FUKUOKA - On a Sunday in April, Sairinji temple in Fukuoka in southwestern Japan 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," Yasutake 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 Sairinji to be that kind of temple again," he said.
On the other side of Japan, the city of Katsuura in Chiba Prefecture is famous for its morning market, but in the local shopping district, vacant storefronts are a common sight.
Kyodo Sasaki is the head priest of Myokaiji, a local Nichiren Buddhist temple founded about 660 years ago. He recently led a group of people on a tour through the streets.
Sasaki has served as a tour guide for prospective residents and worked with members of regional revitalization groups.
"This liquor store just closed down recently," Sasaki said, gesturing at a shuttered storefront. "If only the shutter were open again."
Sasaki shared information about the town, its surroundings and vacant houses.
"Having been born in Katsuura, I believe that connecting people with the others in the community is my role," he said. "What will the town look like in 100 years? I think there is something the temple can pass on to the next generation."
Once a thriving fishing community, Katsuura is now facing depopulation. The house vacancy rate stood at 47.1 percent in 2018.
"It all comes down to whether you view these vacant homes as a burden or as a treasure," Sasaki said, highlighting his upbeat view of the town's future. "Temples alone cannot survive. We must transform our communities into sustainable towns."
Sasaki has been involved in various community revitalization initiatives. One is Bosatsu Works, a reference to individuals in Buddhism who are on the path to becoming fully awakened. The project aims to expand community ties to address challenges such as depopulation, social isolation and underutilized resources.
"We need to build community through the cultivation of bodhisattvas," said Sasaki, who defines a bodhisattva as someone who aligns their own happiness with that of others. "Unless we bring energetic people here, we cannot ensure that our elderly residents can live here with peace of mind."
Sasaki purchased a dilapidated apartment building owned by his family and transformed it into a community apartment complex with a shared workspace.
The concept is to create a midway space between "travel and daily life." He believes that having a framework and team in place are important for community revitalization.
"I hope people who want to take over a business or start a new venture in Katsuura will move here first and launch businesses that make use of vacant properties," Sasaki said.
"I want to enjoy myself while passing on the connections I've built over the years to younger generations."
