Message from the Chief Priest

I grew up in Tokyo. Komyoji Temple was the temple of my mother’s family,
but there was no one to succeed it.
As I approached graduation from university,
I spent a great deal of time thinking about what kind of path
I wanted to follow in life.

Around that time, members of the temple community
and local residents encouraged me to become a Buddhist priest
and continue the temple.

Until then, I had never seriously imagined becoming a priest.
But I began to think that there are not many paths in life
that one is asked to follow because other people sincerely hope for it.

That thought changed the way I saw my future.
I felt that if people truly hoped that I would continue the temple,
perhaps this was a path I should follow.

After studying Buddhism and completing my training as a Soto Zen monk,
I eventually became the Chief Priest of Komyoji Temple.

Today, one of the things I value most is ensuring
that the temple continues to be a place
that is needed by its local community.

A Buddhist temple is not only a place for funerals and memorial services.
I believe it can also be a place where people gather,
learn, experience culture, and encounter new people and ideas.

I have also been involved for many years
in international Buddhist exchange.

Komyoji has a long history,
but I do not believe that a temple should exist only to preserve the past.
I hope it can also be an open place where local people
and visitors from around the world can meet,
learn from one another,
and experience Japanese Buddhist culture.

I hope that your time at Komyoji will become one small gateway
to discovering Japanese Buddhism,
Japanese culture,
and the local community here in Susono.

I look forward to welcoming you to Komyoji Temple.

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