Guiding Shonan Village Center SNTT International Conference Participants around Kamakura

[Date and Time] Wednesday, February 2, at 13:00~17:00
[Spots] Kotokuin Temple, Hasedera Temple, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
[Visitors] 49 Participants from 20 countries of International Conference for the Society of Non-Traditional Technology
[Attendants] 4 KSGG members
[Language] English

We paired up and guided participants divided into 2 groups. In my group, Mr. S gave an explanation at every site, while I supported our group by having a chat with them.
On the bus, we talked about their nationalities and an episode that President Obama likes a tea-flavored ice cream. Then we got to Kotokuin Temple. They were busy taking photos against the background of the Great Buddha. And then we headed for Hasedera Temple on foot instead of by bus, because all of them hoped to walk as they had kept sitting over 10 hours a day studying and meeting during the conference.
At Hasedera Temple, they were interested in our custom, which they don't have in their Christian culture, that parents dedicate a stone statue of Jizo, or a Mahayana Buddhist Bodhisattva, to protect their unborn baby and people pray to God to protect them from evil.
At Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, after giving their prayers at the Main Shrine, they wrote their wishes and the names of their family on ema, or a votive tablet, to pray for good health and safety of their family. Then I thought that everyone makes the same wish whether in the East or in the West. I was pleased to hear that they had had a good time.