Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Bronze Statue of Shinran Shonin

Depicting His Landing on the Shores of Kotagahama

Bronze Statue of Shinran Shonin Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 27, 2025

1. Bronze Statue of Shinran Shonin Marker

Inscription.
In the year 1207, the Kamakura government banned the practice of the Nembutsu and exiled those who were prominent in spreading this teaching. Shinran Shonin was one of those exiled.

Shinran Shonin's long road to the place of his exile under the given name of Yoshizane Fujii started from the capital city of Kyoto and passed through the highways of Goshu and Hokuriku to Tonami in Toyama province. There he took a sea voyage of twenty miles in a small boat and landed on the shores of Kotagahama, and walked toward his assigned place of exile at Kokubu.

This statue depicts Shinran Shonin at the age of 35, immediately after landing on the shores of Kotagahama, accompanied by his two disciples Saibutsubo and Shoshinbo.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1207.

Location. 34° 2.913′ N, 118° 14.072′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. It is at the intersection of 1st Street and Vignes Street, on the left when traveling east on 1st Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 815 1st St, Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shinran Shonin (within shouting distance of

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this marker); The Bell of Dana (within shouting distance of this marker); Atomic Cafe (approx. ¼ mile away); Little Tokyo (approx. ¼ mile away); Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (approx. ¼ mile away); Home Is Little Tokyo Mural (approx. ¼ mile away); Aoyama Tree (approx. 0.3 miles away); History Mural - Little Tokyo (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Bronze Statue of Shinran Shonin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 27, 2025

2. Bronze Statue of Shinran Shonin

Statue and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 27, 2025

3. Statue and Marker

Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 27, 2025

4. Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.