Something needs to be confirmed by Kathy from Tokyo

[Kathy S in Tokyo]

Hi Jackie and Believe - This thread made me smile. The Buddhist priests I've met in Japan have all been married and their children were expected to take over the temple with each generation. In the country town where I stayed for my first year, the local priest also owned and operated several bars with pretty hostesses and a drove fancy cars.

There is a British woman in southern Japan who married into a Buddhist temple family. When her husband, next in line for the head priest job, got cancer, she went to Buddhist divinity school and got ordained so she could help out her father-in-law. Her husband has been in remission for a long time and the family runs the temple together, sharing various jobs, travelling to parishioners' homes to offer regular memorial services for ancestors etc.

There are some sects which are more austere and rigid, and these are featured on TV from time to time, but the local Buddhist temples seem to be run by families from generation to generation.

Most people in Japan might not describe themselves as Buddhist as they accept Shinto, Christian and Buddhist rites throughout their lives depending on the rite.

Time to get some of these kids to bed.

Hugs,

[Believe51]

.....and me smile too Kathy. I miss you and until you were feeling up to par and back in the saddle again, I just kept you in my prayers and thoughts. It was my pleasure today to pop in and to have heard from you. Keep strong and we will visit more often when you have some energy left (smiling).......looks like you have your hands pretty full recovering and taking care of them little ones......good for you!!!! Talk soon.>>Believe51