創業者ブログ

The festival of Jizo [the guardian deity of children] in December
(Dec.22, 2006)

There are only about a week away from the end of this year. We will host the monthly festival of Jizo on 24th, which will be the last one in this year.

On the recommendation of the local government of Fukui, a project to boost the revitalize the city of Fukui is now in practice. This project is called the "Thinking-about-Fukui project." The city of Fukui was burnt to the ground several times, once by the air raid during the war, the other times by the conflagrations after the war. For this reason, unfortunately, Fukui does not have many heritage attractions except the beautiful landscape and the ancient monuments preserved in the soil.

I wanted to create a new attraction for Fukui. I started, therefore, hosting a new festival in front of the JR station of Fukui. This festival celebrates the mercy of Jizo.

In Shimo-sugamo of Tokyo, there is a famous temple of Jizo, which had attracted many visitors. Legend has it that Jizo of Simo-sugamo came from Fukui. I hope that Jizo of Fukui attracts as many visitors as that of Fukui. Moreover, I am also hoping that the new festival of Jizo in Fukui provides the afflicted with renewed courage to live. The first festival was held on October 24 in corporation with the priests and followers of Buddhism living in front of JR station of Fukui.

There must be many historical treasures unknown by all. Legend has it that Fukui is an influential area before the reign of Emperor Keitai (450?-531).
The Mausolea and Tombs Division of the Imperial Household Agency did not declared the ancient tombs in Fukui as the imperial ones. However, I still believe that they might be associated with the imperial family. Luckily, archaeologists are allowed to freely carry academic investigations of the ancient tombs in Fukui. It is likely, I think, archaeologists make some amazing discovery of ancient Japan. In fact, within the last century, many great archaeological discoveries have been made in Fukui. The archaeology of the ancient mausolea in Fukui was still in the gray of the daybreak.

Fukui has a great tradition of Buddhism. I think that this tradition has been underestimated. Fukui is the great kingdom of Buddhism on par with Kyoto or Kamakura. I am trying to figure out how the great Buddhist tradition of Fukui can be most effectively utilized for public.

At least, I am now a host of the festival of Jizo in front of the JR station of Fukui. I believe that this festival makes some contribution to revitalizing Fukui. I hope that the last festival of Jizo in 2006 have a gerat number of visitors.

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