BDK has set a goal of propagating the Buddhist spirit and enhancing Buddhist culture. Towards this goal, BDK has sponsored the “Modernization of Buddhist Music and Its Popularization” as one of its major activities.
It is no exaggeration to say that human culture developed together with religion since ancient times. In this process, music has played very important and supportive roles throughout history.
In Japan, religious music, such as chanting and Gagaku, enormously influenced many people throughout its long history.
Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai has been making efforts to establish a Buddhist foundation in human lives by making people familiar with its culture through inheriting and modernizing traditional Buddhist music.
November 28, 1977 | The 1st concert: “Meeting with East and West” |
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November 2, 1978 | The 2nd concert: “Echo of East and West” |
March 28, 1980 | The 3rd concert: “Tenrai Chikyō” |
May 10, 1983 | The 4th concert: “World Buddhist Music Festival” |
June 3, 1986 | The 5th concert: “World Buddhist Music Festival” ― Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 20th Anniversary― |
September 18, 1989 | The 6th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: World Buddhist Music Festival” ―Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 25th Anniversary― |
October 1, 1990 | The 7th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: A Night of Music and Narration” ~The Echo of Ten Quarters~ |
September 30, 1997 | The 8th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: World Buddhist Music Festival” ―Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 30th Anniversary― |
October 29, 1999 | The 9th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: A Night of Lecture and Music” ―Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 35th Anniversary― |
September 29, 2000 | The 10th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: A Night of Lecture and Music” ―Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 35th Anniversary― |
December 6, 2002 | The 11th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: World Buddhist Music Festival” ―Ceremony for Restoration of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple Pipe Organ― |
October 7, 2004 | The 12th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: A Night of Lecture and Music” ―Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 40th Anniversary and the 38th Cultural Award for the Promotion of Buddhism― |
November 18, 2005 | The 13th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: Public Performance of Music Works” ―Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 40th Anniversary― The theme: ITSUKUSHIMI “Loving Compassion” |
November 27, 2008 | The 14th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: Buddhist Music Festival” ~Public Performance of Music Works~ The theme: SASAEATTE “Mutually Sustaining Life” |
November 30, 2011 | The 15th concert: “In Praise of Śakyamuni: Buddhist Music Festival” ―Shinran 750th and Honen 800th Memorial Service & Charity Concert for The Great East Japan Earthquake― |
March 12, 2014 | The 16th concert: “Buddhaspell –Light of Hope” |
September 11, 2015 | The 17th concert: “Buddhaspell -Anniversary Concert” ―Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai 50th Anniversary― |
November 8, 2017 | The 18th concert: “Buddhaspell -Peaceful Light” |
November 14, 2019 | The 19th concert: “Buddhaspell –Rediscover of Japanese Tradition” |
November 18, 2020 at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple |
The 50th Anniversary of the Pipe Organ at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. “The 20th BDK Buddhist Music Festival, Buddhaspel; An Evening Pipe Organ Concert” |
September 2, 2023 | The 21st Buddhist Music Festival |