Shinran Shonin, a name that echoes through the centuries, stands before us in bronze. This statue of Shinran Shonin at Shitennoji Temple has a remarkable story. It’s a tale of resilience and peace, a silent witness to history’s tumultuous turns. Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, is immortalized here beside the Saidaimon Gate at Shitennoji Temple. This statue is one of six, originally cast in 1937. A devout Buddhist industrialist, Seiichi Hirose, commissioned these statues. They were placed in various cities across Japan, including Hiroshima. Three of the six statues were melted down for the war effort. The Hiroshima statue, however, miraculously survived the atomic blast. The statue stood on Hijirigaoka hill, overlooking Hiroshima. The hypocenter was merely a mile away. It endured the bomb’s devastating power, bearing the scars to this day. You can still see the red burn marks, a poignant reminder of the destruction. Traces of radioactivity can even be detected. Hirose saw the statue’s survival as a symbol of peace. He and Reverend Hozen Seki decided to bring it to New York City. In 1955, it was unveiled at the American Buddhist Academy. The statue serves as a beacon of hope, a testament to resilience and a call for peace in a world that desperately needs it.
旧守口市立下島小学校
Shimojima Elementary School’s bell echoed one last time in March 2024. This marked the end of its 49-year history. It