Monk guards remains of unknown tsunami victims

How fantastic of him, bless his soul <3

@mastertigurius: A slight pinch of healthy skepticism is usually good, but what you are doing here is going too far. You make several claims about Buddhist monks overcharging and exploiting grieving family members while linking it to Miyabe, while at the same time offering absolutely nothing to support these claims...

Ask any Japanese person or foreigner that has lost a family member in Japan (which includes myself) and you will have all the proof that you need on how they try to squeeze as much cash out of you as possible. Here is just one example "The more you pay, the higher quality afterlife name you will be given".. Now tell me that does not sound like money grabbing BS to you...

No offense is meant to anyone.. I agree what he is doing is nice. But lets not forget that burials, death and cleaverly engineered guilt trips in Japan are a big, big CASH business.

I just find it really offense that those in an emotional frame of mind are easy prey for a system that makes profit out of their loss.

Miyabesan is doing a truly wonderful thing. It's profound to think that whole families have been wiped out. Nearly one year and I stil cannot comprehend the level of destruction and tragedy the earthquake and tsunami unleashed. May all the souls, those still living and those who have passed on into the skies, find peace.

@tokyokawasaki

A slight pinch of healthy skepticism is usually good, but what you are doing here is going too far. You make several claims about Buddhist monks overcharging and exploiting grieving family members while linking it to Miyabe, while at the same time offering absolutely nothing to support these claims...a personal attack if I ever saw one. Cynics should keep in mind that no matter where we are in the world, there are still good people around, who want to do good out of the kindness in their hearts, not to line their pockets.

Shame on you.

Since the article did not address fees for services, we do not know if tokyokawasaki or mastertigurius is correct. We also do not know if the Buddhist temples in the disaster areas charged their usual rates. It would be good to know the truth, one way or the other. Meanwhile, I think Monk Miyabe is performing a much needed service. His paycheck is not relevant.

So sad that no one has claimed the remains of these poor souls and I doubt anyone will either because they were most likely claimed by the tsunami too :(

In death in the family, the family lives on; but in death of the family, the family ceases to exist. The family history/heritage and generations are wiped put. The family and its name cease to exist as of March 11, 2011. 3/11 is a tragedy of biblical proportions.

The souls are not lost in their journey as they try to explain according to Japanese tradition. The souls move on but if that soul thinks that it needs such ceremonies as it was taught in Japan then it may take some time to get over this mind concept. In truth all of these ceremonies have little effect in the soul but more effect in the people living. The death of anyone is the greatest bliss that we should rejoice in. People nowadays are saddened by death and that is funny since it was not meant to be that way. It is the time of release from all pain and suffering.

How much do the families have to pay for all his work? T.I.J which means it'll be very, very expensive. Yeah I know what he is doing sounds cute and sweat, but remeber he is just working and doing his job. He has not gone out of his way. He is doing what he is paid to do.

Religion in Japan (especially death and funerals) is nothing but business... They are able to charge a fortune and invent ceremonies and odd requirements (such as death names - more money = a better name - their words not mine) just to squeeze more cash out of people whilst they are in a vulnerable emotional state of mind.

I remember an article way back in 2001 which said "You think living in Japan is expensive, dying is even more expensive"....

It would be nice for the remains to be claimed by the family members, but do not rip them off with unnecessary high fees.

Wow..... I have always believed that when you die the only place our souls return to is to the source. That source of energy which comes from the cosmos. I can only pursue everyone to read "A New Earth" Erckhart Tolle and that will insight anyone about death and the beyond. For all the people lost in the tsunami, the only thing we can do is rebuild and try to live life the best we can and stop blaming people for our loss. Nature happens and we'll be seeing more of these disasters in the near future no doubt. We need to come together as humans and reflect and learn from one another.