Swami Vivekananda's 144th Public Birth Anniversary Celebration in Tokyo

The Vedanta Society of Japan (Nippon Vedanta Kyokai) held it's annual public celebration of Swami Vivekananda's Birth Anniversary in Tokyo's Ikebukuro City in Toshima Ward on 11 June. This year's event, marking Swami Vivekananda's 144th Birth Anniversary, was again held at the Toshima Kokaido, a large public hall with theatre seating, a production-sized stage, sub-level dressing rooms and a roomy foyer, conveniently located near Ikebukuro Station.

Planning for this biggest of the Society's yearly events takes place throughout the year by a 22-member Celebration Committee, an association of the Vedanta Society of Japan and the Nichi-In Bunka Kyokai (Japan-Indo Cultural Association). Transforming the Toshima Kokaido requires a veritable legion of specialized and organized volunteers working long hours, and as visitors begin to arrive these volunteers have already been fed a home cooked lunch and are busy completing the last minute details of their respective tasks. In addition to all the pre-event preparation there is also a sound, video and stage crew, a flower arrangement team and a bookstore and sales staff.

At the entrance foyer visitors are met by tables of cheerful greeters, who ask attendees to register and pass out a published programme and event questionnaire. No fees are requested. To the right a display of an every growing number of publications in Japanese along with CDs, cassettes, photographs and incense, and to the left English publications.

Entering though the theatre doors, one's attention is immediately drawn to center stage and the commanding photo-portrait of Swami Vivekananda, looking much as he may have in addressing the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 in the turban and coat fashioned to exemplify his Indian heritage and the trousers and shoes of western sensitivities. Above this portrait hangs a banner in Japanese bearing the title of the day's function, to the right and forward the panelist table and on the left the speaker's podium. Dominating the centre, at the midway point of the large seating area, is the audio and visual command center.

An audience of between two and three hundred had gathered by 2 p.m. as the panelists took their seats and Ms. Hirano, the emcee, announced the commencement of the event in both Japanese and English. The first order of business was the offering of Vedic peace prayers led by Swami Medhasananda, along with Mr. Chiba and Mr. Kanai from the Vedanta Society of Japan. As these chants were recited the hall took on a peaceful, somber, and for some first-time attendees, perhaps curious atmosphere.

The panelists were then introduced; special guest Sri S. K. Mandal, Deputy Chief of the Mission, Indian Embassy, guest speaker for the event Professor Toru Nishigaki of Tokyo University, Celebration Committee Vice President Professor Emeritus Tsuyoshi Nara, and President of the Vedanta Society of Japan, Swami Medhasananda. The swami and Sri S. K. Mandal were then requested to offer a bouquet to the portrait of Swami Vivekananda at center stage.

This was followed by Deputy Chief Sri S.K. Mandal formally releasing a special issue of the Vedanta Society's bimonthly magazine, The Universal Gospel, and Volume Two of Songs of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna a new CD published by the Vedanta Society of Japan.

Mr. Mandal then gave a short address in reflection of Swami Vivekananda's legacy. All in attendance were then treated to a few selections from the new CD establishing a reflective and reverent atmosphere and Swami Medhasananda immediately afterward led all in guided meditation in Japanese and English. It was in this atmosphere that Professor Toru Nishigaki was asked to deliver his address entitled Information Technology and Spiritual Wisdom (The full text of this address is in this archive in the Guest Speakers folder under the same title).

When Professor Nishigaki concluded his talk, Mr. A.P.S. Mani, Secretary of the Celebration Committee offered thanks to all the participants. planners, advertisers and volunteers. This was followed by a twenty-minute recess with snacks. The bookstore area became the focus of attention with many visitors, snacks in hand, inquiring about the new CD and Japanese-language publications available. Throughout the Toshima Kokaido the sounds of laughter and chatter and friends greeting friends could be heard as the many singers and musicians prepared for the nearly two-hour Cultural Programme that concluded the day's ceremonies. (see the Programme Schedule for names of participants).

Note: A two-disc DVD of the entire event is available upon request. A four-disc audio CD set is also available. The sound quality of the Cultural Programme on either the CD or DVD versions is outstanding. Please contact info@vedanta.jp for more information.