Wako, Saitama
Encyclopedia
is a city located in the southern part of Saitama
, Japan
, bordering on Tokyo.
As of 1 May 2008, the city has an estimated population of 76,221. The total area is 11.04 km².
It was formerly home to a Honda
factory, but is now the location for the company's technical development section. Part of the headquarters function of Honda is scheduled to move from Tokyo.
The head offices of RIKEN
, famous as a large natural sciences research institute in Japan, are also located in the city.
Wakō has a sister city relationship with Longview, WA http://www.city.wako.lg.jp/english-index/SisterCityRelationship.html.
Excavations have revealed a large amount of Jōmon period pottery, stone tools and other remains. Signs of early rice cultivation coinciding with the Yayoi period as well as quantities of Yayoi period pottery and implements have also been found.
and a wooden plaque reside in the temple. They are important treasures of the City of Wakō. The plaque bears the inscription: "Namu myoho rengekyo" (I take my refuge in the Lotus Sutra
).
the founder of Nichiren sect of Buddhism
, dropped in at the house of his old friend, Tokimitsu on his way to Sado
. Tokimitsu's wife was going through a difficult childbirth. When Nichiren prayed for a safe delivery and made a blessing with a willow twig a spring of pure water sprang up on the spot. Nichiren then had Tokimitu's wife hold the willow twig while water from the spring was poured into her mouth whereupon she soon gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
There used to be a large willow tree beside the pond at the temple, and it is said that this tree grew from the twig that Nichiren used to bless the birth. The tree is no longer there today.
Road was completed in 1633 (Kan'ei 10) when the third Shogun
Tokugawa Iemitsu
visited Kawagoe Senpa Toshogu (the Tokugawa family tomb). At that time, Kawagoe Castle played an important role in governing the northern part of Musashino
Province and maintaining law and order in the area. Kawagoe was 10Ri (about 40 km) from Nihonbashi
in the old part of Edo
and there were six juku along the way, namely: Kamiitabashi, Shimonerima, Shirako, Hizaori, Owada, and Oi. Juku were officially regulated settlements catering to travellers. Shirako juku was 20 km from the capital of Edo
and travellers often stopped there for lunch. After a steep winding hill and with ample spring water, Shirako was a good rest stop. Travellers came from the direction of Nitta Zaka then went up Oh saka and down Kurayami zaka, which was dark even in the daytime.
, however, this is uncertain. The temple was dedicated to the Juichimen Kannon (Kannon with eleven faces). The kannon is made of wood and may have been made at the beginning of the Edo period
.There is a huge Ginkgo tree in the temple grounds. The tree is estimated to be over 700 years old, has a diameter of more than 7.5 meters and stands nearly 30 meters tall. It is designated as a natural monument of the City of Wako.
. It served as the family temple of the Sakai clan. Gorintō
, or five-wheeled pagodas were placed at graves as a memorial and to console the spirits of the departed. Three gorinto can be found at Ikkanji at the graves of Tadashige Sakai, his wife, and a former administrator's wife.
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, bordering on Tokyo.
As of 1 May 2008, the city has an estimated population of 76,221. The total area is 11.04 km².
It was formerly home to a Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
factory, but is now the location for the company's technical development section. Part of the headquarters function of Honda is scheduled to move from Tokyo.
The head offices of RIKEN
RIKEN
is a large natural sciences research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has approximately 3000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, the main one in Wako, just outside Tokyo...
, famous as a large natural sciences research institute in Japan, are also located in the city.
Wakō has a sister city relationship with Longview, WA http://www.city.wako.lg.jp/english-index/SisterCityRelationship.html.
History
The city was established as Yamato Town in 1943, and was renamed Wakō on becoming a city on October 31, 1970.Places of historical interest in the City of Wakō
Archaeological examination of several sites around Wakō has revealed the remains of a number of villages in the area. We now know that people have lived in the area since ancient times.Excavations have revealed a large amount of Jōmon period pottery, stone tools and other remains. Signs of early rice cultivation coinciding with the Yayoi period as well as quantities of Yayoi period pottery and implements have also been found.
Myoten-ji
This temple was consecrated by Sudagoro Tokimitsu, the local administrator of Shimoniikura (1278–1287). A statue of NichirenNichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
and a wooden plaque reside in the temple. They are important treasures of the City of Wakō. The plaque bears the inscription: "Namu myoho rengekyo" (I take my refuge in the Lotus Sutra
Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
).
Koyasu no Shimizu (Temple for Safe Childbirth)
The story goes that one day, NichirenNichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
the founder of Nichiren sect of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, dropped in at the house of his old friend, Tokimitsu on his way to Sado
Sado
-People:*Prince Sado, a Joseon Korean crown prince who never acceded*Yutaka Sado, a Japanese conductor-Other:* Sado, Niigata, a city and an island of Niigata Prefecture, Japan...
. Tokimitsu's wife was going through a difficult childbirth. When Nichiren prayed for a safe delivery and made a blessing with a willow twig a spring of pure water sprang up on the spot. Nichiren then had Tokimitu's wife hold the willow twig while water from the spring was poured into her mouth whereupon she soon gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
There used to be a large willow tree beside the pond at the temple, and it is said that this tree grew from the twig that Nichiren used to bless the birth. The tree is no longer there today.
Kawagoe Road
KawagoeKawagoe
Kawagoe may refer to two different locations in Japan:*Kawagoe, Mie, a town in Mie Prefecture*Kawagoe, Saitama, a city in Saitama Prefecture...
Road was completed in 1633 (Kan'ei 10) when the third Shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
visited Kawagoe Senpa Toshogu (the Tokugawa family tomb). At that time, Kawagoe Castle played an important role in governing the northern part of Musashino
Musashino
Musashino may refer to:* Musashino , a train service in Japan* Musashino, Tokyo, a city in Greater Tokyo, Japan* Musashino Line, a railway line in Greater Tokyo, Japan* 3249 Musashino, an asteroid* Musashino Terrace...
Province and maintaining law and order in the area. Kawagoe was 10Ri (about 40 km) from Nihonbashi
Nihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
in the old part of Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
and there were six juku along the way, namely: Kamiitabashi, Shimonerima, Shirako, Hizaori, Owada, and Oi. Juku were officially regulated settlements catering to travellers. Shirako juku was 20 km from the capital of Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
and travellers often stopped there for lunch. After a steep winding hill and with ample spring water, Shirako was a good rest stop. Travellers came from the direction of Nitta Zaka then went up Oh saka and down Kurayami zaka, which was dark even in the daytime.
Choshoji (Temple of the Shingon Sect)
It is thought that this temple was built before the Edo periodEdo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, however, this is uncertain. The temple was dedicated to the Juichimen Kannon (Kannon with eleven faces). The kannon is made of wood and may have been made at the beginning of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
.There is a huge Ginkgo tree in the temple grounds. The tree is estimated to be over 700 years old, has a diameter of more than 7.5 meters and stands nearly 30 meters tall. It is designated as a natural monument of the City of Wako.
Ikkanji (Temple of the Soto Sect), Gorintō (five-wheeled pagoda)
Ikkanji was built during the Kan'ei era (1624–43) and was consecrated by Sakai Tadashige, a local administrator of Shimoniikura in the Edo periodEdo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. It served as the family temple of the Sakai clan. Gorintō
Gorinto
is the name of a Japanese type of Buddhist pagoda believed to have been first adopted by the Shingon and Tendai sects during the mid Heian period. It is used for memorial or funerary purposes and is therefore common in Buddhist temples and cemeteries. It is also called or , where the term sotoba...
, or five-wheeled pagodas were placed at graves as a memorial and to console the spirits of the departed. Three gorinto can be found at Ikkanji at the graves of Tadashige Sakai, his wife, and a former administrator's wife.