Interaction with Religions Overseas In 1984, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama visited Japan and celebrated the “Aura Festival World Peace Prayer Service,” joining Kiriyama Kancho in lighting the ritual fire at Tokyo’s Budokan, in Japan.

The following year, in 1985, Agon Shu was invited to the Vatican City to participate in the “Prayer for Peace” as a representative of Japan Buddhism, and Kiriyama Kancho also attended a special conference with Pope John Paul II.

In 1988, the most distinguished Islam scholar, Dr. Abel Moneim El Nemr and other scholars were invited to participate in the very successful “Islamic-Buddhist Forum on World Peace” held in Kyoto.

In addition, Agon Shu continues its deep interaction with the religious world in various countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Myanmar and Bhutan.

In 2010, Agon Shu and Maya Spiritual Tradition held “Maya-Agon Joint World Peace Prayer Service” at the Second Aura Festival.

Religious Activities in the World “Peace and harmony within our nation cannot be attained without the repose of departed souls. Peace and harmony within each household cannot be attained without appeasing departed souls.” This is the philosophy of Agon Shu’s Seiyu Kiriyama Kancho.

Having experienced countless numbers of wars since he was a child and strongly recognizing the need for peace, Kiriyama Kancho believes his mission as a man of religion is to devote his prayers to the departed souls of the victims of horrific deaths around the world according to the highest Buddhist law, the “Jobutsu-ho ”, and to perform Buddhist ceremonies dedicated to world peace. This is why Kiriyama Kancho and Agon Shu conduct activities around the world.

In the past, Agon Shu has held prayer ceremonies for the departed souls lost in the Republic of Palao, China, Mongolia, Taiwan, India, New York and France as well as in Okinawa, Ise, Tokyo and Hiroshima, Japan. The Fire Rites (Goma) Ceremonies dedicated to world peace and harmony have seen great success with the great support of everyone from each region.

On June 13, 2006, with the collaboration of the city of Oswiecim in Poland, a Fire Rites Ceremony was held on the land adjacent to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in dedication to world peace and in commemoration for holocaust victims.

In the following year, Agon Shu held a Fire Rites Ceremony dedicated to the departed souls of the Victims of Detainment in Siberia in Khabarovsk, Russia on July 8, 2007,.

At the invitation of the Israeli government, a Fire Rites Ceremony for the 60th Anniversary of Foundation of Israel and for World Peace was held in Jerusalem, Israel in September, 2008.

On October 2, 2009, a Fire Rites Ceremony in dedication to the Departed Souls of the War Dead in South Pacific and for World Peace was held in Guadalcanal, followed by another Fire Rites Ceremony in Papua New Guinea on October 8, 2009.

In 2010, Agon Shu and Maya Spiritual Tradition held “Maya-Agon Joint World Peace Prayer Service” at the Second Aura Festival.

May 2012, Sacred Fire Ceremony for the Departed Spirits of War Dead in the Pacifc War and for World Peace
The sacred fire ceremony for the departed spirits of war dead in the Pacific War was held on the sea. The cruiseship cruised around Iwo Jima, the Philippines and East China Seas and the spirits of the war dead were taken back to Japan.

Aug. & Sept. 2013, Sacred Fire Ceremony to Commemorate the Completion of Stupas in Israel & Agon Shu Main Temple Peace in the Middle East
The sacred fire ceremony was held to commemorate the completion of identical stupas, one in Israel and the other one on the grounds of Agon Shu Main Temple, and for peace in the Middle East.

November 2013, Sacred Fire Ceremony for Celebration of the Completion of Agon Shu Taiwan Main Dojo
The sacred fire ceremony was held for celebration of the completion of Agon Shu Taiwan main dojo and for peace and stability in East Asia.

November 2014, Saipan and Tinian Shinto-Buddhist Sacred Fire Ceremony and World Peace Prayer for the Repose of the Souls of the War Dead in the Mariana Islands
The sacred fire ceremony was held at the “Monument to Those Who Died in the Central Pacific War” on the island of Saipan, which had an air base from which B-29s carried out the bombing of Japan during WWII.

November 2014, World Peace Prayer and Tinian Fire Rites
An indoor sacred fire ceremony was held and prayers for world peace were performed at the atomic bomb loading pits on the island of Tinian, the air base of the B-29 bombers that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

North Sea – June and July 2017
Agon Shu World Peace Prayer and Memorial Service for the War Dead in Sakhalin, Kuril and North Pacific Ocean on North Sea.

Singapore – June 2018
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony for the Repose of the Victims of Operation Sook Ching (The Singapore Overseas Chinese Purge Incident), and for the Japanese who Settled in Singapore during Japanese Occupation.
(Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist fire ceremony for world peace is held in Singapore)

Myanmar – November 2018
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony in Myanmar for World Peace and for the Spirits of the War Dead who Perished in Burma.

Aizuwakamatsu – September 2019
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony for World Peace, Enhancing National Prestige with the Power of Deities, Repose of the Victims of the Upheaval at the End of the Edo Period.

Keelung, Taiwan – April 2020
Enshrinement of the Genuine Relics of the Founder of Agon Shu, Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony for Peace in Asia, Liberation of Mankind from Undesirable Karma, the Early Ending of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Repose of the China-related Victims, and Liberation of the Spirits of the Martyrs.
(Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist fire ceremony is held in Taiwan)

Niihama – September 2020
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony to Ward Off Calamities of Megaquake and Tsunami with Epicenter which Runs from Median Tectonic Line to Nankai Trough, for Peace in Japan and Prosperity of the City.
(Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist fire ceremony is held in Shikoku)

Shinhidaka – October 2020
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony in Hokkaido to Ward Off Calamities of Megaquake in Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and Japan Trench, to Pray for Deities of Ancient Beginnings, to Exalt Divine Virtues and for the Ancient First People.
(Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist fire ceremony is held in Hokkaido)

Yamanakako – October 2021
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist fire ceremony at Mt. Fuji to Protect Mt. Fuji, to Ward Off Calamities of Megaquake, for Peace in Japan and World Peace, to Pray for the Spirits of Aborted or Miscarried Fetuses, and for the Repose of the Spirits of Boys and Girls who Perished.
(Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist fire ceremony is held at Mt. Fuji)

Unnan – November 2021
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony in Izumo to Protect Japan Sea, for Peace in Japan and World Peace, for Exaltation of Divine Virtues of Deities of Ancient Beginning, and for Repose of the Spirits of Ancient First People.
(Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist fire ceremony is held at Izumo)

Kashiwara – November 2022
Agon Shu Shinto-Buddhist Fire Ceremony at the Sacred Place Kashiwara Cemetery.