This place was built in 1260

It's a temple built around 740 years ago

Nice to meet you

Sorry I don't speak much Japanese but

If you look close, there is an animal inside. What type of animal do you think it is?

Um....I don't know. A horse? -Yes, it's a horse

You know the Japanese zodiac? Rats, ox, tiger, rabbit....it's all lined up here

What is your Japanese zodiac? -Rat

Then let's take a look at Rat. It's over here

The rat has a rice barrel in hand. It's quite a unique one

Since you are here, let's have you try out some experiences

What is that?

This is called an Okesa

I already have it on

This is to show that I am a servant of Buddha

Before we put the Kesa on, there is a Sutra we have to say to Buddha so repeat after me

So for here on, we will go through training as a servant of Buddha

This is the main hall of our temple

This is where we have the Buddha worshiped

We have the guests seated here for different ceremonies

I want you to try something called the Mokugyo

Please hold this

How is it? Is it light or heavy?

It's actually pretty light

What is this shape?

From the past it was the shape of the fish, and that's why it's called Mokugyo, or the wooden fish

It may not look like a fish

We hit this with this

It's to make a sound

I will be hitting the bigger one, so please follow by chanting Namuamidabutsu

This is a way of Buddhism

To chant Namuabidabu will enable you to enter nirvana when you die

so to enter nirvana we will chant Namuamidabu

Let's try it

How was it?

It was quite difficult, like singing a song

Thank you very much -Thank you

It's an unusual experience so you probably was startled

The pronunciation was quite hard

With our clan, we believe putting into action is better than continue studying

based on this, even if the pronunciation is not correct we believe it's better to try it

Oh thank you very much

Let's have a ceremony to take it off

Let me chant

Has this temple Daikoji been here for long time?

This was built in 1260

so it's about 760 years old

Which generation? -Now my father is 26th, and in future I will be 27th

From quite a while ago

27th is a number which is way out

I'm not sure what the difference between temples and shrines

The big difference is that shrines worship gods

but in temples we worship Buddha

This is the big difference

Usually temples have doors to enter

For shrines they have gates called Torii and ahead of that gate is the realm of gods

This separates the border of gods and humans

When you pass a gate, it's usually a shrine

How to enter? -For temples, the most beautiful way is to enter with your hands together

There is a version where you put your hands together, and one where you just bow

Both shrines and temples have similar ways of thinking

You don't walk through the middle

This thought come from the middle being the path which gods or Buddha walk through so you don't walk in the middle

Are there any new challenges?

Yes. As this program is broadcasted on YouTube,

I myself have my own channel where I go to shrines and temples to ask questions

It's called Jinja Bukkaku Online, and as the title says, I broadcast online about shirnes and temples

That sounds like fun

So you go interviewing? -Yes, a monk goes to interview a monk

And I'm also thinking of the apprentice tour like the one you had just experienced just a while ago

Can anybody do it?

From next year. Right now we are just building up the tour

so it's not complete yet. Perhaps from next year the program will start and people abroad can try it out, too

Thank you -Thank you for visiting