<Partnership Expansion, Exciting Growth!> Delivering Gratitude with "Origami Flowers" for the Flower Festival (April 8th) - "Hana Okuri"

In time for the Flower Festival (Kanbutsue), the participatory project "Hana Okuri," where participants write messages of gratitude on the back of origami flowers, fold them into flower shapes, and offer them at the Flower Altar, is expanding its regional and classroom partnerships. With the cooperation of the Mukou City Tourism and Exchange Center "Machiterasu MUKO" for a children's participation project and the Tsugumi Calligraphy School Kids Class, the collected origami flowers will be dedicated at a memorial service on April 8th, and the event will be live-streamed on YouTube (starting at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, April 8th). ▷Streaming URL: https://youtube.com/live/PmjsozEMqY4?feature=share

The Flower Festival (Kanbutsue) is a Buddhist event celebrated on April 8th (Wednesday) to commemorate the birth of Buddha, traditionally marked by pouring sweet tea over the infant Buddha statue in the Flower Altar.

This project, "Hana Okuri," overlays the context of the Flower Festival with a participatory method of "offering flowers" to convey "thank you" messages that are often left unsaid. It is an attempt to open up a religious event as a "cultural experience that anyone can participate in."

What is "Hana Okuri"? Participants write thank-you messages to loved ones on the back of origami paper, fold it into a flower shape, and mail or bring it to the temple. The collected origami flowers are displayed at the Flower Altar and offered to Buddha during the Flower Festival memorial service on April 8th. The memorial service will be live-streamed on YouTube (starting at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, April 8th).

Key Points of Partnership Expansion (2026 Edition) This year, through the following partnerships, we are expanding the project to be more accessible for children, families, and local residents to participate from the "entrance."

① Regional Partnership (Mukou City): In conjunction with the "Terasu Marche & Maru Hello Work" held at the Mukou City Tourism and Exchange Center "Machiterasu MUKO," children participated in making origami flowers as part of a "work experience." This time, a total of 77 children were able to experience it. University students also provided assistance, creating a vibrant job experience opportunity. <img src="https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/66905/21/66905-21-02cee328409676aee10ee598a46cc7cd-369x379.jpg?width=1950&he