About Lanka Ji Temple
"Lankaji" is the first established Theravada temple in Japan. Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero voluntarily founded the temple in Sawara, Chiba Prefecture in 1989. From then until now, it has direct relations with the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and acts as the main Sri Lankan center of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan. The Mahabodhi Society has become a spiritual home for Sri Lankans as well as a bridge connecting Sri Lanka and Japan, primarily in terms of communication. Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa started the first temple in a rented house in Tokyo, but due to his unremitting efforts and sacrifices, he managed to establish it in a permanent place before long. It is currently the Sawara Lankaji Temple built in a beautiful place in Chiba Prefecture. It has been an active place in the past as well as in the present, not only on the religious work done in a traditional temple, but also in the past as well as in the present.
Temple Named After The Bodhi Tree
The name of the temple in Sri Lanka, which is also the parent temple of Lankaji, is Maha Bodhi, which is derived from the Bodhi tree.
Bodhi means enlightenment. It is an evergreen tree of the mulberry family, and it is said that Buddha attained enlightenment under it, and the tree is called Bodhi tree (Bodhi tree in Japanese).
It is said that the Buddha, who attained enlightenment, continued to stare at the Bodhi tree for seven days without moving his eyes, expressing his gratitude and respect for the Bodhi tree.
After the Buddha passed away, the Bodhi tree became a special object of worship as a symbol of Buddha’s enlightenment.
Lankaji Pagoda
On August 2, 2017, the ceremonial stone laying was conducted in the presence of the Maha Sangha led by Viharadhipathi Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, the then Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan, Professor Ganganath Dissanayake, and the main benefactor, businessman Mr. Jagath Ramanayake. On August 19, 2018, the sacred relics were enshrined for the foundation, and on that day, Mr. Jagath Ramanayake, the chairman of Rama DBK Company, carried out the foundation-laying ceremony. At present, among the Paddy fields anyone can see, the most splendid one is this beautiful Pagoda..
