Japanese group holds peace prayer ceremony

BAGAC, Bataan – To honor the Japanese and Filipino soldiers who died during World War II, the Osaka City Chuo Ward Seika Community Promotion Association, a group of Japanese nationality, administered a peace prayer ceremony yesterday at the Philippines-Japan Friendship Tower, this town.

Five Buddhist monks from West Japan officiated the doxology led by Mr. Ryukou Kimura together with Mrs. Yoshimi Kimura, Mr. Daiji Yoshida, Mr. Shunyu Kaga and Mr. Kosho Torii, who are all part of the Kyoto Yamashina Kanshuji, a counterpart of a diocese in Catholic.

The five monks are members of the Osaka Minami International Cultural Exchange Committee. This committee will initiate an exchange program between the Osaka Minami Elementary School and Binukawan Elementary School of Bagac, Bataan.

Meanwhile, this ceremony is one of the activities conducted for the celebration of the 41st year of Philippines-Japan Friendship Day. Year 2016 marks the 41st anniversary of the Filipino-Japanese Friendship or the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines. The year-long celebration started in January with the state visit of the Japanese emperor and empress in Manila.

“Ginagawa namin ito para igalang yung mga namatay nung digmaan, para hindi na maulit yung pangyayaring iyon at para sa ikauunlad ng pagkakaibigan ng Pilipinas at ng Japan,” said Mr. Kimura as translated by Ms. Maria Hiramatsu in Filipino.

The entire event was organized by the Department of Tourism in Osaka City, Japan led by Ms. Leona Nepomuceno, in partnership with the Department of Tourism-Region 3 and the Provincial Tourism Office. This was coordinated thru the Philippine Consulate General-Osaka Vice Consul Shirley Nuevo.

Moreover, Rev. Fr. Jesus Nova from the St. Joseph Diocese of Balanga joined the peace prayer ceremony. Other attendees include Board Member Aristotle Gaza, Board Member Gaudencio Ferrer, Bagac Municipal Administrator Nicanor Ancheta, representatives from Bataan Christian Youth Council Circle, and representatives from Filipino Nihongo Cultural Society in Bataan Peninsula State University.

After the program in the Friendship Tower, the group engaged in a community outreach wherein they attended a graduation ceremony at Binukawan Elementary School, also in this town..