Japan
Sanskrit and Kana

Siddham, 5th century Sanskrit script, Gokokuji, Tokyo. On Japanese tombs you find the Sanskrit alphabet. The Japanese cannot read this alphabet but still use it to respect the dead. The 5th century Siddham script, which has disappeared in India, is still in use in Japan. At Koyasan, they still have a school where Sanskrit is taught with Siddham.
Photo: Benoy K. Behl

Sanskrit prayers and pronunciation in Japanese, Gokokuji, Tokyo. The mantras are in Sanskrit as the Japanese feel that translating them will destroy their effectiveness. The pronunciation given in Japanese helps the priests to chant the mantras. The Japanese wrote Sanskrit through simplified Chinese characters, which developed into the Japanese alphabet Kana. Accordingly, the structure of sounds of Sanskrit and Japanese Kana are almost exactly the same.
Photo: Benoy K. Behl

Beejakshara of Amitabha, Sanboin Hall, Daigoji, Shiga Prefecture. In Japan, they also use the Sanskrit letters for writing the sacred syllables or Beejakshras, which have the power of mantras. Every Buddhist monastery in Japan has a seal with a Beejakshara to use as a short name of the monastery.
Photo: Benoy K. Behl