SENMYOZAN HOKKEJI TEMPLE COMMEMORATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
On the 25th February, 2018, a commemorative ceremony was held for the 20th anniversary of the Senmyozan Hokkeji Temple. In attendance were 11 guest Priests, 6 Japanese Hokkeko members, 24 Taiwanese members, 5 European members and 1170 African members. The country breakdown for African attendance is as follows:
Ghana: 735 Togo: 363 Cote D’Ivoire: 33 Benin: 18
Nigeria: 16 South Africa: 3 Liberia: 1 Congo: 1
The ceremony was in three parts: the Sanmon gate opening ceremony, the commemorative ceremony and the cultural performances.
Registration of arriving members and Gokuyo offering was done between 6:30am and 8:45am. By 8:50am, all members present were at the forecourt of the Temple awaiting the arrival of the Overseas Department Chief, Rev. Gyoyu Urushibata.
SANMON GATE OPENING CEREMONY
Upon his arrival at 9:00am, Overseas Department Chief Rev. Gyoyu Urushibata, the Chief Priest of Senmyozan Hokkeji Temple, Rev. Shindo Imafuku and Koto, Dr. Kwame Odame Boamah, cut the sod in the presence of guest Priests, Kanji, foreign and African members; to officially open the Sanmon gate amidst the sound of celebratory drumming. The MC for this part of the ceremony was Mr Anokye Appiah-Danquah. A bouquet was presented to Rev.Gyoyu Urushibata by Children division member, Juliet Abena Ewusie. Right after, Rev. Urushibata, his assistant Rev. Miyake, Chief Priest Rev. Imafuku and Koto, Dr Boamah departed to sansho in the main hall; while guest Priests, Kanji and African leaders departed to Chief Priest’s residence. By 9:10am, all African members had been ushered to take their seats in the main hall, reception area and forecourt.
COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY
Shodai started at 9:15am to 9:45am. During this period, the Japanese, the Taiwanese, European members, Kanji and African Leaders took their seats. After shodai, MCs for the ceremony; Efua Anim-Biney and Charlotte Daklou made announcements and took members through the programme. Thereafter, members sat in silence awaiting the entrance of the Priests. The Priests took their seats at 9:55am and ceremonial Gongyo, Kenzen and Gojukai acceptance ceremony followed immediately. After this, the MCs gave welcome and opening remarks and introduced the guest Priests and other invited guests. The programme commenced with a congratulatory speech by Rev Chodo Ishibashi; Chief Priest of Honkoin Temple in Taiwan. After this, Efua Anim-Biney read the congratulatory message of previous Chief Priest of Senmyozan Hokkeji Temple; Rev. Shingaku Kato. Thereafter, Overseas Department Chief; Rev Gyoyu Urushibata delivered his congratulatory speech. Chief Priest of Hokkeji Temple; Rev. Shindo Imafuku then gave his words of appreciation and vote of thanks was given by Koto of Hokkeji Chapter, Dr Kwame Odame Boamah. There were singing of songs by the “Lotus flowers of Ghana” and the “Voice of Bodhisattvas” from Togo. Next, women division leader; Mrs Comfort Moncar presented gifts to guest Priests and Priests’ families. There was Daimoku sansho to end the ceremony and commemorative photographs afterwards. The commemorative ceremony came to a close at 12:30pm.
CULTURAL PERFORMANCES
After a 45minute break during which Gokuyo offering was allowed, all members were seated at 1:15pm. The Priests took their seats at 1:25pm. MCs for this part of the ceremony were Esi Anim-Biney and Charlotte Daklou. After opening remarks by the MCs, there were performances from Benin, Abbey Lotus Academy, Kumasi, Nigeria, Hokkeji/Tema North, Cote D’ivoire and Togo. Each performance lasted between 7 and 10 minutes. The ceremony came to a close at 2:40pm. Evening Gongyo followed 15 minutes later at 2:55pm. Final departure of Priests, guests and members was at 3:25pm.
