40th anniversary of Lankaji Viharaya, Japan’s first Theravada Buddhist temple falls on Sunday
A number of programmes will be held to mark the 40th anniversary of the Japan’s first Theravada Buddhist temple, Lankaji Viharaya on Sunday (26).
Lankaji Viharaya in Kogaishima, Sawara Province, Katori suburb, is the first Theravada Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Japan, established forty years ago. To mark this occasion, a special religious ceremony and celebration will be held at the Lankaji Temple, Chief Sanghanayaka of Japan and Chief Incumbent of Sanchi Chethiyagiri Viharaya Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera said.
“About 40 years ago, only Mahayana Buddhism fully existed in Japan before Lankaji Temple was established. Accordingly, Japan’s first Theravada Sri Lankan Buddhist temple, Lankaji Temple, was opened on May 26, 1984 by the then President J.R. Jayewardene on my invitation,” Ven. Banagala Thera said.
“The dream of many young people in Sri Lanka today is to come to Japan in search of a job. Also, I was very willing to come to Japan at that time. I studied Japanese. The first time I came to Japan was to learn Japanese. It was around 1976. Then I wanted to learn about early childhood education in Japan. Because Japan’s early childhood development was very advanced even at that time. But during 1970-80, Sri Lanka’s early childhood development and education, that is, Montessori education, was not that systematic. I was 26 years old when I came to Japan. When I was studying early childhood development and education, I thought that someday I will have to leave this country, and when I go, I should do something that will keep the name of Sri Lanka in this country and leave an indelible memory” the Thera said.
When asked why the Thera had such an idea he noted that since he was twelve years old, he was a member of the Dharmapala family. Thera said that Dharmapala established the Mahabodhi Society in many countries, including India and Europe, and started Buddhist religious activities. But he could not do that service in Japan.
“I was wondering why Dharmapala could not do this even though there is a very close relationship between Japan and us in terms of religion and culture. Dharmapala even spoke in favour of Japan at that time. Therefore, Dharmapala must have had a big dream to establish a Theravada Buddhist temple in Japan,” Ven. Upathissa Thera said.
“Since Mahayana Buddhism was widespread in Japan and Theravada Buddhism was nonexistent in Japan at that time. Hence, I always thought that I should somehow fulfil that dream of Dharmapala. With that in mind, I made a decision to create a memorial in Japan that will never be abolished and will honour him and make Sri Lanka proud. I thought that nothing is impossible if one wants to do it. Then I thought of establishing a Theravada Buddhist temple in Japan somehow. During my studies, I stayed at the house of Yoshida, who was like my mother in Japan, who opened all the ways for me to get to Japan,” he noted.
Actually, as a monk, I wanted to live separately. Yoshida accepted it and agreed to help me with it. During my stay at Yoshida’s house, she introduced me to many Japanese Buddhist scholars, monks and businessmen. She encouraged me by saying “I want to see you build your own place in Japan”.Following which, I rented a small house in Kitakoiwa Edogawa-ku. It was a more comfortable place for me. I placed a Buddha statue and started performing religious rituals. Many Sri Lankans in Japan and my Japanese friends used to come there.
JR Jayewardene, who was the President at that time, was informed about the construction of a Sri Lanka temple and a Buddhist centre in Japan. But I had no contact with him. At this time Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula Thera was staying in Japan for his higher studies. Under his guidance, President J.R. Jayewardene was invited and inaugurated the Lankaji Viharaya in Kogaishima, which was 40 years ago.
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