Save the temple without an heir!
The monk who crosses the Kanmon Straits October 6th at 12:42
In late July, a viewer sent a letter to NHK saying,
"There is a handsome monk who has come across the sea to save the temple."
"Ikemen monk!? Cross the sea? Save the temple?" What
's in your head?
?
?
full of.
I have no choice but to meet him.
I went straight to the interview.
Then a young monk who can ride a skateboard appeared.
As he listened to the story, he realized that there was a serious situation surrounding the temple.
(Kitakyushu Broadcasting Station reporter Michiko Okura)
Monk skater!
?
A skateboard park in Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu City.
There were young people skating quickly and deciding tricks.
"I heard that there is a monk..." and the young people all said.
``This person is a monk named Namu Namu!'
' ''I thought you were joking
.
Yasuhiko Arakawa is a 35-year-old monk.
He was asked to help a temple in Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, and he spends his days crossing the Kanmon Strait from a temple in Sanyo Onoda City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
No heir!
Mr. Arakawa goes to Keiunji Temple of the Nichiren sect in Moji Ward.
Located in a residential area, the precincts are not very large, but they are well-maintained and have a splendid hall and kitchen.
This temple, which has a history of about 90 years, has had a long-term problem of "successor".
After the chief priest died about 20 years ago, there is no permanent chief priest.
There is a main temple nearby and it was originally a branch office, so for the past 20 years, the monks of the main temple have been attending memorial services and events.
However, the chief priest of the commute suddenly passed away in April last year.
The existence of the temple was in danger.
Uninhabited temples continue to increase nationwide
The problem of lack of heirs is not limited to Keiun-ji Temple, but temples all over the country are facing it.
In general, a temple without a chief priest is said to be a 'muju-ji'.
It is estimated that out of the 77,000 temples nationwide, 17,000 are uninhabited temples.
(Summary of the General Incorporated Association “Good Temple Study Group”)
A certain temple in Yamaguchi Prefecture became a "temple with no residents" because the chief priest died two years ago and no successor was found.
Some parishioners have not been contacted, and it is said that graves containing ashes are left as they are in the precincts.
Since these "muju temples" are untouched by human hands, they can become dilapidated and decay, or their Buddha statues can be stolen.
"Don't turn it into an uninhabited temple"
Keiunji Temple in Moji Ward should not be made into such a “non-residential temple”.
The chief priest before his death did not have any children who became priests himself, so he consulted with his best friend, a priest, about choosing a second son as his heir.
The second son is Mr. Arakawa.
Mr. Arakawa:
“Last spring around the equinoctial week, the previous chief priest became ill and asked me to help him.
Rising expectations of parishioners
It has been a year and a half since Mr. Arakawa started attending Keiunji Temple.
During the Obon and equinoctial equinox seasons, we cross the Kanmon Strait to respond to nearly 100 Buddhist memorial service requests each month.
The means of transportation was not a ship.
One way, I run my car for more than an hour.
On the day of the interview, I visited a parishioner for a memorial service for the anniversary of the death of the moon.
Light a candle and light an incense stick.
The sutras resonate while tapping on the tree.
A thick voice that could not be imagined from Mr. Arakawa's slender figure.
How comfortable!
After the memorial service is over, it's time to chat with the parishioners.
Ms. Soe Baba, a parishioner, had full confidence in Mr. Arakawa.
Danka
: “There is a place where our ancestors can feel safe.
The temple survives... Niando
Mr. Arakawa often stayed overnight at a temple in Moji Ward to perform his duties.
When I visit in the morning, I clean the hall, arrange flowers, change into a robe, offer rice and tea, and then start reciting sutras in the morning.
There, the women of the parishioners came one after another.
It's a temple cleaning day once a month.
Among them was Tomoko Toyoda, who sent a letter to NHK.
She asked about Arakawa-san's visit.
All of the parishioners agree that they want them to settle down.
"Everyone has started wearing makeup! Fufufu. It's a joke. The number of days the temple is open has increased, and it's become easier to come whenever you feel like visiting. Eventually, I will become a priest, I want you to settle down. You're a young monk, so I want you to blow the wind of youth, don't you think?
I'm worried about whether I can handle the management...
However, taking on the role of chief priest means that you are solely responsible for the operation of the temple.
Arakawa showed a hint of anxiety.
Mr. Arakawa:
"It's not just this temple's problem, but due to the coronavirus, funerals and memorial services will be simplified, and the number of parishioners will decrease, and the number of people leaving the temple is serious. We have to think about how to stabilize the operation."
Let's protect the temple with management that does not rely on the number of parishioners!
So, Mr. Arakawa, I decided to use my hobbies and special skills to develop a plan to manage the temple without relying on the number of parishioners.
What he demonstrated was calligraphy.
"I've been learning calligraphy since I was in elementary school, and four years ago I got certified as an instructor. It might be mainly for children, but I've opened calligraphy classes and accepted people who copy sutras. It doesn't matter if you're good or bad, anyone can do it."
Next, he showed me around a corner of the precincts of his family's temple.
There are various succulent plants such as agave, pachypodium gracilis.
“Isn’t the undulating part of this agave cute? I think I can attract people to the temple by holding lectures on how to grow succulent plants and sales events at the temple.”
And I will also use my good skateboard.
The idea is still a secret.
Mr. Arakawa:
The Tokyo Olympics raised awareness and people of all generations began to skateboard. I want to go there, but I'm
still an apprentice and I'm not a priest. At the same time, I would like to create a mysterious and fun temple.”
A young monk who decided to cross the Kanmon Straits to "protect the temple."
The challenge to bring a new wind to the temple is about to begin.
Kitakyushu Broadcasting Station Reporter
Michiko Okura
Joined in 2012 It
was my duty to offer rice and tea to the family altar from the morning
.