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Interfaith Prayers on the 3rd Anniversary of the East Japan Great Earthquake
Written by UPF - Japan
Friday, March 7, 2014
Ishinomaki, Japan - Shivering against strong winds from the Pacific Ocean, whose tsunami power had devastated the coastal vicinity three years before, faith leaders representing various creeds together offered the respective ritual prayers for the deceased as a result of the tsunami and its cause, the East Japan Great Earthquake, on March 11, 2011.
Some 50 individuals assembled at a hill-top cemetery named Bouyo-en in the suburbs of Ishinomaki city, Miyagi prefecture, on March 7, 2014 for an interfaith memorial service under the huge statue of the Goddess of Kannon overlooking the shore.
Representing the organizer, Mr. Sotoji Maeda, board member of the Council of Ambassadors for Peace in Japan, expressed his appreciation: "Having visited the devastated areas earlier, I am convinced that religious resurgence will take place from this region through recollecting and meditating about the quake and tsunami. Even Japan's age-old spiritual virtues may be revitalized out of the north east Japan region."
The proprietor of the cemetery, Ms.. Sadako Kanno, an Ambassador for Peace in the city, had listened to numerous painful experiences from the bereaved families as they buried the victims in the cemetery. On behalf of the bereaved in attendance, she said, "We are indeed grateful and delighted to conduct this interfaith memorial service with the presence of various religious leaders."
Members of the Religious Leaders Forum of the Ambassadors for Peace had traveled from Tokyo earlier in the day and visited a memorial plaque with the words "Vibrant Ishinomaki!" in the Minamihama district of Ishinomaki city, where a large number of citizens were killed in the tsunami. They offered silent prayers and flowers for the deceased.
The service was commenced by three Shinto priests, guided by Priest Taishu Nara, head of the Institute of Japanese Civilization. They carried out the Shinto ritual and recited its purification prayer. They were followed by four Buddhist monks, who conducted a Buddhist ceremony led by the Venerable Nichiko Yoshida, president of the Buddhism Association of Ushigome in Tokyo. Both are vice presidents of the Religious Leaders Forum of Ambassadors for Peace in Japan.
Finally, a Christian pastor offered a Christian prayer for the deceased; then the Lord’s Prayer was recited by those in attendance.
The one-hour service was concluded by Mr. Masayoshi Kajikuri, deputy secretary general of the Council of Ambassadors for Peace in Japan, who spoke a few words of reflection: "Upon the shocking news of the quake, I left the USA right away for Japan, heading to Kesen-numa City to organize relief volunteer works. I am truly grateful that we could conduct this interfaith memorial service in the devastated region, which has been long overdue as far as I am concerned."
The Religious Leaders Forum of the Ambassadors for Peace has been conducting similar interfaith memorial services annually since the 3.11 quake in 2011 at various religious facilities in Tokyo.
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