September 22, 2011

Just unveiled: Japan’s largest wooden seated statue of Fudomyoo "See it and then die."



The consecration ceremony of the Japan’s largest wooden seated statue of Fudomyoo was held at Fukagawa Fudoson temple on Sept. 15.

The statue uses over 500-year-old camphor trees in Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan. It gives off a good sacred smell of camphor because the statue totally shows its bare wood surface without any lacquer coating. 

It's a great work by one of Japan's most acclaimed sculptors of Buddha statues. He gave 5 years to his work. He expended so much energy on the work that he had lost some 30 kilograms (66 lbs.) of body weight when he completed it.  He must have accomplished the work at the risk of his life.

The seated statue is 3.2 meters (10.4 ft.) high and weighs about 1.5 tons (3300 lbs.).  If the statue rises to its feet, it may be over 5 meters high.

September 13, 2011

Next Free Tours : September 24, Saturday

Our next free volunteer-guided walking tours will be held on September 24, Saturday.
Have a glimpse of Shitamachi (Tokyo’s old town) and discover a local traditional Japanese culture with your friends.

new statue of Fudomyoo
【Course A】
See the difference between Shinto shrines &
Buddhist temples. Experience the mysterious

Goma Fire Ritual in Esoteric Buddhism."

Tour dates & time : September 24, Saturday, 2:00 pm– 4:00 pm (2 hours)
Visit: Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine and Fukagawa Fudoson Temple
Meet at: Torii gate of Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine (3 minute-walk from Monzen nakacho station on the Tozai Subway Line: see the map)
Tour fee: Free of charge

Basho statue
【Course B】
“Learn about Basho, the founder of Haiku, the world’s shortest poems; 
Take a scenic walk in a 

Japanese Garden
.”
Tour date & time: September 24, Saturday, 1:00 -3:00 pm
Visit: Basho Kinen-kan Memorial Museum and Kiyosumi Garden Park
Meet at: Basho Memorial Museum(7minute-walk from Morishita Station on Toei Shinjuku-Line or Oedo Subway Lines : see the map)
Admission: 100 yen for Basho Memorial Museum and 150 yen for Kiyosumi Garden Park (pay at the gate)
Tour fee: Free of charge

【Course C】— Customized course

Please feel free to consult us concerning other courses and their dates as well.
Examples:
●Fukagawa Edo Museum
Here, you can get a feel for what life was like in Tokyo’s old town in Edo period.
●Sumo stables
You may have a rare opportunity to watch a powerful Sumo wrestlers’ morning training session.
●Edo wood carving
You can admire a skilled artisan’s precious traditional crafts.

For application: Please select your desired course and e-mail to : koto.guide (a) gmail.com -- replace (a) with @--, with the subject "Koto City Walking Tour", and your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number in message body. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.

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