It seems that voices calling for "monks are unnecessary!" are growing louder. In Japan, monks have long been derided as "all-profit monks" or "smelly monks." However, especially in recent years, this sentiment seems to have grown stronger than ever. Buddhism was originally intended to spread its teachings and free people from suffering. However, the Edo Shogunate's policy of establishing a parishioner system in Japan meant that anyone who became a monk could earn a living without any effort. The role of a monk was to simply recite sutras, leaving the disposal of bodies to funeral homes. There was a time when monks could simply recite incomprehensible sutras, receive large donations, and drive luxury cars. Perhaps as a reaction to this, dissatisfaction and criticism of monks is now surging. The authority of monks has never been more tenuous than it is today. In reality, these monks should have known this, but the reality is that the population is already declining, the economy is worsening, funerals are decreasing, and graves are being closed. Now, as the economic situation becomes even more severe, monks are panicking.

Around 2015, a service called "Obosanbin" (Buddhist Priest Delivery) appeared on Amazon, offering monks to be dispatched. This business became a social problem and was removed from Amazon within a few years. However, this does not mean that visiting monk services have disappeared entirely. Even today, a simple online search will easily reveal many services that can dispatch monks. Furthermore, with the proliferation of sutras available online, anyone can play sutras for free. It's now perfectly possible for families to hold a homemade funeral service for the deceased without having to go to the trouble of hiring a monk.

It also appears that fake monks are popping up all over Japan. Fake monks appear to be selling negligible goods to foreign tourists. While some argue that "this malicious fraud should be dealt with promptly," many others argue, "What exactly constitutes a fake? Monks themselves are a bit of a scam." While the only difference between fake and genuine monks is whether they have undergone training and obtained a license, it's important to remember that we live in an age where anyone can acquire a monk license for a few days and a few hundred thousand yen. The reality is that monks are no longer a special entity distinct from laypeople; rather, it's part of the qualification business, accessible to anyone who pays. Obtaining a monk license means high fees for posthumous Buddhist names and condolence money. If you're skilled in speaking, you can promote yourself on YouTube, build a fan base, and earn a high income both as a monk and as a YouTuber.

Mocking Japanese monks is coming not only from within Japan but also from overseas. Now, in the face of an outpouring of dissatisfaction and criticism against priests, the Japanese Buddhist community, which has been resting comfortably on its laurels of "funeral Buddhism," is being forced to consider its future direction and urgent countermeasures. No one wants professional priests who complete their work with only boring sutra chanting and set sermons. It is very sad that priests who are responsible for Buddhism have become tainted by materialism. I sincerely hope that they will quickly move away from the "religion of money" that wears the banner of "Buddhism."

"Forest scattering" is a natural burial where the remains are returned to nature. It is similar to "tree burial," which involves burial at the base of a tree, but is slightly different. While "tree burial" involves digging a hole in the ground and burying the remains in an urn, "forest scattering" involves grinding the remains into a fine powder beforehand and scattering them in the mountains. The remains are not buried underground, but rather scattered over the ground like the "Grandpa Who Made Flowers Bloom." In the wild, grass grows and bare ground is rarely found, so the white remains are not left in one place. The powdered remains gradually return to the soil as they are exposed to wind and rain. Furthermore, while in a typical "tree burial," the remains are exhumed and interred after a certain number of years, in the case of "forest scattering," the remains cannot be manually retrieved, so they rest there forever. Japan has a long tradition of "mountain worship," which views the entire mountain as a sacred object. ・・・

"Ocean scattering" is a funeral method that has become popular not only in Japan but around the world. Scattering ashes into rivers is not permitted in Japan, so this method seems to be gaining popularity. It is particularly popular as a way to say goodbye to a deceased loved one, and services such as chartering a motorboat or cruiser to scatter ashes offshore are popular. However, the drawbacks of this method include the fact that the ocean is easily affected by weather, which can suddenly result in a cancellation on the scheduled date, and the relatively high cost of chartering a boat. Our company, SANKOTSUYAMA, offers an "Ocean Scattering Plan," which uses our small boat, eliminating the additional cost of chartering a boat. All costs are included in the price. Furthermore, "ocean scattering" does not necessarily require the services of a specialized scattering company. Individuals are not prohibited from scattering powdered ashes into the sea. However, scattering ashes is prohibited near fishing ・・・