Joint Celebration
850th Anniversary of Shinran Shonin’s Birth and 800th Anniversary ofEstablishment of the Jodo Shinshu Teaching
Information for Group Participation
ContentsI.

Outline of Joint Celebration
A. Service schedule ............................................................................................................. 1
B. Special services ............................................................................................................... 1
C. Daily schedule ................................................................................................................. 2

II.

Outline of Group Participation
D. Outline ........................................................................................................................... 3
E. Target Dates .................................................................................................................... 3
F. Sampai (Visitors) Center .................................................................................................. 3

III.

Additional Information

G. Participation of ministers .................................................................................................. 4
H. Services for specific affiliated organizations ..................................................................... 4I.

Individual participation ..................................................................................................... 4

J. Joint events ..................................................................................................................... 4
K. Facilities within the temple precinct .................................................................................. 5IV.

Hongwanji Affiliated Historical Sites

L. Otani Mausoleum ............................................................................................................. 6
M. Hino Birth Place ............................................................................................................... 6
N. Suminobo Temple ............................................................................................................ 7

I.

Outline of Joint Celebration

A. Service schedule
1st session

March 29–April 3, 2023

2nd session

April 10–April 15

3rd session

April 24–April 29

4th session

May 6–May11

5th session

May 16–May 21

5 sessions / 6 days per session
2 services per day: 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with some exceptions

B. Special services
Special programs for designated groups will be conducted on the following days:
1. April 29, May 6 and 7
Special services are being planned especially for those who are either new to
Buddhism or the Jodo Shinshu tradition. Final details are still pending.
2. May 18 and 19
One service each day planned for parents and their children under school age
3. May 20
One service on this day planned for students enrolled at Ryukoku Sogo
Gakuen affiliated schools. As for overseas districts, the Pacific Buddhist
Academy is the only school that is affiliated with the forementioned educational
institute organization.

1C. Daily schedule
TimeActivities

Place

5:30

Gates open

6:00

Daily Morning Service

9:35

Schedule overview
Dharma Talk
Opening Remarks

Founder’s Hall

10:00

Joint Celebration, Morning ObservanceFounder’s Hall

Estimated
Start Time
11:45

Confirmation Ceremony

Hall of Amida Buddha

Schedule overview
Dharma Talk
Opening Remarks

Founder’s Hall

14:00

Joint Celebration, Afternoon ObservanceFounder’s Hall

Estimated
Start Time
15:45

Confirmation Ceremony

Hall of Amida BuddhaDaily Evening Service

Hall of Amida Buddha &Founder’s Hall

12:30
13:45

Estimated
Start Time
16:30
Estimated
Start Time
17:30

Hall of Amida Buddha &Founder’s Hall

Gates closeConfirmation Ceremony
Follows each Joint Celebration Service, starting around 11:45 AM after the Morning
Observance and around 3:45 PM after the Afternoon Obsrvance.
Except for the following days:
April 29 (Thu), May 6 (Sat), May 7 (Sun), May 18 (Thu), May 19 (Fri), May 20 (Sat)On these days, the Confirmation Ceremonies will be conducted:
1. After the daily 6:00 AM Morning Service
2. At 1:30 PM.
On May 21 (Sun), the Confirmation Ceremony will be conducted only once, following thedaily 6:00 AM Morning Service. There will be no Confirmation Ceremony on thatafternoon.
Further procedures will be announced in May 2021 or soon thereafter.

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II.

Outline of Group Participation

D. Outline
1. Group participants are welcome to register for and participate in any of the services
during the Joint Celebration period (24 days and 47 services), EXCEPT for thefollowing six days.
April 29 (Thu),
May 18 (Thu),

May 6 (Sat),May 19 (Fri),May 7 (Sun),
May 20 (Sat)

2. A participating group can be made up of one or more temples. If your group
becomes larger than one motor coach capacity, please subdivide your group into
sub-group units based on the capacity of a motor coach for each sub-group.
3. 1200–1400 chairs will be set-up in the Founder’s Hall. Seating assignments forgroup participants will be made in advance.
4. Voluntary donations in any amount in gratitude for service participation will begreatly appreciated.
E. Target Dates
October 2020
Outline of Joint Celebration (in Japanese) was distributed to the Jodo ShinshuHongwanji-ha affiliate temples in Japan.
1. October–December 2021
The First Application Period
Please submit your application to participate in the Joint Celebration by following
the procedures that will be announced in the near future. Applications will behandled through the Sampai Center (see III. Additional Information, F. Sampai(Visitors) Center.
2. February 2022–March 2023
The Second Application Period
The seats that still remain vacant after the deadline of the first application period will
be available for anyone who would like to participate in the Joint Celebration.
F. Sampai (Visitors) Center
In order to centralize coordination and information, a Joint Celebration Sampai (Visitors)
Center will be set up by August 2021. The Sampai Center will operate in cooperation
with the designated Kanji (managing) companies. All travel agencies or bus companies
that intend to make arrangements for a group of delegates who will participate in theJoint Celebration will need to be registered as a Sampai Kyoryoku Kaisha (Participation
Cooperating Company).

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III.

Additional Information

G. Participation of ministers
New ritual(s) for the Joint Celebration will be arranged and finalized by the end of March
2022. Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha priests who have fulfilled specified requirements areeligible to apply to participate in the services as a chanting priest or ritual musician.
Further details (qualifications, necessary attire, etc.) will be announced at a later date.
H. Services for Specific Affiliated Organizations
Specific services for the following Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha affiliated organizations
will be arranged respectively for each association. The schedule is as follows,
1. Dharma School Association

March 29 (Wed), Afternoon Observance2. Scouts Association

March 31 (Fri), Afternoon Observance

3. Monto Suishinin (lay leaders)April 10 (Mon), Morning Observance

4. Adult Buddhist Association / Young Buddhist Association
April 15 (Sat), Afternoon Observance
5. Federation of Buddhist Women’s Associations
May 10 (Wed), Morning ObservanceMay 10 (Wed), Afternoon ObservanceMay 11 (Thu), Morning Observance
Note: Separate invitations will be distributed to each unit from the respective
association headquarters.
I. Individual participation
In order to encourage those who have had no chance to encounter either general
Buddhism or Jodo Shinshu Buddhism up until now and to become familiar with theBuddhist tradition as well as the Hongwanji Temple, we encourage individual
participation in the Joint Celebration. We plan to accept applications for individualparticipation starting from April 2022.
1. Any individual or tour groups are welcome to apply to attend the Joint Celebration.
Applications must be submitted through the Sampai (Visitors) Center.
2. Individual participation will be possible based on available seating.
3. Donations from individual participants will be greatly appreciated. There is no set
donation amount.
Note: Additional procedures and information will be forthcoming.
J. Joint events
In cooperation with various institutions, co-sponsored joint events at the Hongwanji havebeen planned for April 29 (Sat), May 6 (Sat), and May 7 (Sun). Details will be forthcoming.
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Exhibition on Shinran Shonin
The Shinshu Kyodan Rengo, or Shinshu Federation will co-sponsor a special exhibition,“Life and Mementos of Shinran (TBD),” together with the Kyoto National Museum andothers to mark the 850th anniversary of Shinran Shonin’s birth. This exhibition will alsocommemorate the 50th anniversary of the Shinshu Kyodan Rengo. The Federation’s
affiliated temples will jointly display their religious or cultural artifacts related with Shinran
Shonin for the exhibition.
Dates:March 25 (Sat)–May 21 (Sun), 2023
Place:
Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Annex
Sponsors: Kyoto National Museum, The Asahi Shimbun Company, NHK Kyoto, NHK
Planet Kinki
K. Facilities within the Temple Precinct
Detailed information will be forthcoming.
1. North Parking Lot
We would appreciate attendees taking public transportation when possible. If using charteredbus (either motorcoach, medium-sized bus or mini bus), prior arrangements and notification tothe Sampai (Visitors) Center is required. In case of congestion, you may be directed in waiting
your turn.
2. Rest area
In addition to the rest area which will be set up in the Monbou Kaikan, a temporary tent wherevisitors can relax will be available in the temple courtyard. Lunch venue should be reserved
separately.
3. LunchGroups have the option of making their own lunch arrangements. Bento lunches prepared bydesignated catering companies can be ordered through the Sampai (Visitors) Center.
4. Picture takingLocations for group photos will be designated.

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IV.

Historical sites related to Hongwanji

L. Otani Mausoleum
1. Visitation
a. Office hours
9:00 AM–5:00 PM (Commemoration Observance Period)
Gates open: 5:30 AM
Gates close: 5:00 PM
b. Registration
Special group registration desk will be made availablec. Time frame (approximate)
Visitation only:- Approximately 50 minutes (excluding time getting on and off bus)
Interring of remains:- Approximately 70 minutes (excluding time getting on and off bus)
Note:
At least 30 minutes should be added when visiting Odabisho (cremation site)
Congestion is anticipated especially during weekends and holidays.
2. Interring of remains
a. Sodan Nokotsu:
Interring alongside the remains of Shinran Shoninb. Muryojudo Nokotsu: Interring of remains within a designated temple nichec. Eitaikyo:
Perpetual Memorial Service- Information for interring of remains is available upon request by the International Center.
3. Bus parking- Parking is not available. Visitors are asked to get on and off their bus at the stop along
National Route 1 that runs on the south side of Otani Mausoleum.
- The designated bus waiting area and other information will be forthcoming.

M. Hino Birth Place
1. Visitation
a. Office hours
9:00 AM–3:30 PMb. Guide
Ministers will be on-site to share the history of the temple.
c. Time frame (approximate)- 20–30 minutes (excluding time getting on and off bus)
- At least 20–30 minutes should be added when visiting Hokkaiji Temple.
(located next to Hino Birth Place)- If you plan on visiting the Hokkaiji Temple, a separate reservation throughthe Sampai (Visitors) Center is required, as Hokkaiji is not an affiliate of Jodo
Shinshu Hongwanji-ha.
2. Bus parking- Limited parking will be available at the adjoining affiliated Nursery facility.
- Special safety concerns must be taken if the bus drop-off and pick-up takes place when
the school is in session.
- Streets in the neighboring area are also very narrow with local bus service routes
channeling through them. Please instruct your driver to drive slowly with care.

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N. Suminobo Temple
1. Visitation
a. Office hours
9:00 AM–4:00 PMb. Guide
Ministers will be on-site to share the history of the temple.
c. Time frame (approximate)
20–30 minutes (excluding time getting on and off bus)
2. Bus parking- A section of the temple precinct will be made available for limited parking.
- Adjoining the temple is the Nishi Hongwanji Nursery School, so special safety concerns
must be made if your bus drop-off and pick-up takes place while school is in session.

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