World Peace Pagoda

Overview

Many soldiers departed from Mojiko Port during World War II, resulting in numerous casualties. The World Peace Pagoda was built in 1958 as a fitting place to commemorate these war dead and pray for world peace. The Myanmar-style pagoda is a cylindrical structure, 27 meters tall and 13 meters in diameter, so large it's visible from ships navigating the Kanmon Strait. Atop the pagoda sits a diamond pinnacle, adorned with a large, gleaming crystal. Inside, a 1.6-meter-tall golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is enshrined, and a monk dispatched from Myanmar offers daily prayers for peace. The World Peace Pagoda also plays a role in promoting friendship and Buddhist exchange between Japan and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Post-war relations between the two countries have been positive, and the pagoda serves as a symbol of this friendship. While temporarily closed in 2011 due to funding shortages, it reopened the following year thanks to the efforts of local volunteers and the Myanmar Embassy in Japan. Today, many tourists visit to commemorate the war dead and pray for world peace. The World Peace Pagoda offers a place to learn about history and culture, and to reflect on peace. Be sure to visit when you're in Kitakyushu.