Yamanashi, Japan – For the first time in 100 years, a service honoring Prince Shotoku (574-622), known as the Father of Japanese Buddhism was held on Mt. Fuji.  Approximately 30 members of the Nyoraiji Temple of Yamanashi prefecture joined temple head minister Rev. Eido Watanabe who carried the bronze statue of Prince Shotoku which was donated to Nyoraiji Temple in 1811 to the 3,000 meter point where the service was conducted.  During the Edo and Meiji eras (1600-1912), the 3,000 meter point was once the former site of the taishigoya (lit. “hut of Prince Shotoku”) where a statue of Prince Shotoku was placed during the summer months allowing climbers to pay respect to Prince Shotoku.  Legend has is that in propagating Buddhism through Japan, Prince Shotoku climbed Mt. Fuji riding a fleet-footed horse named Kai no Kurokoma.

Excerpt from Hongwanji Journal, September 10, 2009.