Last week, there was a festival “Matsuri” at our neighborhood temple (YOU TUBE video), the Komyoji. Every year they have an event at the temple called Ojuya, which means a Buddhist memorial service for the repose of the dead for 3 days. The temple belongs to the Jodo Buddhist sect and exist from 1243AD.



It is very festive. The temple grounds are filled with all kinds of stands
from food stalls, like the stall with health food snack of octopus and squid!,







to games for little children catching goldfish with a flat sieve,

and stalls of wicker household ware.








Then there are the memorial services in the temple (to the left a picture of praying monks and to the right a special altar with offerings) and performances: a dance performance by children (YOU TUBE movie) and a orchestral performance by monks (YOU TUBE movie).


You can visit the entrance gate “Sanmon” and climb to (YOU TUBE movie) the second level where you have a wonderful view over the temple grounds and part of the city and the sea. Inside on the second floor wooden statues are preserved behind glass. You still can see the colors of the paint.
The faces and composure of the body of the praying monks
(YOU TUBE movie) are full of expression.







And the gods standing next to them are protecting them.