Kaizo-ji Temple, Main Hall, Sanmon Gate (exploded building)

This is a Soto Zen temple said to have been founded by the Chinese monk Jigen Zenji during the Oei era (1394-1434). During the Mori era, it was the family temple of the Kodama family, vassals of the Mori clan and lords of Kusatsu Castle. It was also used as a camp for the Mori side during the Battle of Itsukushima in 1555. When Lord Mori Terumoto traveled to Kyoto in July 1588, he stayed at the temple before setting sail from Kusatsu. During the Asano era, it was the head retainer of the main Asano clan, and continued to serve as the family temple of the Tojo Asano clan until the early Meiji period. According to the Itsukaichi Town Chronicle, in June 1864, the Hamaguri Gomon Incident occurred, and negotiations between the shogunate and Choshu were held at this temple, with the mediation of the Hiroshima clan. The main hall was partially destroyed by a mudslide in 1926, and to express gratitude to those who donated funds for its restoration, large rosary beads engraved with the names of the donors are made and recited on August 10th every year on the "Kannon Festival". The main hall and temple gate were rebuilt in 1840 (Tempo 11), but on August 6th, 1945, the blast from the atomic bomb caused the eaves to lift up and the main hall tilted. After that, the hall was so full of injured people that they had fled, leaving no room to walk inside. The main hall and temple gate were severely damaged by Typhoon Hagibis in 1991, and preservation work was carried out with the support of parishioners and local residents, under the support of the Hiroshima City Atomic Bombed Buildings Preservation and Succession Project.