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Nichiren-Shu War Memorial Service (Publicity) Nichiren-Shu Calls for Peace to Honor War Dead

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Nichiren-Shu War Memorial Service (Publicity) Nichiren-Shu Calls for Peace to Honor War Dead (3) THE JAPAN TIMES FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010 3 national Nichiren-shu war memorial service (Publicity) Nichiren-shu calls for peace to honor war dead Aug. 15, the day World War II ended in 1945, has special meaning to many Japa- nese people, with some returning to their hometowns to visit the tombs of ancestors who fought or died in the war. The day is also an opportunity for Japan to remind the world of the importance of peace. The Nichiren-shu Buddhist sect, whose slogan is ‘‘Palms Together Toward All Lives,’’ will hold a memorial service for the Japanese war dead enshrined at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Chi- yoda Ward, Tokyo, near Tokyo Metro Ku- danshita Station, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Aug. 15. The cemetery has unidentified bones and other remains of about 360,000 Japa- nese soldiers and civilians who died dur- ing World War II, in Japan, other Asian countries and the Pacific islands, a major difference from the nearby Yasukuni Shrine, which only has lists of names of the war dead. ‘‘It’s not only about the commemora- tion of Japanese war dead,’’ said Rev. Kanshin Mochida, manager of mission- In memoriam: A priest from Nichiren-shu leads other priests from the Buddhist sect ary planning for the Missionary Division during a prayer service to commemorate the Japanese war dead at Chidorigafuchi of the head office of Nichiren-shu Bud- National Cemetery in Tokyo. dhism. ‘‘The significance of Aug. 15 seems to have been fading. The war ended but of Japanese war dead in foreign battle- this message throughout Japan despite the postwar era will continue. Let’s con- fields in collaboration with countries in the opposition of the country’s established tinue the era and remember to continue the region. There are 3.1 million con- Buddhist sects. the peace.’’ firmed Japanese war dead from World Nichiren was born Feb. 16, 1222, in Anyone is welcome to the service, dur- War II. Kominato, in what is now Chiba Prefec- ing which visitors listen to prayers by When the ministry finds remains it can ture. When he was 11, his parents sent him about 60 Nichiren-shu priests, including identify, it sends them to the families. But to the nearby Seichoji Temple, then asso- Chief Administrator Rev. Shobin Watana- if remains are unidentified, it sends them ciated with the esoteric Buddhism of the be. It is rare for so many priests to be to the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery, Tendai sect, to study. He displayed early gathered in one place. where they are buried. promise but was puzzled why there were Also, to commemorate the dead, ser- The cemetery has buried 3,937 remains so many different schools of Buddhism. vice participants will offer incense, a ges- this year, more than the total buried in Despite his doubts, Nichiren was or- ture to clean the body and spirit before 2008 (629) and 2009 (1,406) combined, ac- dained as a Buddhist priest at the com- praying. Visitors will be able to take some cording to the ministry’s Social Welfare paratively young age of 15. He eventually incense home as well. and War Victims’ Relief Bureau. reached the conclusion that the Lotus Su- The cemetery was founded in 1959 and Of the 360,000 remains buried at the tra encapsulated the essence of the Bud- Nichiren-shu has held an Aug. 15 service cemetery, about 12,000 were found in Ja- dha’s message, which set the stage for his every year since then. pan; 76,000 were in China and Taiwan; career as one of the greatest religious re- Last year, then Justice Minister Ei- 113,000 were in Pacific island nations in- formers in Japanese history. suke Mori attended the service. Roughly cluding Papua New Guinea; 36,000 in 400 people participate in the event every Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia; year. 100,000 in the Philippines; 10,000 in Rus- The remains at the Chidorigafuchi Na- sia; 483 in the Korean Peninsula; and the tional Cemetery have been gathered by rest in other regions, according to the bu- the Japanese government, which began reau. finding and recovering remains from The cemetery is within walking dis- Russia, Asian countries and the Pacific tance from Nippon Budokan, which will islands around 1952, when peace treaties hold an event to commemorate the war between Japan and such countries took dead for an hour starting at 11:51 a.m., at- effect. tended by Emperor Akihito, Empress Mi- Emperor Showa offered an urn at the chiko and Prime Minister Naoto Kan, foundation of the cemetery. The urn con- among others. tains remains that represent every buried Nichiren-shu is a branch of Buddhism war dead and is stored in a ceramic coffin based on the teachings of the 13th century at the center of the Hexagonal Hall of the Japanese monk Nichiren. It believes the cemetery. Lotus Sutra represents the perfect culmi- The Ministry of Health, Labor and Wel- nation of the true teaching of the Buddha fare is continuously trying to find remains and Nichiren worked tirelessly to spread The Japan Times PUBDATE: 8/13/20010 PAGE: 3 C M Y K OUTPUT TIME: 10:49:47.
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