Ekan Ikeguchi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ekan Ikeguchi (池口恵観; born November 15, 1936) is a Japanese Shingon Buddhist priest, currently the High Priest of Saifukuji in Kagoshima and Shojoshin-in on Mount Koya. He holds a doctorate in medicine from Yamaguchi University and is an expert in the goma fire ritual. He has spoken at Harvard University and performed a ritual at the World Trade Center site in October 2001.[1]
In 1961 he was arrested for attempting a coup d'etat on the Japanese government.[citation needed]
Since becoming abbot of Saifukuji he installed a shrine to North Korean leader Kim Il Sung. He frequently travels to North Korea,[2] explaining that it is his way of apologizing for the brutality of Korea under Japanese rule.[3] On the death of Kim Jong Il, he said, "I am overcome with sadness to hear of the passing of His Majesty Great Leader Kim Jong Il."[4]
In March 2013, he attempted to purchase the bankrupt headquarters of Chongryon for $48 million.[5] He explained that the North Koreans asked him to maintain the building for Chongryon.[6] He was unable to secure funds for the purchase, and in November 2014 Marunaka Holdings Co. purchased the property for ¥2.21 billion.[7] Marunaka Holdings reportedly plans to ask Chongryon to vacate the property, despite protests from Pyongyang.
