The 4th Shikoku 88-Temple Circuit Experience for Foreign Residents and Guests (November 28, 2009) [Part 1]

We held the 4th Shikoku 88-Temple Circuit Experience for Foreign Residents and Guests on Saturday, November 28, 2009. On this hike, we walked from Yashimaji Temple to Yakuriji Temple.  Perhaps it was because of the warm early winter, but the Japanese maples were at their best, died a deep red in color.  Also, with the leaves from the zelkova trees falling all around us, it made for a wonderful scene on this Henro Pilgrimage experience.  With six participants from the United States, three from China, two from the U.K., one from Ireland, one from Canada, one from Kenya, and one from New Zealand, a total of 15 people participated.

During the 3rd Henro Experience last May, we had several people join us from the Kenyan Embassy in Tokyo.  Continuing that precedent, we were again joined by a member of the Kenyan Embassy, Third Secretary Dorothy Nthiwa.  Walking is one of her hobbies.

Member of the Kenyan Embassy in Tokyo, Ms. Dorothy Nthiwa (center).  We introduced her to the group before heading off on the hike.

Participants hiking toward the summit of Mt. Yashima:  While enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves, rare for this time of year, we hiked up the mountain.

We took a commemorative photograph in front of Yashimaji's Main Hall.  Everyone was dressed in the clothing of true pilgrims on the Henro Trail, and blended in nicely with the scenery along the roads of Sanuki.

After our commemorative picture, Assistant Director Katagiri of the Cultural Promotion Division, spoke to us about the history of the Henro Pilgrimage and the way in which you should pay your respects at the temples.  Assistant Director Katagiri (far left) has spoken to us about the Henro Pilgrimage during each of the Henro Experiences since the program's inception.

After the talk about the Henro Pilgrimage, everyone paid their respects at the Main Hall.

Yashima is a historic site of one of the battles of the Genpei War (1180-1185).  Jeremy, a CIR at the Inernational Affairs Division, passed out materials that he had translated from Japanese to English and then he gave an explanation about the battle that occurred here over 800 years ago.  The location where he gave his talk is the famous tourist spot of "Shi-shi no Reigan," from which you can look out over the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.

Afterward, we had planned to have the participants write poems and haiku, while enjoying the beautiful view of the Seto Inland Sea National Park...but throwing kawarake (small clay disks thrown from high places while making a wish) seemed to find more of a following among the participants.  Chris (far right), a CIR with the International Affairs Division, explains the plan to write poems and haiku.

Participants throwing kawarake from Shi-shi no Reigan.