Fumonzan Kōanji (Nakata Kannon)

【Mother's Prayer, Eleven-faced Mercy】The tranquility that calls forth miracles at "Nakata Kannon (Kōan-ji)"

In the rural landscape of Aizumisato Town, the dignified presence of "Nakata Kannon" stands out. Known as the 30th sacred site of the Aizu Thirty-three Kannon, this ancient temple has long been cherished as the "Embracing Kannon," gently receiving the earnest wishes of the people. It is also the "Holy Land of a Mother's Love," where Shika, the mother of the world-renowned bacteriologist Hideyo Noguchi, continued to fervently worship while thinking of her distant child.

■ The Beautiful "Eleven-faced Kannon" Carved from Rock

The principal statue of the Eleven-faced Great Kannon Bodhisattva is a wooden masterpiece believed to have been created during the Kamakura period.

• Miraculous Triad: In addition to the central Kannon statue, the figures of Fudo Myoo and Jizo Bosatsu stand as side attendants, designated as important cultural properties of the country. Their noble yet compassionate expressions clear away the confusion of the heart with just a glance, providing quiet courage.
• Faith in the Embracing Pillar: Touching the pillar that supports the Kannon Hall and directly entrusting wishes to the "Embracing Kannon." The warmth of the wood transmitted from the palms embodies the weight of prayers that have been passed down through a thousand years.

■ Echoing Through Time, a Mother's "Single-minded Love"

As you walk through the precincts, you can touch the ema (votive plaques) dedicated by Shika praying for Hideyo's success and fragments of the history walked by parent and child.

• Inheritance of Prayer: The strength of a mother who wished only for her child's safety amidst poverty and adversity. That single-minded love still blends into the pure air of the precincts, warmly enveloping the hearts of visiting travelers.

The gaze of Kannon, who marks the eternal passage of time, and the unchanging love offered by a mother. As you think of your loved ones, why not find your own "peace of mind" at the end of the path you tread step by step?