Japan ISKCON History:
Prabhupada stayed briefly overnight in Tokyo, Hanada in early 1969 on his way to India, which was technically his first visit to Japan. There was no temple yet. I believe that Prabhupada was in poor health and would return to India to recover and travel only with a personal servant.
At the end of 1969, Prabhupada sent Sudama, who was then his personal servant to SF, with Balimardana Prabhu, who was the director of ISKCON on the right of Prabhupada, to open a temple in Japan. They first went to Kyoto and stayed there for about two months. Someone suggested they move to Tokyo to preach and they did. The first Tokyo Temple was located in Shibuya about ten minutes by bus from Shibuya Station. Balimardan Prabhu soon leaves Japan and establishes a temple in Australia. Prabhupada sent reinforcements to help Sudama Prabhu. He sent a woman to Sudama, Chintamani Mataji, Burijana, Satyabrata and Amoga Prabhus in the early 1970s.
In August 1970, Prabhupada officially went to Tokyo, Japan and the new temple with some of his main disciples: Brahmananda, Devananda, Tamal Krishna, Madhuvisa, Karitkeya and Kirtananda Swami. Prabhupada traveled from America to India with the intention of formally establishing his ISKCON in India. Until then, Prabhupada concentrated his preaching efforts in America and Europe. Therefore, Prabhupada traveled with an entourage of his older followers to help him preach in India. Prabhupada was also in Japan to sign a book publishing contract with Dai nippon Printing, who had agreed to print the Krishna Book.
This group of worshipers went daily to Ginza in Tokyo to interpret sankirtan Harinam. I was in Japan for about two months and, coincidentally, I came across the kirtan festival in Ginza one day in August 1970, while Prabhupada was still in Japan. It turned out to be Janmastami’s day. I was invited to the temple to attend the Janmastami and Vyasapuja Midnight Feast of Srila Prabhupada the next day. It was on that day that I had the great blessing of finding His divine grace and taking refuge. My name at that time was Bhakta Matthew. Bhakta Bruce also attended the ISKCON Temple in Tokyo at that time and also joined the movement on this auspicious day. Bhakta Bruce, later, receives the name, Bhanu Swami! Here is a photo of my first Hari Nam in Ginza on this great day.
Festivals Celebrated Japan ISKCON:
Sri Nityananda trayodashi
Sri Gaur Purnima
ISKCON New Gaya Address:
2-23-4 Funabori,
Edogawa-ku,
Tokyo 134-0091.
Phone: 03-3877-3000
Mobile: 080-3216-3642, 090-1469-6129, 080-3008-6909, 090-6539-8757
Email : iskcon.new.gaya.japan@gmail.com
