Buddhism

Passing The Baton

IntroIn the episodic 2015 Japanese film ‘Midnight Diner’, one of the story threads involves somebody leaving the cremated remains behind in the diner. The regular customers and the diner owner […]

Buddhism - Japan Journal

Frying Pan Kuyō

Kuyō is not a word, it’s a culture and can only be understood that way. Westerners don’t understand what it really is. Never one specific thing or action, it’s so […]

Buddhism

My Private Oeshiki

Japanese Buddhist memorial services are festive events. Even though family members dress in funeral attire, the mood is never somber. Kids like it because they get to eat sweets before […]

Buddhism - Japan Journal

Stolen Buddhas

The day after Christmas 2019, a priest noticed a broken temple door. Inside the hall one of the Buddhist altar statues, Many Treasures Buddha, was missing. The temple is deep […]