Monks delivered via Amazon as role of Japanese temples fade

YACHIYO, Japan — 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 other rituals.

But when Amazon Japan allowed a provider to offer “Obo-san bin,” or “Mr. Monk Delivery,” on its website, it shone a spotlight on the emerging trend and prompted a major Buddhist organization to criticize the Internet marketer of commercializing religion.

A basic plan for monk, transportation and a donation offered by the Tokyo-based provider, Minrevi Co., one of dozens of emerging budget companies, costs 35,000 yen ($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 Amazon,” Akisato Saito, director of the Japan Buddhist Association, said in a statement.

Many Japanese, however, welcome the service as a consumer-friendly approach to Buddhist rituals, whose cost is often perceived as murky and overpriced. Buddhist-style memorial services offered by temples comparable to the “monk delivery” could cost as much as 100,000 yen ($830). Funerals are even more expensive and can cost well over 1 million yen ($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.

In fact, some experts predict that the majority of Japanese temples without income from tourism and other businesses are expected to close over the next several decades.

Minrevi spokesman Jumpei Masano says the service seems to attract those who want to have Buddhist funerals but are uneasy about the pricing system, and want to keep their distance from temples.

“Many people don’t have ties with temples and they have no idea where and how to arrange Buddhist rituals, while monks are increasingly concerned about their declining temple membership,” Masano said.

Some monks acknowledge that the growing business highlights the Buddhist temples’ complacency.

“We do understand there are criticisms of us as well and we take them seriously. And we must ask ourselves if and how we can change,” said Hanyu Kakubo, public relations secretary for the Japan Buddhist Association.

When Yutaka Uematsu’s 17-year-old son Kakeru died just over a month ago after battling cancer, he searched on the Internet for a funeral service provider.

Uematsu didn’t consider asking his father’s family temple as he had heard the prices charged for a family member’s funeral 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,” Uematsu said. “I liked its price system that was simple and clear.”