08/04 Nara temple to borrow 100 million yen to donate to quake-hit areas（英和）

NARA -- A temple here will donate 100 million yen in relief money to areas affected by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami by borrowing the same amount from banks, it has been learned.

Nara's Todaiji Temple -- famous for its gigantic Buddha statue -- announced that it will deliver the money to the Japanese Red Cross Society's Nara branch as early as the end of this month.

"As a temple that has passed down the thoughts of Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo, who prayed for the well-being of all creatures, there's something we should do now. We will remember (the victims' plight) every time we pay back the loans and renew our pledge not to make their agony forgotten," chief priest Kokei Kitakawara said.

Founded during the Nara era, the temple has been ravaged by warfare twice in its history.

"This temple has recovered with the support of so many people, and now we can repay them," senior priest Fumon Sagawa said.

The temple hopes its relief money will also be used for the restoration of cultural assets that were damaged by the devastating quake and tsunami.

Click here for the original Japanese story

(Mainichi Japan) April 8, 2011

東日本大震災：１億円借り入れ全額義援金に　東大寺

2011年4月8日 9時43分　更新：4月8日 12時26分

　奈良市の東大寺は７日、銀行から１億円を借り入れ、全額を義援金に充てると発表した。被災地の苦しみや痛みを共に感じるためといい、今月末にも日本赤十字社奈良県支部に届ける。

　北河原公敬別当は「すべての生き物の幸せを祈った聖武天皇と光明皇后の思いを伝える寺として、やるべきことがある。返済するたびに思い出し、いつまでも風化させないという思いを持ち続けたい」と説明した。

　同寺は奈良時代の創建以来、２度兵火で焼けた歴史があり、狹川普文（さがわ・ふもん）執事長は「多くの人に心を寄せてもらい復興してきた。今こそその心に応える時だ」と話した。被災した文化財の復興にも役立ててほしいとしている。【花澤茂人】