On July 17, 2025, a Segaki ceremony was held solemnly at Shokoji Temple.
Despite the heat of summer, many parishioners and people related to the temple attended the ceremony, creating a warm moment in which they came together in prayer for their ancestors and those buried beneath the grave.
⸻ What is Segaki?
The Segaki Memorial Service is an event based on Buddhist teachings in which food and drink are offered to spirits suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts and abandoned dead, and the merit is then transferred to our ancestors. This memorial service, which also allows us to think about invisible beings, is also a time to cultivate the hearts of those of us living in the present, such as gratitude, compassion, and humility.
⸻ Memorial service and sermon
A beautifully decorated Segaki altar was set up in the main hall, where quiet prayers were offered along with the chanting of sutras.
For this year's sermon, we invited the head priest of Joshinji Temple in Ibaraki Prefecture to speak about the importance of "looking back at yourself." In our busy days, we tend to focus on others and the outside world. However, what is truly important is to face yourself and become aware of who you are now. Through the teachings of Buddhism, self-reflection leads to compassion and gratitude for others, and this was a deeply moving talk.
Finally, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended. The Segaki ceremony is not only a memorial service for the deceased, but also a time for "us who are alive" to regain our precious hearts. Shokoji Temple will continue to be rooted in the community and strive to be a place where everyone can feel at peace of mind.
Joining hands in prayer
English 
Japanese