In Japan, the number of temples without a chief priest is increasing. Another reason is that the number of danka is decreasing due to population decline and aging. Currently, there are approximately 77,000 temples across the country. Of these, more than 17,000 are expected to be unpopulated temples. By 2040, the number is expected to increase by another 10,000. The number of people who “close their graves” is also increasing. The decline of temples may further accelerate regional depopulation. This time, we thought about ways to respond to modern changes surrounding temples.
While some people choose to “close their graves,” there are also people who memorialize their ancestors in various ways. Grave options are diversifying, with tree burials and ossuary becoming more popular. Tree funerals are not intended for long-term memorial services. Cheap and hassle-free tree burials and ossuary are becoming mainstream. In the 2023 survey, for the first time since the survey began, more than half of grave buyers chose tree burial. One of the great appeals of tree burials and ossuary is that the initial cost is less than half that of regular graves. A regular grave costs about 1.7 million yen in total, including the tombstone and land. More changes are happening. Graves that allow pets are also starting to appear. The diversification of graves also extends to pets. The reason for this is that more and more people consider dogs and cats to be like family members. In Buddhism, it has long been forbidden to bury people and animals together. Under these circumstances, some temples began to provide graves that allow pets.
The problem faced by temples is the money to maintain them. If the people around the temple become rich, they will have more money. The ancient temple towns of Hokushinetsu are beginning to formulate various measures to revitalize them. In Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, etc., there is a “Teramachi Summit” that Buddhist and government officials gather. This summit introduces the preservation and utilization of traditional architecture that formed the foundation of the city as a historical tourism city. It has also been developed into cultural tourism content for tourists who want to deeply understand the city of Hokushinetsu. The vice mayor of Takaoka City is also holding an event that four temples, regardless of sect, display their temple treasures at the same time. The mayor of Iiyama City wants to promote a movement to decorate temples with flowers, and he is putting this into practice. The number of visitors to this temple has increased rapidly in recent years as the garden is filled with blue hydrangeas. This city is famous for its peonies and there are many flower farmers. We aim to kill two birds with one stone by promoting temples and industry, and we want to enrich the region.
