by Rev. Chishin Hirai

Do you watch a TV program named, 'Komyo ga tsuji' on Tuesdays from 8:00 pm? It is rebroadcasted on Sundays. It is a story about Yamauchi Kazutoyo and his wife Chiyo. They started their lives from the unemployed but became the Lord of Kochi Prefecture under Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yamauchi Kazutoyo was born in 1545 and died in 1605. His lifetime was during the era from the conflicted end of Muromachi and the beginning of the Edo period by Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was almost the same period of Queen Elizabeth I's reign and the Reformation by Martin Luther and John Calvin in Europe. It was also the time of the heliocentric system by Nicholas Copernicus, the wonderful paintings and sculptures by Michelangelo and when the solar calendar, which we are using today, was created.

The Yamauchi family had been Nichiren Shu members for generations. Kazutoyo built the Yoboji temple when he became the Lord of Nagahama in Shiga. As Kazutoyo moved from Shiga to Shizuoka and Kochi, he took the temple with him. Finally, the Yoboji temple was built in Kochi in 1601 and has been there ever since.

By the way, we have organized a Japan tour. We will leave Hawaii for Japan on Thursday, Oct. 26th and come back here on Friday, Nov. 3rd. It is a tour of 7 nights and 9 days. The cost will be about $2,500 per person. We will go to Kyoto, Minobusan, Tokyo and Chiba. We will visit not only Nichiren Shu temples but some other places noted in connection with Kazutoyo, 'Yoshitsune' and 'Toshiie to Matsu'. For example, the Myokenji temple, which is the first Nichiren Shu temple in Kyoto and Ryuhonji temple, the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Honnoji temple where Oda Nobunaga was killed, Nijo castle where Tokugawa Ieyasu stayed, Gojo Ohashi where Yoshitsune met Benkei. We will enjoy the beautiful autumn colors in Kyoto late in October. The autumn leaves are as wonderful as the cherry blossoms in spring. We will leave Kyoto for Minobusan. As you know, Minobusan is where Kuonji Temple, the mother temple of Nichiren Shu is located. We can purchase our favorite juzu and fragrant incense there. We will also enjoy Onsen, hot spring, at night there. We will proceed to Tokyo, the capital of Japan after Minobu. We will visit famous places such as Ikegami Honmonji temple where Nichiren Shonin passed away, Tokyo Tower where you can look at the entire city of Tokyo at a glance, Ameya Yokocho where is a traditional style shopping mall and others.

The highlight of this tour is to visit Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture. The Temple was built by Toki Jonin who was the direct follower of Nichiren Shonin. The temple is also famous for Daiaragyo and Shogyoden. Daiaragyo held at Nakayama Hokekyoji temple is one of the most austere training for ministers which Rev. Maeda has just finished. The Daiaragyo starts from November 1st through February 10th, 100 days in the coldest season. We will be able to understand how hard they train themselves when we hear their chanting and water practice over the fence. Shogyoden is a special treasure storage which has been keeping a lot of Nichiren Shonin's handwritten documents over 750 years. Some of them, such as "Kanjin Honzon Sho" and "Rissho Ankoku Ron" stored there are declared as national treasures in Japan. If there is no rain nor high humidity, they are exhibited once a year on November 3rd, every year. It is very hard even for Nichiren members in Japan to view Nichiren Shonin's hand-writhing. People who live outside of Japan like us seldom have a chance to view them. As far as I know, no foreign members have set eyes on Nichiren Shonin's hand-written letters. We will be the first members to meet Nichiren Shonin through his own writings from over 750 years ago. That's why this tour is a precious opportunity.

As you might know, Nichiren Shu is now starting a movement named "Rissho Ankoku-Odaimoku Kechien Undo" which means 'A movement to make a good connection between the Odaimoku and many people in order to have faith in the Odaimoku and make this world be Buddha's world.' Especially, Nichiren Shu HQ encourages all the members around the world to read "Rissho Ankoku Ron" this year. We are planing some events in order to let all members in Hawaii know more about "Rissho Ankoku Ron". So, to join this tour is meaningful for all of you because you can view the original.

As I said, this tour is about not only visiting temples, but also sightseeing and shopping. You will have one free day each in Kyoto and Tokyo. You can go to additional sightseeing, shopping, taking a rest at hotel or whatever you like. We will stay at modern hotels in Japan, no old dormitory type accommodations this time. It is going to be double occupancy. We will stay at the same hotel for the first 3 nights in Kyoto, one night in Minobu and stay at the same hotel for the last 3 nights in Tokyo. We won't change hotels every night, either. You don't have to pack every night. So, you can relax and get enough rest at the same hotels. If you want to go to Korea, we can arrange it as an optional tour after Japan. If you want to go to Japan earlier than the group, you can. If you want to stay longer in Japan, you can.

I want to say something before you decide to join the tour. Please don't go to Las Vegas so often and save some money for the tour. Don't even think of earning money in Las Vegas for the tour. I guarantee you that you have to pay double at last. And please lose some weight. In Japan it is said that the season of autumn is a season of appetite. Everything is so delicious in autumn in Japan. For example, you can taste slightly seasoned boiled vegetables like kabu, famous pickles, sophisticated sweets in Kyoto, Yuba and warm Hoto noodles in Minobu. Sushi, Tempura and other famous dishes from the world in Tokyo. You don't have to wait for a long time to eat famous Japanese dishes at Shirokiya because we will be there in Japan. There are so many delicious foods in Japan. That's why we always eat too much and gain some weight. If you gain some weight, your doctor may scold you for having high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. So, you have got to make some room in your stomach before you go to Japan.

For more information, please feel free to ask the ministers. I do hope all of you join this historical, meaningful and enjoyable Japan tour.