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(HOLD)FEATURE: Amid depopulation, Buddhist priests aim for community revival+ By Takeshi Nishide

FUKUOKA, June XX Kyodo – On a Sunday in April, Sairin-ji Temple in this southern Japan city was bustling with people celebrating Buddha’s birthday. But the religious festivities were also a prime example of how Buddhists are trying to reinvigorate Japan’s aging, shrinking communities at the grassroots level.
Couples, families, senior groups, and foreign visitors packed the Hana Matsuri festival in Yoshizuka, Hakata Ward. The temple grounds were lined with food stalls serving Asian cuisine, while the memorial hall was transformed into a gallery hosting an exhibition by local art students.
In front of the main hall, students from Nepal and Sri Lanka performed songs. The neighborhood features a Japanese language school, and there are many students from other parts of Asia.
“People riding by on their bicycles don’t know where these students are from or what their culture is like,” said Yoshinobu Yasutake, head priest.
He said it was a great opportunity for everyone, as fellow residents, to learn about each other’s backgrounds.
“Please join us in celebrating the birth of the Buddha — everyone is welcome, regardless of age or nationality,” he told attendees.
The current Hana Matsuri began in 2013 and helped build connections with people from the Buddhist nations of Myanmar and Vietnam.
Having grown up in the region, Yasutake collaborated with the nearby shopping district, which has seen a decline in activity amid depopulation. The result was a revitalization project that highlights Asian cultural elements.
With the help of government grants, the Yoshizuka Ichiba Little Asia Market, which promotes multiculturalism, was born in 2020.
After hearing from Thai students who told him they wished to pay their respects to “a Buddha with a familiar face,” Yoshitake came up with the idea of installing a Southeast Asian Buddhist statue in the shopping district.
With the support of local business leaders, the Yoshizuka Mido prayer hall was constructed and a golden Buddhist statue crafted in Myanmar was enshrined in it.
The hall serves as a spiritual haven where people from Vietnam and Myanmar gather. On some days, it is full to capacity.
Although the shopping district has seen a string of store closures due to the aging of shop owners among other factors, Yasutake remains committed to gaining regional support and fostering multiculturalism in the community.
“Temples used to be places where people connected and shared both joy and sorrow. We want Sairin-ji to be that kind of temple again,” he said.
==Kyodo