Every corner of the Nichiren Shōshū calendar carries its own sparkle, but a few standout gatherings really steal the show.

• February 16 – Tanjorei-sai (Founder's Birthday)
Clouds of incense rise as priests chant the Lotus Sutra to honor Nichiren’s birth. Temples glow under soft lantern light, recalling how devotion first kindled two millennia ago. In recent years, livestreams have made this intimate ceremony a global embrace.

• April 28 – Bodai Day (Enlightenment Day)
Quiet yet profound, this observance marks Nichiren’s attainment of Buddhahood. Chanting resonates through Taisekiji’s main hall, echoing a serene energy not unlike the hush of spring after rain. It’s an invitation to reflect on personal transformation, much as cherry blossoms quietly remind everyone that life’s beauty can bloom overnight.

• October 13 – Oeshiki (Death Anniversary Lantern Festival)
Often the showstopper, Oeshiki lights up like wildfire. Thousands of multicolored paper lanterns flank processions, turning temple grounds into a river of floating stars. Local news outlets this past autumn compared it to Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama illumination—an annual visual feast that draws both devout pilgrims and curious souls.

• November 23 – Niiname-sai (Harvest Thanksgiving)
Rooted in Japan’s agricultural rhythms, this ceremony offers the season’s first fruits and grains before chanting “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.” It’s a heartfelt nod to nature’s bounty, one that feels perfectly in step with recent farm-to-table trends sweeping through Tokyo’s foodie scene.

• Every 20 Years – Gokaichō (Treasure Exhibition)
Truly a once-in-a-blue-moon affair. Sacred relics and handwritten scrolls are revealed for public veneration—an occasion that transforms Taisekiji into a pilgrimage hotspot. The last Gokaichō in 2021 sparked a surge of visitors from Korea and Taiwan, proof that this rare showcase crosses both spiritual and national borders.

Each of these ceremonies brings Nichiren’s legacy vividly into the present, weaving age-old traditions with touches of modern engagement.