Historic Pilgrimage Routes of Japan, Spain Form Friendship Tie that Transcends Religion

Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) ^ | April 25, 2023 | staff

[chajin]

A historic pilgrimage route believed to be the oldest in Japan has formed a friendship tie-up with the world-famous Routes of Santiago de Compostela, with the aim of increasing global name recognition for both through cooperation that transcends their different religions.

The Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage officially signed an agreement with the Santiago de Compostela, a World Heritage Site, at the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The 1,000-kilometer Saikoku route comprises 33 Buddhist temples worshipping Kannon Bodhisattva, and stretches across seven prefectures, including Osaka, Kyoto and Wakayama...

[chajin]

As a student of medieval music, I have enjoyed the cantigas of Alfonso el Sabio, the Spanish king who helped re-institute the pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James after Spain was retaken from the Muslims, in order for pilgrims to have songs of praise to God, along with stories of miracles attributed to Mary.

Once again, the Catholic church has taken something set apart to God and profaned it by making it equivalent to a Buddhist pilgrimage to temples for the goddess Kannon. I lived in Japan, I love the Japanese people, I pray for their coming to Christ constantly...and then the church tells the Buddhists they're just fine as Buddhists worshipping idols. Someone remind me again why I'm supposed to be a Catholic.

[The Louiswu]

One of my goals is to walk the Camino de Santiago, I hope I make it before I must go. I’ve heard and read such wonderful things about the pilgrimage that my heart aches a bit when I think about how wonderful it must be.

[River Hawk]

Yes, what is the point of this? It does seem like they are setting them up as equivalent pilgrimage routes.

[River Hawk]

Have you seen that Martin Sheen/Emilio Estevez movie about it? Except for the main actors, everybody else is a pilgrim or a local.

[billorites]

I've walked the Camino Frances and the Camino Primitivo.

Hiking in Spain is like walking through a fairy tale.

[fidelis]

Once again, the Catholic church has taken something set apart to God and profaned it by making it equivalent to a Buddhist pilgrimage to temples for the goddess Kannon.

I don’t see anywhere in the story where “the Catholic Church” is involved on an official level in this. As far as I can see, it looks like from the Spanish side at least the partnership involves the local government, who probably benefits economically from pilgrims to the Compostella:

The new partnership will be administered by a council comprised of the pilgrimage temples and local governments on the Japanese side, and the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia, where the final destination of the Santiago routes is located.

[struggle]

I’ve hiked parts of the Saikoku and greeted 2-3 pilgrims as they make their rounds. It’s more like Buddhist crossfit than anything.

[livius]

It’s a great pilgrimage...I truly hope you get there. I don’t know how old you are, but I met people in their 80s doing the Camino. Perhaps more slowly than the Spanish Boy Scout groups you meet on it, LOL!

But they completed it and got to Santiago to go up to embrace the bust of Santiago that is over the high altar in the Cathedral.

[DIRTYSECRET]

*I love the Japanese people, I pray for their coming to Christ constantly.* U really shouldn’t.
*that Martin Sheen/Emilio Estevez movie* “the Way.” Very good flick.

Sounds like the 2 sides are encouraging tourism. Nothing wrong with that. Good experience as well as exercise. Gotta be mostly for seniors with plenty of time left over for those tourist traps.