July 2026

Recently, heavy rainfalls have severely damaged the road that leads up to Shinmeizan. Now, works are under way to repair it, but there are only limited times when traffic is possible. This situation has obliged us to cancel the monthly retreat, held usually on the second Thursday of every month, and also to ask several guests who wanted to come now to Shinmeizan, to wait for another occasion. 

Fortunately, we have been able to welcome Ven. Ide Satoshi, Head of Sainenji Temple (Pure Land Buddhism) of Imari (Saga Pref.) and two of his coworkers, on July 8-10, and, on July 9, Ven. Hara Onin (Nichiren Buddhism), Head of Choenji Temple, from Kumamoto. With Sr Maria of Shinmeizan, they consulted about their participation in the international interreligious meeting organized by the Community of Saint Egidio, which will be held in Assisi (Italy) on October 25-27 this year.

Also, on July 15-17, we were able to welcome, Mr. Wilkie Tucker, of the Anglican community of Rev. Berek Smith, Tokyo, who had visited Shinmeizan during the last month of June. 

Among the various activities in the field of interreligious dialogue, we wish to mention the following:

-        The participation by Sr. Maria in the meeting of the Committee for interreligious Dialogue of the Bishops Conference of Japan, held on July 16, in Fukuoka,

-        And the visit, on July 26, by Fr. Claudio, Sr. Maria and Fr. Franco, leading the Group for interreligious dialogue of Kumamoto to the headquarters of OMOTO, in Kumamoto. Omoto, born within the Shinto tradition, is the oldest of the so called “new religions” of Japan,

# The strong earthquake that struck Kyushu on July 28—and particularly the Kumamoto area—causing extensive damage and, unfortunately, also claiming lives, was also felt strongly in Shinmeizan, but fortunately, we have not suffered any visible damage (so far).