毛越寺
Motsuji was founded in 850 by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), though most of its structures were not built until the twelfth century, when the second and third Hiraizumi Fujiwara lords, Motohira and Hidehira, brought the temple to prominence. At its peak, Motsuji was a complex of 40 halls and stupas, and 500 monks' quarters. The temple is said to have exceeded even Chusonji Temple in size and magnificence. However, after the fall of the Fujiwara at the close of the twelfth century, several terrible fires reduced every last one of those buildings to ashes. The only original feature remaining is the Pure Land Garden centered on Oizumi ga Ike Pond. This outstanding twelfth century garden specimen was almost completely preserved and has been designated a Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government.
These pictures were taken on November, 2015.
Motsuji Main Gate
毛越寺 正門
About Motsuji
Hondo ; Main Hall
本堂
本尊は薬師如来で、平安時代の作
Pure Land Garden, Motsuji Temple Garden
浄土庭園
Oizumi ga Ike Pond
大泉が池
Kaisando Hall
開山堂
This hall commemorates Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), third head abbot of the Tendai sect, to whom the temple legend attribute's Motsuji's founding.
毛越寺を開いた慈覚大師円仁(794-864)
常行堂
Jogyodo ; Circumambulation Hall
The current structure was rebuilt in 1732 to extend the military fortunes of the lord of Sendai, Date Yoshimura. Under the hall's pyramidal roof is a dais on which is the primary object of worship, the Amida Buddha, flanked by four bodhisattvas.
Amida Buddha
阿弥陀如来
Japanese foods are good and safe.
Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.
Tenzaru Soba ; Tempura and Soba Noodles Served on a Zaru Basket
天ざるそば
Ramen
ラーメン
Shirako ; Soft roe, Fish Milt Sashimi
白子
Ekiben ; Box lunch sold on a train or at a station
駅弁
About 5 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.
Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the nuclear power plant accident in Japan.
Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."
As PM Abe said, Iwate prefecture have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in Iwate have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.
We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Iwate. So people in Iwate are living without any concern about the accident.
I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the nuclear power plant accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.
公衆衛生ネットワーク
Public Health Network in Japan
