LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Shinnyo-en Buddhist order has made a gift of $6.6 million to the University of Southern California for the study of Japan.
The name of the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture, established in 2011 for the study of Japan at the university, honors Shinnyo-en’s current leader, Shinso Ito.
“The USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture carries a deep-seated mission to use the teaching of religion and culture to actively engage our students,” said Steve Kay, Dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “But it is because of philanthropic gestures such as this that USC can be a leader among American universities in contributing to the strengthened partnership with Japan that I know we all envision for the future,” Kay said.
“Shinnyo-en deeply appreciates the commitment of the USC Center for Japanese Religions and Culture for its deep and sensitive explorations of many aspects of Japanese culture through the study of international relations, society, the arts, media, and religion,” said the Rev. Minoru Shitara, Director of Shinnyo-en’s International Affairs Department. “Shinnyo-en views this support of the center as an expression of our common purpose with USC to educate people from diverse backgrounds to become effective agents for understanding, peace and harmony.”
Co-Director Duncan Williams, Chair of USC Dornsife’s School of Religion, said he is grateful to Her Holiness Shinso Ito and to all Shinnyo-en leaders and members for believing in the work of the USC Shinso Ito Center.
“With this generous gift, the center will continue to deepen the understanding between the peoples of Japan and America by promoting study of Japan, study in Japan and study with Japan,” Williams said. “And, in its work, the center hopes to bring to the world the wisdom and the compassion that Her Holiness teaches.”