Kiyosaki Hyakumanben Nembutsu

About this event

The traditional event "Kiyosaki Hyakumanben Nembutsu" handed down in Kiyosaki, Shitara Town, is said to have originated in the first year of Genko (1331) during an epidemic following a major earthquake, when Zen'a Shonin of the Jodo sect head temple chanted the Nembutsu one million times with miraculous efficacy, receiving the temple name "Hyakumanben" from Emperor Go-Daigo. Since then, it has been widely practiced among the common people as a collective prayer of community groups (kumi) for memorializing ancestors, expressing gratitude, and praying for good health and protection from illness. Although temporarily suspended due to the anti-Buddhist movement (haibutsu kishaku) in the Meiji era, the Nembutsu gathering was revived alongside the reconstruction of the Bishamondo in 1890 (Meiji 23). On the day of the event from around 8:00 AM, people of the group gather at the Bishamondo carrying multi-tiered jubako boxes packed with botamochi and sweets to offer offerings. Afterward, they sit in a circle in the outer sanctuary (gejin), with the "kane-tataki" (bell striker) and "kazu-tori" (counter) seated beside them, and the chanting of the Nembutsu "Namu Amida Butsu" begins in rhythm with the bell while rotating a large prayer bead rosary to the right. The Kiyosaki Hyakumanben Nembutsu is performed in a form called ryakuho sosho, where one Nembutsu is chanted for each bead passed; 20 gathering members rotate the large rosary of 1,080 beads 46 times to reach one million times. The ceremony continues until around 2:00 PM with breaks and lunch in between. This Nembutsu is also designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Shitara Town, offering a precious opportunity to experience faith and traditional culture rooted in the local community.

Venue

Bishamondo

Ono, Kiyosaki, Shitara-cho, Kitashitara-gun, Aichi 441-2302