiration. er,” Kiriyama explained at a ed a Fire Rites Festival. Another example of the teaching. From here Kiriyama was celebrating the 60th anni- and many devotees in Taiwan enjoys balmy summer weath- But since 1993 the event — midday press conference. “I had seen a film of it, but appreciation for music shown offered prayers to the Lord versary of its foundation. train themselves very hard,” er. But early in the morning the world’s biggest annual “The old esoteric Buddhism it looks bigger in reality,” by Kiriyama and Agon Shu was Buddha on behalf of all the “It surprised the world Kiriyama explained. “I have of Feb. 11 in the rolling hills fire rites festival — has been with strong power has been Togi says. “People have come the Second Kyoto Buddhist people taking part in the Fire because it was the first time long wanted to build a good of eastern Kyoto, it’s any- conducted as a blend of Bud- inherited through the ages in from all over Japan to pray Music Festival, held on Jan. Rites Festival, and on behalf that an event of a religion training facility for these ear- thing but summery. The mer- dhist and Shinto ritual. Bhutan. with the same feeling. The 19 at Biwako Hall in the city of all the living and the o t h e r t h a n J u d a i s m , nest Taiwanese devotees. cury hovers just above zero “In 2011, I visited the King- big fire really impressed me of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. departed for whom prayers Christianity or Islam had Finally, an excellent facility degrees Celsius, and the odd Liberation dom of Bhutan and took over — it’s very unusual.” Togi The concert featured the Kyo- have been offered. been held in Jerusalem,” will be completed in Taipei in flake of snow drifts down as Some 31 million gomagi the best of the Bhutanese noted that like our ancient to Symphony Orchestra and Next was a series of Shinto Kiriyama said. “I heard autumn this year.” the sky briefly clouds over. prayer sticks were thrown Buddhist dharmas from the forebears we are entranced the Kyoto Symphony Chorus rites, after which the yama- someone say it was amazing Besides celebrating the But Sao Paulo natives onto the pyres throughout the supreme leader of Bhutanese by fire’s elemental power. under the direction of conduc- bushi held a question-and- that Agon Shu was able to opening of the training facili- Rosana Simoes and Radovan day. Inscribed on the gomagi Buddhism,” Kiriyama said. “My composition’s theme is tor Takuo Yuasa. They per- answer exchange called hold a religious event in ty, those taking part in the Srdic don’t feel the cold. are believers’ personal “Last year, I received a num- to unite people’s feelings and formed pieces on Buddhist mondo that tested their Israel, which has complicat- Taiwan ceremony will also They’ve come all the way prayers and desires. One ber of dharmas from a senior convey them to heaven,” Togi themes by late Japanese knowledge of Buddhist doc- ed circumstances. After that, pray for peace in East Asia, from Brazil to take part in pyre is called the Shinkai-dan Bhutanese Buddhism priest said, adding that the wintry composer Toshiro Mayuzu- trine and practice. This year people in Israel proposed that Kiriyama said. “As you know, the Agon Shu Buddhist Asso- and is for the prayers, who visited Japan.” saw female yamabushi take we build a monument to com- there are simmering tensions ciation’s 40th annual Hoshi requests and desires of the part in mondo exchanges for memorate the historic suc- in East Asia, including China, Matsuri, or Fire Rites living, while the other pyre is Mandala the first time. cess of Israel Goma Hoyo the Korean Peninsula, Festival. For them, the spiri- called the Bukkai-dan and is This year’s Fire Rites Kiriyama then blessed the ceremony and pray for eter- Taiwan and Japan. If a war tual warmth of the event for the liberation of the Festival featured a huge, torches that are used to light nal world peace. or conflict occurs somewhere more than compensates for afflicted spirits of the depart- brightly colored mandala the goma-dan and invoked “Now the monument is in the world, especially in the chilly winter weather. ed. A total of 430,000 people specially made in Bhutan and the Buddha’s protection and being constructed at one of Asia, Japan would inevitably “It’s our first time here,” attended this year’s Fire empowered with a prayer by compassion. The bonfires the best places in Jerusalem. be involved in it, even if it says Srdic, who like Simoes Rites Festival. a high-ranking priest. During were lit, and two thick col- The monument is scheduled prays for peace. So if we wish is a member of the Agon Shu Agon Shu was founded in 1978 the ceremony, Agon Shu umns of whitish-gray smoke for completion in autumn this peace for Japan, we must faithful. “Our monks are by the Rev. Seiyu Kiriyama, priest Hakuho Kiyokawa rose into the sky. Soon huge year. I hope our prayer for pray for peace first for East here, and we’ve been saving president of Agon Shu, who, offered a gomaku ceremony orange tongues of flame leapt world peace at our headquar- Asia and the entire world.” money for two years to come after searching for many in the Bhutanese Buddhist out of the pyres. ters here will reach the Kiriyama concluded on a here. It’s very special for us years, found the ultimate style. Kiyokawa has studied Middle East. I also wish from hopeful note: “I hope that the to be here. truth in the Agama , and has International events the bottom of my heart that events in Jerusalem and “And where we came from, the purest source of Buddhist received an official Bhutanese At the midday press confer- the fusion of the world’s four Taiwan will serve as the foun- it’s summer — it’s very cold doctrine. Agon Shu has since Buddhist monk name, Jigme ence, Kiriyama thanked all biggest religions — Judaism, dations of peace in the Middle here,” Srdic adds with a grown into a community of Tenzin. those who made this year’s Christianity, Islam and East and East Asia, and laugh. 400,000 members in Japan and Also, this year’s Hoshi Fire Rites Festival a success Buddhism — will be achieved eventually in the world. I As Srdic speaks, flames thousands more overseas. Matsuri commemorated the About 31 million gomagi prayer sticks were thrown into and announced plans for two and eternal peace will be appreciate your understand- from two huge goma-dan Agon Shu advocates the 62nd Shikinen Sengu of Ise the two goma-dan pyres. major international events attained in the world.” ing and cooperation.”

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