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Magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit southern Japan, Kumamoto on April 14^th, 2016

and the aftershocks are continuing even now.  

 

I would like to share the video of “earthsky102”, “Breaking: Daybreak in Japan

and Flyover of Earthquake Damage#JapanQuake#Japan” to show you what happened.

 

 

This is the video right after the earthquake occurred,

so the damages in the stricken area are getting much worse now.

More people need food, water, place to rest and everything between.

 

What can we do? How can we help? There are things which we can do to help.

We can actually go there. And if we cannot go there physically,

we can send relief goods from wherever we are.

We can also donate money to charitable organizations.

 

 

 

At Fukui City Hall, there is a temporary reception desk for acceptance of relief supplies.

( April 20^th, 2016~April 23^rd, 2016, from 8:30-17:15)

 

They also accept donation money as well.

( April 20^th, 2016~April 23^rd, 2016, from 8:30-17:15)

 

 

You can also send relief supplies and/or donation money to the stricken area

through Red Cross near you.

 

*Japanese Red Cross Society

 

*The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

 

*Korean Red Cross

 

*American Red Cross

 

*British Red Cross

 

As you can see, there are many Red Cross in the world. 

If you don’t see the one which is near you from the above,

please find the nearest one in your area from the website.

 

Of course, other groups and organizations are available.

 

We can help!

 

T.F

In the back of this photograph, "Okunoin",

there is Kobo Daishi (Kukai) is resting in peace.

*The back area is photography prohibited.

 

Do you know what Kobo Daishi (Kukai) (774-835) did?

Beside he made Kongobuji Temple on such high mountains

which are very isolated from the city

so everyone could concentrate on Buddhist training

such as meditation and reading sutras,

he also did several other astounding achievements.

I would like to introduce some of his achievements.

 

 

In 804, he went to China to study abroad.

He learned everything about esoteric Buddhism in only 2 years

which was such a short time for anyone to learn esoteric Buddhism.

 

After he returned to Japan, he founded Shingon Buddhism

and taught people what he learned in China

with easier words so people in Japan understood it easily.

 

He also made a university called Shugei Shchiin.

He made a significant change in Japanese education system

that he let anyone regardless ones’ social classes and/or status study there.

 

The things he learned in China was not only religion, he also studied construction.

He gained construction skills

that he renovated Manno pond in Kochi Prefecture,

which is the largest pond in Japan for farming.

 

Establishing a temple on such high mountains, I find that astonishing.

And top of that, he started a university, conducted construction work

and several other achievements.

It amazes me how he is unbelievably active
and incredibly intelligent to achieve all those things.

He is a great role model for me as well.

 

 

T.F