In Japan, where communal ties to local Buddhist temples are fading, families have in recent years been able to go online to find a Buddhist monk to perform funerals and ot-her rituals.
In Japan, where communal ties to local Buddhist temples are fading, families have in recent years been able to go online to find a Buddhist monk to perform funerals and ot-her rituals. However, wh-en Amazon Japan allow-ed a provider to offer “Obo-san bin,” or “Mr Monk Delivery,” on its website, it shone a spotlight on the emerging tre-nd and prompted a major Buddhist organisation to criticise the Internet marketer of commercialising religion.
A basic plan for monk, transportation and a don-ation offered by the Tok-yo-based provider, Minr-evi Co., one of dozens of emerging budget companies, costs $300. Three other options are available for more money. The monks would typically go to a home, funeral hall or a grave to perform the requested ceremony.
“Such a thing is allowed in no other country in the world. In this regard, we must say we are disappointed by an attitude toward religion by Ama-zon,” Akisato Saito, dire-ctor of the Japan Buddh-ist Association, said.
Many Japanese, however, welcome the service as a consumer-friendly approach to Buddhist rituals, whose cost is often perceived as murky and overpriced. Buddhist-sty-le memorial services offered by temples comp-arable to the “monk del-ivery” could cost as $830. Funerals are even more expensive and can cost well over $8,500.
Monk delivery services have emerged as many of Japan’s 75,000 temples are losing offerings and business with hereditary members in their communities which traditionally have been the main source of financial support. That is threatening the survival of many temples in rural areas.
Minrevi spokesman Ju-mpei Masano said the service seems to attract those who want to have Buddhist funerals but are uneasy about pricing system, and want to keep their distance from temples.
Some monks acknowledge that the growing business highlight the Buddhist temples’ complacency and their failure to reach out and adapt to the people’s needs.
When Yutaka Uemats-u’s 17-year-old son Kake-ru died just over a month ago, he searched on the Internet for a funeral service provider. Mr Uematsu did not consider asking his father’s family temple as he had heard the prices charged were “outrageous.” So he and his wife went to the Minrevi website and picked for their son a package at a price less than half or even cheaper than an average, conventional service. “Honestly, the cost was my biggest concern,” Mr Uematsu said. “I liked its price system that was simple and clear.”
