1. Kosen-rufu Shodai : 30 Jan, 31 Jan, 1 Feb (Fri, Sat, Sun)
2. Oko Ceremony: 6, 7, & 8 Feb (Fri, Sat, Sun)
3. Setsubun-e: 3 Feb (Tues)
4. Koshi-e: 7 Feb (Sat)
5. Otanjo-e: 15 Feb (Sun)
Kosen-rufu Shodai
Date: 30 January 2026 (Fri)
Time: 7pm
Date: 31 January 2026 (Sat)
Time: 5pm
Date: 1 February 2026 (Sun)
Time: 10am
What is kosen-rufu?
The objectives of our faith are to attain Buddhahood in our position as common mortals and to transform the saha world into the entity of the Mystic Law, the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light, through embracing and practising the Three Great Secret Laws of Nichiren Daishonin. Our efforts in steadily advancing towards these objectives represent the attainment of enlightenment.
As more and more people aspire to attain Buddhahood not only in Japan but in every corner of the world, the Buddha land will naturally take form. This process is called Kosen-rufu. As we ceaselessly progress towards attaining this objective, we can establish the life condition of limitless joy within our lives.
Extracted from “The Great Objective of Kosenrufu (World Peace)”, A Lesson from the Sermon Rock, Sermons & Homilies (Part 2), Nichiren Shoshu Monthly February 1995, Kaimyo Magazine Issue 24
Oko Ceremony
Date: 6 February 2026 (Fri)
Time: 7 pm
Date: 7 February 2026 (Sat)
Time: 5 pm
Date: 8 February 2026（Sun)
Time: 10 am
Significance of the Oko Ceremony
“Ko” of Oko means to recite the sutra in reverence for the Gohonzon and our founder, Nichiren Daishonin and furthermore, to give a lecture on the doctrines and the sutras to repay the debts of gratitude. In Nichiren Shoshu, the priest conducts kenzen ceremony, recites the sutra and chants Daimoku to the Gohonzon enshrined in the main hall of the local temple. He then reads the Daishonin’s Gosho and gives a lecture on how one should practise his/her faith.
It is stated in “Letter to Niike” (Niike gosho):
“No matter what, be close to the priest who knows the heart of the Lotus Sutra, keep learning from him the truth of Buddhism and continue your journey of faith.”
(Gosho, p. 1457 MW-1, p.255)
As this passage teaches, it is important for one to visit the priest who knows the Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws, the basis of the Life Span chapter of the Lotus Sutra. In other words, one should visit his/her chief priest at the local temple and learn about the profundity of Buddhism and deepen his/her faith.
Furthermore, based on such faith, devoting oneself to the propagation of the True Law is itself repaying the debts of gratitude to the Daishonin. This will lead to one’s faith to an attitude of appreciation of the Gohonzon on a daily basis.
Extracted from “The Benefits of the Gohonzon and the Faith of Repaying Debts of Gratitude”, 2008 Summer Study Tozan, Kaimyo Magazine Issue 38
Setsubun-e
Date: 3 February 2026 (Tues)
Time: 7pm
Significance of the Setsubun-e Ceremony
The term ‘setsubun’ means ‘the division of seasons’. During this season when Winter turns to Spring, the large differences in temperature causes people to fall sick easily. In ancient times, people thought that the cause of them falling sick was due to acts of evil by evil spirits, and they therefore tried to exorcise these evil spirits through a ceremonial scattering of soybeans, which ogres disliked.
In Nichiren Shoshu, the meaning of this ceremony is slightly different from the general way of thinking. Our understanding of evil spirits would be in the form of those like Kishimojin or Juurasetsunyo, who are described in the Gohonzon as examples of the Buddhist Gods. This is because after they attained enlightenment, they promised the Buddha that they would protect those who are practitioners of the true Buddhism.
Nichiren Daishonin states in the Gosho “Letter to Lord Ueno”,
"The innumerable Buddhas of the ten directions, including Shakyamuni and Taho, Bodhisattvas including Jogyo, the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, the great disciples of the theoretical teachings, such as Fugen and Monjushiri, the great Shravaka such as Shariputra, the lords of the heavens, including the sun and moon, the kings of the eight kinds of lowly beings, the ten female raksasa demons, and all the great and small gods in the country of Japan-as a shadow follows a body, these will all protect a person who strongly believes in this Lotus Sutra with straight-forward, whole-hearted faith. If you believe straight forward without fluttering in your resolve, you will gain peace and security in this lifetime and good circumstances in the next." (Gosho, p.923)
Therefore, in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, what we believe is that even those such as demons are part of the Buddhist gods, which means there are no demons for us.
Extracted from “Setsubun Ceremony, 2 March 2021”, Rev Shingaku Kato, Kaimyo Magazine Issue 107
Koshi-e
Date: 7 February 2026 (Sat)
Time: 5pm
Significance of the Koshi-e Ceremony
The Koshi-e Ceremony is conducted at the Head Temple Taisekiji on February 7, the memorial date of Nikko Shonin's death. Local Nichiren Shoshu Temples honour this ceremony also, but usually at a convenient date nearest to the 7th.
Nikko Shonin was the only one among Nichiren Daishonin's senior disciples who was capable of directly receiving the Lifeblood of the Law as the Second High Priest. His total dedication to the Daishonin and spirit to preserve his true teachings for future generations have become the eternal foundation of Nichiren Shoshu.
Among the Three Treasures, we respect Nikko Shonin as the first among the Treasure of the Priest because his efforts made it possible for us to encounter the True Law in this present age. Participation in this ceremony shows our appreciation to Nikko Shonin and our determination to follow his spirit in accurately preserving the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin for posterity.
Through his devoted service, sparing no pain in his efforts to support the Daishonin and the struggle for propagation, Nikko Shonin developed an incomparable understanding of the depth and truth of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.
Nikko Shonin passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on February 7, 1333, at Omosu Seminary.
The Koshi-e Ceremony provides a way by which we, in harmonious unity of the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and laity, can show appreciation to Nikko Shonin for his tenacious spirit to attain Kosen-rufu.
(Source: Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple Taisekiji Official Website)
Otanjo-e
Date: 15 February 2026 (Sun)
Time: 8am
Significance of the Otanjo-e Ceremony
Nichiren Daishonin was born on February 16, 1222, at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law to fulfill Shakyamuni's prophesy that the True Buddha would appear and teach the Great Pure Law to save people for the eternal future. The date of the Daishonin's birth has a mystic connection with Shakyamuni's Buddhism because Shakyamuni died on February 15. This indicates that the Daishonin's Buddhism began at the point where the power of Shakyamuni's Buddhism ceased.
The Otanjo-e Ceremony celebrates the advent of Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. The ceremony at the Head Temple Taisekiji is held on the 16th of February at both the Mieido Temple and the Five-Storied Pagoda. The Five-Storied Pagoda indicates the five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo and the five elements, which are the substance of life and the universe itself. The Gohonzon is enshrined in the center of the pagoda, indicating that the core of one’s life and the universal Law are the same as Nichiren Daishonin’s life, or the true entity of the Law, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
For this reason, Nichiren Shoshu regards the Daishonin’s birthday as the date of the appearance in this world of the Gohonzon or Treasure Tower, and this is the reason the ceremony is conducted at the Five-Storied Pagoda.
(Source: Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple Taisekiji Official Website)
New to Nichiren Shoshu and interested to join in our ceremonies and daily chanting sessions? Do reach out to us here so we can assist you directly!