crime

Buddhist monk arrested for hitting woman with knife

16 Comments

Police in Sarufutsu, Hokkaido, have arrested a 74-year-old Buddhist monk on suspicion of assault after he hit a woman, who is in her 70s, with a knife.

According to police, Takao Nara was reportedly intoxicated and got into a heated argument with the woman at his home at around 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sankei Shimbun reported. Police said Nara hit the woman several times in the head with a kitchen knife.

Police said the woman suffered injuries which will take about two weeks to heal.

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16 Comments
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I used to work alongside several ‘monks’ and saw some very un-monk like behaviour. At a certain level it’s basically just a business, and the fact that many of them live in massive houses and drive flashy cars doesn’t really sit well with the tenets of their beliefs. This is just another example.

11 ( +22 / -11 )

the fact that many of them live in massive houses and drive flashy cars doesn’t really sit well with the tenets of their beliefs.

Which tenets does it conflict with?

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

Hit with a knife? Not stabbed? A hammer would probably have been more effective. What an idiot.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Takao Nara was reportedly intoxicated and got into a heated argument with the woman at his home at around 6 p.m. on Saturday

"I was drunk and I can't remember"

Suspended sentence. As usual.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

I used to work alongside several ‘monks’ and saw some very un-monk like behaviour. At a certain level it’s basically just a business, and the fact that many of them live in massive houses and drive flashy cars doesn’t really sit well with the tenets of their beliefs. This is just another example.

This was exactly one of my first "culture shocks" in Japan.

Getting some booze with strangers in one of those meetup events and then we started introducing ourselves.

What do you do? "I'm actually a budhist monk! ha-ha-ha" - said the bald guy with flashy clothes/rings/watch, while laughing and lifting his eyebrows almost as if saying "do you believe this is how we spend all those coins people throw to us while making their wish?"

From that moment I started perceiving the stark constrasts between real Japan and the place I watched for years through pre-youtube japanese language VHS tapes.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Not very Buddhist but all are human beings with their imperfections.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

black Benz and a Nissan GTR

I used to work part time as moto courier and been to hundreds of temples in Kanto area. The contrast was mind-boggling. Beautiful green "wa" environment, walk in a little deeper and you find the monk's house, modest oak-coloured house, nothing that catches the eye from the outside. If you're lucky you can see the car, carefully parked at the back. Lots of Lexus, Benz, Nissan Fairlady, just to mention a few.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

The monk out here drives a Cadillac Escalade Sport and a Benz G-class.

You'd think with this kind of life and money, you'd know how to use a knife.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I used to work for a 'monk', too. After one week, he let me go and never paid my agreed-upon salary. Do not remember what car he drove, but he had many toys such as a noisy gasoline-powered leaf-blower which he used all afternoon while I was working and trying to concentrate...

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Your dad's a doctor? You will be too, and take over his clinic. Same for Buddhist 'monks'. It's confusing for westerners, because we expect some element of vocation and quest for spiritual growth, etc. Here it's a job: someone has to chant all those sutras at funeral ceremonies. Call the 'monk'!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

A certified monk is just having a religious business license in Japan. I know a Budo instructor who is both a Shinto and Buddhist priest. His dojo is the temple/shrine. He use it to avoid paying taxes. All the monthly fees that his budo students pay to train with him or any products/merchandise sold are considered donations and non taxable because of his religious designation!

It is all a scam!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Another religious nut job in this country, it’s all about money and doing as little as possible and obviously ripping off the weak and feeble minded.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Buddhist and Shinto especially monks in Japan have no religious or cultural hangups preventing them from a normal life like their western religions counterparts. Some specific sects do, but particularly in japan they don’t.

they can and do make their own money. The temples are publically owned, the caretakers are paid to do so. The private ceremonies on request go directly to them in most cases. New construction blessings, child birth, death, weddings etc. or did people think that was free?

All the “omg he’s supposed to be like taking vows of silent and junk like the 80s kungfu movies” is way off the mark.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The temples are publically owned.

Temples are not publicly owned! Try again!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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