Sado Island and Nichiren

Sado (佐渡市 Sado-shi^?) is a city located on Sado Island (佐渡島 or 佐渡ヶ島, both Sadogashima) in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km² is urbanized. Sado is the sixth largest island of Japan in area following the four main islands and Okinawa Island (excluding the Northern Territories). The island consists of two parallel mountain ranges running roughly southwest–northeast, enclosing a central plain.

When direct control from mainland Japan started around the 8th century, the island's remoteness meant that it soon became a place of banishment for difficult or inconvenient Japanese figures. Exile to remote locations such as Sado was a very serious punishment, second only to the death penalty, and people were not expected to return.  The last banishment in Sado took place in 1700, almost a millennium after the first.

The Buddhist monk Nichiren lived on Sado close to the present village Niibo in Kuninaka Plain from 1271-74. In the 17th century, Konpon Ji Temple was built at the place where he lived. At the end of his exile, Nichiren lived at the place where Myosho Ji temple was built later. He used to meditate at the place where Jisso Ji Temple can be visited today.
Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam(u)-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching. Nichiren Buddhism includes various schools with their own interpretations of Nichiren's teachings.

Its rich history and relaxed rural atmosphere make Sado one of the major tourist destinations in Niigata Prefecture. The island has several temples and historical ruins, and offers possibilities for various outdoor activities, as well as fresh local food. The island is dotted with Noh theaters, and the local Japanese dialect and accent are different from those of Niigata.

Sado is famous as the major breeding area for the Japanese Crested Ibis.

The ibis is a major symbol of the Island and can be found on several tourist items.