Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala’s link with Japan
Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala was the pioneer in Japan – Sri Lanka friendship which goes back to the history of over a hundred years although Sri Lanka has established Diplomatic relations just over 70 years or in the middle of 20th century. However hundred years ago an individual on his own visited to this unknown country from Sri Lanka and became the First Sri Lankan to visit Japan. His frequent visits to Japan and association with leading men there won for this individual admiration and fame. He was better known mainly to Buddhist in Japan.
His interest in their welfare at the end of 19th century was reciprocated by Japanese who took a keen interest in his work in then Ceylon thus became the best Sinhalese friend of Japan and its people. He was very much interested in establishing closer relationship between these two countries and the people, which gave immense benefits accruing from mutual friendship and of what we could have learnt from that country. He was able to visualise even as early as then, how Japan as an up- coming nation and co- operation with them would benefit not merely Sri Lanka, nor merely all Asia, but even the world in general. His arguments on this behalf were most convincing.
This fore sighted and farsighted individual was none other than Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala, was born in 1864 who strode two centuries the latter half of the 19th and the first part of the 20th and who is acclaimed as the greatest son of Lanka of those decades, whose work and labour have yielded incomparable benefits.
“In 1889, the Buddhists of Japan, having heard of the successful work in Ceylon and Invited Col. Olcott with whom I visited and had a triumphant tour in that land of the Rising Sun. In 1887, I felt inclined to visit Japan after having read an article in an issue of the ‘Fortnightly Review’, and my desire was fulfilled in 1889.”
This ‘ mission’ to Japan may be considered the first step in establishing Japan- Sri Lankan friendship ties. This is also the first time that a Theravada Buddhist message was conveyed from Sri Lanka to Mahayana Buddhists of Japan. And this visit opened the gates for the Japanese to know more about Sri Lanka and establish close links as two Buddhist countries.
He was able to gain many lasting friendships with both lay and clergy which prompted him to repeat many visits. So, four years later he visited again in 1893 and his third visit was in 1902, nine years after, In 1913, he went there for the fourth time, and with each visit he was able to strengthen ties between the two countries.
He wrote extensively in the Mahabodhi Society organ, “Sinhala Bauddhaya” and other journals about his work, making Japan the better known among his readers. These too have to be appreciated as pioneering efforts to make that Buddhist land better known in South Asia. After each visit, when he got back home, he continued to write, talk and give lectures on Japan.
He organised scholarship schemes through which he sent Sri Lankan youths for industrial training especially in Textile Industry in Japan. This is a clear evidence of Srimath Angarika Dharmapala’s vision of over a hundred years ago to secure technical advancement for Sri Lanka.
I would like to enlighten that the Theravada Buddhist message was conveyed from Sri Lanka to Mahayana Buddhists of Japan. This opened the gates for the Japanese to know more about Buddhism in Sri Lanka and establish close links in religion too.
The first Theravada Temple was established in Japan, known as the Lankaji Temple at Sawara, with donations from devotees of both Japan and Sri Lanka. Under my guidance as the Chief incumbent of the Mahabodhi Agrasrawaka temple in Sri Lanka and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan to fulfil Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala’s dream towards strong relationship between Japan. A permanent monument in the memory of Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala who was my mentor was constructed under my personal supervision and guidance in Sukuba Temple in Japan. I will continue to fulfil Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala’s dream towards the Buddhism and strong relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka as the destined successor.
I have failed in my duty if I do not remind another strong relationship Sri Lanka having with Japan is when I was engaged in missionary activities had the opportunity to join Bhopal University in India where I had the rare fortune to encounter Madam
Takiko Yoshida. Madam Yoshida having learned my future and paved the way for me to continue in my higher studies in Child Education in Japan. In my return to Sri Lanka I introduce Child Education in Sri Lanka with the generous financial assistance of Madam Takiko Yoshida of Japan.
Sri Lanka’s head of delegation Mr. J. R. Jayawardene taking and unbiased stand pleaded the participating head of the conference to refrain from penalties on Japan that brought immense relief to the then terribly hit Japan as a result of waging the world war. Why I quote this incident here i. e. for the reason I need to emphasize the impact of the Philosophy of Late Srimath Anagariaka Dharmapala in building of fraternal relations and harmony among nations without malice. Late Ven. Thero when he was alive pioneered The “Anagarika Dharmapala Trust” with the soul hope in contributing assistance on humanitarian grounds to assist the masses of Japan victimized by the earthquake in 1923. Mr. J. R. Jayawardene was the president of the Trust for 24 years under the guidance of Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala.