According to an article published on 31 May 2021 in The Special Report section of the Akita Sakigake Shimpo, a regional newspaper from Akita:
This photo was taken on 26th of July 1958, when a group of local parishioners from Honcho-ji Temple (Nichiren sect) in Noshiro went on a pilgrimage to the Ichinotani Myosho-ji Temple on Sado Island with the then head priest. The current head priest has a copy of the same photograph in their photo album. The Honcho-ji Temple used to organise pilgrimages every 4-5 years.
The newspaper article informs that through the current head priest of the temple, they were introduced to the grandson of one of the women in this group photo (front row, second left from the flag). Her name is Itsu Hasegawa. See photo number 316 for more info. https://untitled.showa.com.au/project/316
The article is on (Japanese only, and behind a paywall) :https://www.sakigake.jp/news/article/20210530AK0030/?nv=akita
Assuming that it is Honchoji Temple in Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture, it is a Nichiren Shoshu temple, along with Myoshoji Temple, a famous temple in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture. It is likely that the believers of Myosho-ji Temple or the Nichiren Shoshu temples in the northern Tohoku region were touring the area.
Honchoji Temple in Noshiro City is still in existence. However, the current Honchoji temple is a new building, differing from the address before1949. This is thought to be related to the big fire in Noshiro on February 20, 1949. This fire was so large that it covered about 42% of the city, destroying 1,295 residential buildings and 942 non-residential buildings. A “City Reconstruction Plan” was immediately formulated, the area demarcated, and the temples and cemeteries in the burned area were relocated outside the city. As a result, I heard that the temples and cemeteries in Noshiro were almost all concentrated in the current location. However, for clarification, we need to check the city history at the city hall.
We received a comment from Kumiko Sakota on FB:
On the flag of Noshiro Honcho-ji Temple, on the right side it says, Sado Sacred Sites, and on the left side it says, Worshippers. Noshiro Honcho-ji Temple is a Nichiren Shoshu sect, and Myosho-ji Temple is also a Nichiren Shoshu sect. The second person on the left of the flag in the front row appears to be the same woman as the woman in the photo: 005, 006, 007, 011, 012, 013, 014.
According to an article published on 31 May 2021 in The Special Report section of the Akita Sakigake Shimpo, a regional newspaper from Akita:
This photo was taken on 26th of July 1958, when a group of local parishioners from Honcho-ji Temple (Nichiren sect) in Noshiro went on a pilgrimage to the Ichinotani Myosho-ji Temple on Sado Island with the then head priest. The current head priest has a copy of the same photograph in their photo album. The Honcho-ji Temple used to organise pilgrimages every 4-5 years.
The newspaper article informs that through the current head priest of the temple, they were introduced to the grandson of one of the women in this group photo (front row, second left from the flag). Her name is Itsu Hasegawa. See photo number 316 for more info. https://untitled.showa.com.au/project/316
The article is on (Japanese only, and behind a paywall) :https://www.sakigake.jp/news/article/20210530AK0030/?nv=akita
2021年5月31日付け、秋田の地方紙「秋田魁新報」の特報欄に掲載された記事によると、
この写真は、1958年7月26日、能代の本澄寺(日蓮宗)の檀家さんたちが、当時のご住職と一緒に佐渡の一の谷妙正寺に行かれたときのものだそうです。現在のご住職のアルバムにも同じ写真のコピーがあり、本澄寺では当時、4~5年に一度は巡礼旅行に行かれていたそうです。
記事によると、現ご住職を通じて、この集合写真に写っている女性(前列、旗から左2番目)のお孫さんを紹介されたとのことです。その女性の方のお名前は長谷川イツさん。詳しくは写真番号316もご覧ください。https://untitled.showa.com.au/project/316
秋田魁新報の有料記事はこちらから:https://www.sakigake.jp/news/article/20210530AK0030/?nv=akita
秋田県能代市の本澄寺であると仮定して、新潟県佐渡市の名刹、妙照寺とともに、日蓮宗のお寺です。妙照寺の信徒の方々が、あるいは北東北の日蓮宗のお寺を巡っていたのではないでしょうか。
なお、能代市の本澄寺は現存します。ただ、現在の本澄寺は、少なくとも1949年より前の住所とは違い新しく建立されています。これは1949年2月20日の能代の大火が関係していると考えられます。この大火は大規模で、被害範囲は当時の市街地のおよそ42%に達し、住家1,295棟、非住家942棟が焼失したそうです。すぐに『復興都市計画』が立てられ、区画整理が行われ、焼失区域内の寺院・墓地は市街地外に移転したということです。この結果、能代市内の寺と墓地は、現在の場所にほぼ集約されることになったと聞きました。ただ、明確なことは、市役所で市史を調べる必要があります。
Translation of Momoyo’s comment on 13 April 2021:
Assuming that it is Honchoji Temple in Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture, it is a Nichiren Shoshu temple, along with Myoshoji Temple, a famous temple in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture. It is likely that the believers of Myosho-ji Temple or the Nichiren Shoshu temples in the northern Tohoku region were touring the area.
Honchoji Temple in Noshiro City is still in existence. However, the current Honchoji temple is a new building, differing from the address before1949. This is thought to be related to the big fire in Noshiro on February 20, 1949. This fire was so large that it covered about 42% of the city, destroying 1,295 residential buildings and 942 non-residential buildings. A “City Reconstruction Plan” was immediately formulated, the area demarcated, and the temples and cemeteries in the burned area were relocated outside the city. As a result, I heard that the temples and cemeteries in Noshiro were almost all concentrated in the current location. However, for clarification, we need to check the city history at the city hall.
さこたくみこさんからFBにてメッセージを頂きました:
能代 本澄寺 の旗 ー右側に、 佐渡霊場と左側に、 参拝団と書いてあります。能代 本澄寺 は日蓮宗で、妙照寺も日蓮宗 です。ここに写っている前列の旗の向かって左2人目方、他にも写っていますね。005, 006, 007, 011, 012, 013, 014 の方 と、同じ人ではないかなと思います。
We received a comment from Kumiko Sakota on FB:
On the flag of Noshiro Honcho-ji Temple, on the right side it says, Sado Sacred Sites, and on the left side it says, Worshippers. Noshiro Honcho-ji Temple is a Nichiren Shoshu sect, and Myosho-ji Temple is also a Nichiren Shoshu sect. The second person on the left of the flag in the front row appears to be the same woman as the woman in the photo: 005, 006, 007, 011, 012, 013, 014.
秋田県能代市の本澄寺は、こちら
https://goo.gl/maps/CGiwjm6twGU9nZP3A
The comment from Shoko on 27 Feb 2021 reads:
Honcho-ji Temple in Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture is here: https://goo.gl/maps/CGiwjm6twGU9nZP3A
Honcho-ji Temple and Noshiro is part of the larger writing on the white banner held by the group.