Eko-in, Tokyo

Ekō-in, also referred to as Honjo Ekō-in, stands as a Buddhist temple in Ryōgoku, Tokyo, following the Pure Land tradition. Its official name, Shoshūzan Muen-ji Ekō-in, embodies its core principle of Pariṇāmanā, which emphasizes the spread of Amida Buddha's compassion to all living beings.

On March 2, 1657, the Great Fire of Meireki devastated Edo (now Tokyo), claiming about 100,000 lives. To honor the memory of these fire victims, Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna undertook the construction of a memorial monument called the Banninzuka, also known as the Mound of a Million Souls. Simultaneously, a temple dedicated to Amida Buddha was erected. This marked the inception of Ekō-in, which presently serves as a sanctuary for the souls of those who departed without leaving behind any family, encompassing victims of natural disasters, incarcerated individuals, and even animals.

During the Edo and Meiji periods, Ekō-in gained renown as a venue for sumo wrestling. In September 1768, the inaugural kanjin-zumō event, a charity fundraising competition endorsed by the Tokugawa shogunate and the precursor to contemporary professional sumo, was hosted at the temple. Subsequently, from October 1833 to 1909, Ekō-in remained the exclusive site for all sumo tournaments for a substantial 76-year duration, often referred to as the "Ekō-in sumō" era. To accommodate these events, a substantial two-story temporary facility was constructed adjacent to the temple.