Kensō-ji Temple

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen temple.
• Founded in 1635 by Nabeshima Katsushige.
• Established to mourn his son, Nabeshima Tadanao.
• Named Kōkokuzan Kensō-ji after Tadanao's Buddhist name.

What to see

• Graves of young officers from the February 26 Incident.
• 31 Nabeshima family graves, all gorintō.
• Graves of 22 people involved in the February 26 Incident.
• Current tombstone for 22 people, erected July 12, 1952.
• Main hall, rebuilt in April 1972.
• Bell tower, rebuilt in April 1975.

When to go

• Annual joint memorial service on February 26.
• Annual joint memorial service on July 12.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.