Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited two Buddhist temples, Toji and Kinkakuji, in Kyoto, Japan, during his five-day visit to the island nation. He was accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as they offered prayers and interacted with tourists at the temples.
The Toji Temple, is an ancient temple built for the trinity of Hindu gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara or Shiva. The temple is a UNESCO world heritage site. Modi spent 30 minutes at the temple, during which he learnt about the significance and history of the temple, which was built in eighth century AD. Chief monk at the Toji temple, Yasu Naga Mori showed Modi around the premises, which included a famous five-storey pagoda, that is 57 metres high, and is the tallest pagoda in Japan. The pagoda can be seen from many places of Kyoto city. According to Indian press, Modi joked with Mori while interacting with him, “I am Modi, you are Mori.”
Modi thanked Abe for being with him during the visit . Abe told Modi that he had last been at the Toji temple only as a student, and this was only his second visit. Abe had come from Tokyo to welcome Modi as he landed from India. Monk Hasi at the Toji temple, who accompanied Modi said: “We are happy that the Prime Minister visited us. It is a matter of pride for our temple. He has a big heart”.
A number of Indians in Japan were at the temple, waving the Indian flag to welcome the visiting prime minister when he arrived. Modi shook hands with the enthusiastic crowds. Modi also visited CiRA – the Nobel Prize winning Centre for iPS Cell Research and Application at Kyoto University in Japan and interacted with Director Shinya Yamanaka. The Prime Minister spoke of the widespread prevalence of sickle cell anaemia, especially among tribal communities across India.
Modi requested Yamanaka to work towards a cure for the disease. Yamanaka on his part said that there were no Indian researchers at his institute, and said that he would like to see Indian scientists working there.