Renkō-ji (蓮光寺, Renkōji) is a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Japan. It is assumed to be the purported location of the ashes of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian revolutionary, which have been preserved since September 18, 1945. The small, well-preserved temple was established in 1594 inspired by the God of Wealth and Happiness. It belongs to the Nichiren sect of Buddhism that believes that human salvation lies only in the Lotus Sutra.

Ashes of Subhash Chandra Bose

According to the findings of the G.D. Khosla Commission, appointed by the Government of India in 1970, Subhash Chandra Bose's ashes were placed in the box at Taipei following the cremation of his remains. Bose had died at Taihoku Army Hospital on August 18, 1945. The ashes of Bose came to the temple for the purpose of a funeral ceremony but Rev. Mochizuki, father of the present Chief Monk, agreed to keep them in safe custody. Bose's funeral was held at 8:00 p.m. on September 18, 1945.

Netaji’s associates observe his death anniversary on August 18 at the temple annually. It is customary for Indian officials arriving in Japan to travel to Renkoji, to offer prayers and pay respect to Bose at the pagoda that protects his remains: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was the first dignitary to visit the site in October 1957. President Dr. Rajendra Prasad followed him a year later. Indira Gandhi visited in 1969. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, first visited the temple during his term as Foreign Minister. He later visited it during his official visit to Japan on December 9, 2001. In 2000, the then Indian Minister of External Affairs, Jaswant Singh, visited the temple in November.

The ashes of Bose are placed in a small golden pagoda.

Controversy

The Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the Indian Government on November 8, 2005. The report was tabled in Parliament on May 17, 2006. The probe said in its report that as Bose did not die in the plane crash, the ashes at the Renkoji Temple are not his. However, the Indian Government rejected the findings of the Commission. Controversy increased when Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit the temple even when he was requested by the Indian High Commission in Japan.

See also

• For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.