A five-story pagoda has been opened to the public at Daigoji Temple in Kyoto Prefecture.
The pagoda is said to have been built in 951 as a memorial for Emperor Daigo and is the oldest wooden structure in the prefecture.
It is designated as one of Japan's national treasures.
The interior is normally closed to the public, except for special occasions such as the 1,200th anniversary of the transfer of the national capital to Kyoto.
But the temple received many requests for viewing and decided to open on the 29th of each month, the anniversary of the Emperor's death.
Priests slowly opened the 4 doors facing in 4 directions on Sunday morning and began to offer prayers.
Visitors saw a Buddhist mortuary tablet dedicated to Emperor Daigo and Buddhist diagrams, or mandalas, depicting the spiritual universe using the principles of esoteric Buddhism.
A visitor said this is his first time he saw the inside of the pagoda, and the elaborate patterns of the mandalas were amazing. He added that he prayed for peace.
The public viewings are held at 10 in the morning and 1:30 in the afternoon on the 29th of each month.
2010年8月30日月曜日
Record number of hikers climb Mt Fuji
A record number of more than 250,000 people have climbed Japan's highest peak, Mt Fuji, during the current mountaineering season.
Fujiyoshida City in Yamanashi Prefecture, located at the foot of the mountain, says nearly 251,000 people have climbed from the Yamanashi side since the season began on July first, beating the record set 2 years ago.
The city attributes the new record to an outdoor activity boom among senior citizens and young women.
It also says that climbing is becoming more popular thanks to efforts by mountain lodge operators to provide more comfort for visitors, especially women.
But the number of accidents is rising in tandem with the mountaineering boom.
Three men died this season after they fell ill while climbing Mt Fuji, which is nearly 3,800 meters high.
The city is asking climbers to wear appropriate clothing and to allocate enough time for their activities.
Fujiyoshida City in Yamanashi Prefecture, located at the foot of the mountain, says nearly 251,000 people have climbed from the Yamanashi side since the season began on July first, beating the record set 2 years ago.
The city attributes the new record to an outdoor activity boom among senior citizens and young women.
It also says that climbing is becoming more popular thanks to efforts by mountain lodge operators to provide more comfort for visitors, especially women.
But the number of accidents is rising in tandem with the mountaineering boom.
Three men died this season after they fell ill while climbing Mt Fuji, which is nearly 3,800 meters high.
The city is asking climbers to wear appropriate clothing and to allocate enough time for their activities.
2010年8月28日土曜日
288,000 non-regular jobs lost in Japan
A labor ministry survey shows that more than 288,000 non-regular workers in Japan lost jobs or will lose them in the 2 years through September.
That figure includes non-regular workers whose contracts were terminated, expired without renewal, or will expire as of August 18th. The survey covers the period starting October 2008, when the employment situation started to deteriorate rapidly.
The jobless total of over 288,000 marks an increase of about 3,100 from July.
About 150,000 of these workers were dispatched by temporary staff agencies and almost 70,000 were seasonal workers. Contract workers accounted for about 22,000.
By prefecture, Aichi had the largest number of non-regular job losses with about 46,000, followed by Tokyo with over 17,000, and Nagano with more than 11,000.
The ministry tracked down 137,000 of the laid-off workers and found only about 65 percent of them had found new jobs.
That figure includes non-regular workers whose contracts were terminated, expired without renewal, or will expire as of August 18th. The survey covers the period starting October 2008, when the employment situation started to deteriorate rapidly.
The jobless total of over 288,000 marks an increase of about 3,100 from July.
About 150,000 of these workers were dispatched by temporary staff agencies and almost 70,000 were seasonal workers. Contract workers accounted for about 22,000.
By prefecture, Aichi had the largest number of non-regular job losses with about 46,000, followed by Tokyo with over 17,000, and Nagano with more than 11,000.
The ministry tracked down 137,000 of the laid-off workers and found only about 65 percent of them had found new jobs.
271 senior citizens unaccounted for in Japan
Japan's government says it has found at least 271 senior citizens unaccounted for in the country.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma disclosed this at a meeting of cabinet ministers on Friday.
The ministry collected the results of surveys on seniors conducted recently by 1,441 local governments in Japan. Three-quarters of these local governments checked the whereabouts of people aged 100 or older who are registered in their areas.
81 local governments found a total of 271 senior people unaccounted for.
The ministry also carried out a sample survey of pension recipients aged 85 and over. It says the results show 23 people out of 840 recipients are unaccounted for.
One family in Osaka is suspected to have illegally received pension payments for an elderly relative even after he died in 1999. Similar incidents involving centenarians have been reported in recent months.
The ministry says it may be providing pensions to up to 800 people aged 85 and over who are unaccounted for.
It plans to check medical records and other information at local government offices to confirm the whereabouts of the seniors.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma disclosed this at a meeting of cabinet ministers on Friday.
The ministry collected the results of surveys on seniors conducted recently by 1,441 local governments in Japan. Three-quarters of these local governments checked the whereabouts of people aged 100 or older who are registered in their areas.
81 local governments found a total of 271 senior people unaccounted for.
The ministry also carried out a sample survey of pension recipients aged 85 and over. It says the results show 23 people out of 840 recipients are unaccounted for.
One family in Osaka is suspected to have illegally received pension payments for an elderly relative even after he died in 1999. Similar incidents involving centenarians have been reported in recent months.
The ministry says it may be providing pensions to up to 800 people aged 85 and over who are unaccounted for.
It plans to check medical records and other information at local government offices to confirm the whereabouts of the seniors.
2010年8月15日日曜日
Japan marks 65th anniversary of end of WW2
Japan has observed the 65th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
A government-sponsored ceremony was held in central Tokyo on Sunday to remember the 3.1 million Japanese who died in the war.
About 6,000 people, including bereaved relatives, attended the ceremony.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Japan inflicted great damage and pain during the war on people in many countries, particularly in its Asian neighbors.
He expressed deep remorse and condolences for the war dead and their bereaved families.
Kan said Japan renews its pledge to renounce war and is determined to continue to work to build eternal peace in the world.
At noon, participants observed a minute of silence.
Addressing the ceremony, the Emperor said he hopes the calamities of war shall never be repeated.
He expressed sincere respect to those who died in the war and said he prays for global peace and the further development of Japan.
A representative of the bereaved families then delivered a memorial address.
Later, participants offered chrysanthemum flowers at the altar and prayed that the souls of the deceased can rest in peace.
A government-sponsored ceremony was held in central Tokyo on Sunday to remember the 3.1 million Japanese who died in the war.
About 6,000 people, including bereaved relatives, attended the ceremony.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Japan inflicted great damage and pain during the war on people in many countries, particularly in its Asian neighbors.
He expressed deep remorse and condolences for the war dead and their bereaved families.
Kan said Japan renews its pledge to renounce war and is determined to continue to work to build eternal peace in the world.
At noon, participants observed a minute of silence.
Addressing the ceremony, the Emperor said he hopes the calamities of war shall never be repeated.
He expressed sincere respect to those who died in the war and said he prays for global peace and the further development of Japan.
A representative of the bereaved families then delivered a memorial address.
Later, participants offered chrysanthemum flowers at the altar and prayed that the souls of the deceased can rest in peace.
Tanigaki visits Yasukuni
LDP leader Yasukazu Tanigaki and former prime minister Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday, the 65th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
Tanigaki arrived at the shrine shortly after 11AM and entered the main building with LDP Secretary General Tadamori Oshima.
Abe visited the shrine before them. Asked about the decision by ministers in Kan's Cabinet not to visit the shrine, Abe said it would be problematic from the point of view of freedom of religion if the decision was led by the prime minister or the chief cabinet secretary.
Meanwhile, 41 members of a multi-party group of legislators who promote visits to the shrine, including those belonging to the governing Democratic Party, also paid a visit.
The chief of the group's secretariat, Upper House member Toshiei Mizuochi, told reporters that the cabinet ministers' decision not to visit the shrine is regrettable, as paying respect to war victims should cut across party lines and ideology.
Yasukuni enshrines the souls of war dead, including war criminals from World War Two.
Tanigaki arrived at the shrine shortly after 11AM and entered the main building with LDP Secretary General Tadamori Oshima.
Abe visited the shrine before them. Asked about the decision by ministers in Kan's Cabinet not to visit the shrine, Abe said it would be problematic from the point of view of freedom of religion if the decision was led by the prime minister or the chief cabinet secretary.
Meanwhile, 41 members of a multi-party group of legislators who promote visits to the shrine, including those belonging to the governing Democratic Party, also paid a visit.
The chief of the group's secretariat, Upper House member Toshiei Mizuochi, told reporters that the cabinet ministers' decision not to visit the shrine is regrettable, as paying respect to war victims should cut across party lines and ideology.
Yasukuni enshrines the souls of war dead, including war criminals from World War Two.
2010年8月7日土曜日
Monks clean Buddha statue at Todaiji temple
Buddhist monks have held the mid-summer ritual of cleaning the Great Buddha statue at Todaiji temple in the ancient capital, Nara, western Japan.
About 150 priests and followers took part in the Ominugui dusting on Saturday. The event takes place on August 7th every year, before the Bon festival when people welcome back their ancestors' spirits.
After a ceremonial chanting of sutras to temporarily remove the spirit from the statue, monks wearing white kimono and straw sandals climbed onto the hands and knees of the statue. They removed dust that had accumulated over the past year, using brushes and dusters.
Some workers used suspended platforms to clean the 15-meter tall statue's head and shoulders.
The temple hall housing the Buddha statue was filled with white dust while tourists watched or took pictures of the annual cleaning.
About 150 priests and followers took part in the Ominugui dusting on Saturday. The event takes place on August 7th every year, before the Bon festival when people welcome back their ancestors' spirits.
After a ceremonial chanting of sutras to temporarily remove the spirit from the statue, monks wearing white kimono and straw sandals climbed onto the hands and knees of the statue. They removed dust that had accumulated over the past year, using brushes and dusters.
Some workers used suspended platforms to clean the 15-meter tall statue's head and shoulders.
The temple hall housing the Buddha statue was filled with white dust while tourists watched or took pictures of the annual cleaning.
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