Study Tours


Women's Association members at Hokaiji temple, Kyoto.	Members of the student group at Yakushiji temple, Nara.

Since 1970 field trips to temples and museums have been a regular part of the seminar programs for students, young adults, women, men and lay leaders. During the past twenty-eight years we have conducted 138such trips, visiting 86 places, mainly in the Kyoto-Nara area, where examples of the finest Buddhist statues and architecture abound. Lay leaders have visited Kyushu, Hiroshima, Tohoku, Boston, and Korea to study local art treasures. Mr. Shigehisa Yamasaki, art historian, has been both guide and lecturer on almost all field trips.

The most frequently visited sites are Yakushji and Horyuji temples in Nara. Mr. Okada regarded the Kannon statue at Yakushiji as one of the most beautiful sculptures of its period and the buildings of Horyuji as the crystallization of the best in Buddhist architecture. Mr. Yamasaki usually gives a lecture before the study tour, often with slides, and most tours are followed by discussions and reports by the participants.

In early 1979 part of Mokichi Okada's collection was exhibited at the Kyoto National Museum. "Red and White Plum Trees" by Ogata Korin---whom Mr. Okada regarded as Japan's preeminent painter---and "Wisteria Jar" by Ninsei, both designated as national treasures, were included. The church organized a series of lectures on the collection for its members prior to their visit to the museum.

Table of Contents

12/16/1997 Reimei Church (revised on 04/05/98)