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GONZO Starts Contact Management of a Moe Buddhist Temple

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Nov 10, 2009 7:36 AM
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According to the official website, anime production studio GONZO started a contact management of a Buddhist temple Ryohoji. The temple became famous when the chief priest put a PR sign with Moe characters last May.

Picture of the Moe sign

Each character represents Buddhist goddess and was designed by a CG illustrator & seiyu Toromi. GONZO is now looking for licensees who want to commercialize the characters. Ryohoji will open a maid cafeteria in the precincts during a local festival to be held this month.

Notice of the maid cafe

Ryohoji was originally established in 1490 and moved to the current place in 1590.

Sources:
GONZO
Ryohoji official website
dtshykNov 10, 2009 7:43 AM
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Nov 10, 2009 7:41 AM
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Only in Japan..
Nov 10, 2009 7:43 AM
#3

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Damn, it would've been good if it wasn't for Gonzo.
Nov 10, 2009 8:02 AM
#4

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That's too awesome!
Nov 10, 2009 8:30 AM
#5

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Good Lord...

-Shio said:
Only in Japan..
Exactly...
Nov 10, 2009 9:01 AM
#6

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Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?
Nov 10, 2009 9:16 AM
#7

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So a Buddhist temple is becoming a moe cafeteria this month?


Nov 10, 2009 9:23 AM
#8

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Totally useless...
Nov 10, 2009 9:26 AM
#9

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And you guys say Christianity is messed up.
This is a serious post. You're not allowed to delete it.
Nov 10, 2009 10:26 AM

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CDRW said:
And you guys say Christianity is messed up.


haha.

anyway WTF. GONZO again o_o


Nov 10, 2009 10:28 AM

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W.T.F.F.
Nov 10, 2009 10:32 AM

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Oh my.

The Buddhas are happy now.
Waratte Oemashou Sore ha Chiisana Inori
Nov 10, 2009 10:41 AM

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.....

Anime is taking over the whole fucking world..

..IN JAPAN.

Nov 10, 2009 11:13 AM

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llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?


Agreed ... this is ... not right ...
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Nov 10, 2009 11:34 AM

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-Shio said:
Only in Japan..


Where religion falls to marketing...
Click on this. I dare you. | MAL Fantasy Football League | Currently Watching List

RWBY Club. RWBY is anime. Deal with it.

Nov 10, 2009 11:44 AM

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kaminakun said:
llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?


Agreed ... this is ... not right ...

To live without attachments to worldly possessions doesn't mean to live without worldly possessions. It's not about getting rid of material things, but about being content with what you have.
Nov 10, 2009 12:10 PM

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Interesting...WHAT THE...??
Nov 10, 2009 12:16 PM

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seishi-sama said:
kaminakun said:
llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?


Agreed ... this is ... not right ...

To live without attachments to worldly possessions doesn't mean to live without worldly possessions. It's not about getting rid of material things, but about being content with what you have.
But, clearly, they're not content with the amount of visitors that they have.
Nov 10, 2009 12:59 PM

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Japanese people are nuts >.<
Nov 10, 2009 1:05 PM

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I'm all for promoting anime culture, but I find this a bit insulting to the Buddhists (and I'm not even Buddhist). A temple is supposed to be a holy place, not a place for pop culture or materialistic desires.

Thanks, person who gave me this on another site a long time ago, lol.
Nov 10, 2009 1:31 PM

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llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?


This.

But really... WTF, Japan? XD
Nov 10, 2009 1:37 PM

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The Japanese just get crazier and crazier. Next they'll have their president be Miku or Haruhi or some other "moe" figure over there.
Nov 10, 2009 1:54 PM

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llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?

Not really. The monks themselves may not be attached to worldly possessions, but they acknowledge many people are and use this for the greater buddhist good, whatever that is. Why the hell not?
Nov 10, 2009 1:59 PM

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thats really cool. It promotes the temple and thus the religion.
Nov 10, 2009 2:11 PM

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Waitwaitwait..am I reading this right?

Not a temple sign...they said "statue" or "sign" at some anime place, not "Buddahist temple shrine", right?

...right?

hooh, too strange.

It looks like a guidance sign (PR), so maybe it's not a big deal. It shouldn't affect religious custom right?..right?
Nov 10, 2009 2:22 PM

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Gonzo is desperate I see.
Nov 10, 2009 2:25 PM

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Volbla said:
llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?

Not really. The monks themselves may not be attached to worldly possessions, but they acknowledge many people are and use this for the greater buddhist good, whatever that is. Why the hell not?
Eh. Guess you've got a point.
Nov 10, 2009 2:29 PM

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Silent_girl said:
Japanese people are nuts >.<

Not sure if it's exactly that they are nuts, maybe just a little silly considering this one.

I don't know but I think moe is becoming a little over rated in some areas. Not that I'll stop liking moe characters and such. <3

CDRW said:
And you guys say Christianity is messed up.
Nov 10, 2009 2:58 PM
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At first I read that as 'Moe Bullshit Temple'.
Nov 10, 2009 3:27 PM
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vault2049 said:
Good Lord...
Good Buddha.
Nov 10, 2009 3:27 PM
Observer

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Volbla said:
llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?

Not really. The monks themselves may not be attached to worldly possessions, but they acknowledge many people are and use this for the greater buddhist good, whatever that is. Why the hell not?


You have to realize that despite what Buddhist principles are, the temple needs money and donation to survive...
bla bla bla
The endless debate between fans and haters. At one point, after spending a lot of time on MAL, you just realize it's totally pointless.
Niko-kun said:
On MAL, everyone who has used the lame rating system becomes a critic and an intellectual by default, haven't you heard?
Nov 10, 2009 3:31 PM

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i dont know shít about buddhism, but i wonder if moe is anywhere to be found in the sutra
the world is already messed up anyway, so i doubt that something like this is gonna be the reason for the downfall of the humanity, which some religious zealots might gonna think it is :D
anyway that priest dude sounds like a funny guy :o)
i wonder if some shinto shrines gonna open miko-cafes if those buddha-maids are gonna succeed _oO

in the depths of a mind insane
fantasy and reality are the same
Nov 10, 2009 3:32 PM

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wakka9ca said:
Volbla said:
llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?

Not really. The monks themselves may not be attached to worldly possessions, but they acknowledge many people are and use this for the greater buddhist good, whatever that is. Why the hell not?


You have to realize that despite what Buddhist principles are, the temple needs money and donation to survive...
Which is the same reason why so many christians now think that sunday worship means electric guitars and drum sets.
This is a serious post. You're not allowed to delete it.
Nov 10, 2009 3:55 PM

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Itsygo said:
i wonder if some shinto shrines gonna open miko-cafes if those buddha-maids are gonna succeed _oO

That would be awesome, at least it would be if I was living in Japan.
CDRW said:
And you guys say Christianity is messed up.

It's actually religion that is messed up, not just Christianity.

Why won't anyone make things like this outside of Japan!? I know it wouldn't be successful, but still...
Nov 10, 2009 4:24 PM

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DarkBlue said:
It's actually religion that is messed up, not just Christianity.

true, that

its always been humanities forte to hide behind a concept of whatever god in order to justify themself

in the depths of a mind insane
fantasy and reality are the same
Nov 10, 2009 4:42 PM

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llxwarbirdxll said:
seishi-sama said:
kaminakun said:
llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?


Agreed ... this is ... not right ...

To live without attachments to worldly possessions doesn't mean to live without worldly possessions. It's not about getting rid of material things, but about being content with what you have.
But, clearly, they're not content with the amount of visitors that they have.


Oh c'mon, hiring a materialistic animation company to turn Buddhist goddesses into cutesy cartoon characters is, like, totally ascetic guise /rolleyes

wakka9ca said:
Volbla said:
llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?

Not really. The monks themselves may not be attached to worldly possessions, but they acknowledge many people are and use this for the greater buddhist good, whatever that is. Why the hell not?


You have to realize that despite what Buddhist principles are, the temple needs money and donation to survive...


LOL, wtf, how is the temple surviving if it throws its principles away in an attempt to make money? The problem isn't anime, moe, or buddhism but the hypocrisy of some so-called monks going against their own religious beliefs for a quick buck.
JuicyBuddhaNov 10, 2009 4:48 PM
Nov 10, 2009 4:50 PM

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that't not correct. It's totally crazy. This would be a messed-up culture.
Nov 10, 2009 5:29 PM

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i think using anime to promote temples is a common practice in japan. its no different from using rock bands or celebrities for religious events.
i even went for a counter-strike competition in a church before. -_-
Nov 10, 2009 6:30 PM

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Cleaned up the thread. Deleted a few quotechains. Please don't just quote other people and add nothing further. And "QFT" and "+1" type replies do not count as something further.

On topic, all I can say is... neat. I like seeing things promoted in a creative manner. Whatever works for them. If it's good business sense, then go for it.
Nov 10, 2009 6:35 PM

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That's a pretty cute idea..

Moe Buddhist Temple....huh?

Nice sign.. Nice poster... I guess.
Nov 10, 2009 7:13 PM

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Asako said:
On topic, all I can say is... neat. I like seeing things promoted in a creative manner. Whatever works for them. If it's good business sense, then go for it.


My problem is, Buddha's teachings are meant to move people away from attachment to material things, such as business and making money. So a buddhist temple using materialist propaganda to make money = not a buddhist temple = hypocrisy.

I have no problem with making money, and if the proprietors of this temple want to run an anime-oriented business that's fine with me and I wish them luck. But they shouldn't do it while disguised as an ascetic, anti-materialistic religion. Go to Akiba and open a shop or something instead.
JuicyBuddhaNov 10, 2009 7:17 PM
Nov 10, 2009 7:53 PM

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unbelievable!! ><
but still interesting~
Nov 10, 2009 9:13 PM
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llxwarbirdxll said:
Does anyone find it wrong that Buddhists, who usually try to discourage attachment to worldly possessions or the world in general, are actually trying to attract people with this?


ahahaha - again, only in Japan...


Indigo Osmanthus
Nov 10, 2009 9:40 PM

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Hahahaha!
Nov 10, 2009 10:02 PM

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I don't see what is wrong with this.
Moe characters is not "materialist advertising". Japan (gov) has accepted cuteness as a national feature and selling point; this is basically the same as a Texan restaurant advertising with people dressed as cowboys/girls.
Nov 10, 2009 11:07 PM

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good news! very interesting method

Nov 11, 2009 1:19 AM

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=w= anime taking over japan? (even though it was to begin with xD)
Nov 11, 2009 6:47 AM
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JuicyBuddha said:
Asako said:
On topic, all I can say is... neat. I like seeing things promoted in a creative manner. Whatever works for them. If it's good business sense, then go for it.


My problem is, Buddha's teachings are meant to move people away from attachment to material things, such as business and making money. So a buddhist temple using materialist propaganda to make money = not a buddhist temple = hypocrisy.



Again, moving away from attachment = moderation and recognizing that the attachment is illusory.

However, our world is not a Buddhist world and the temple needs money to survive... that is the simple truth. They need either funding/donations or need to gain that money by themselves, which is mostly what all modern Buddhist temple do (in some way or another)

And Buddhists are not all ascetics. The important is to recognize that the extreme paths can lead to more suffering in a long term. And extreme anti-materialism is not what Buddhism fundamentally is.
bla bla bla
The endless debate between fans and haters. At one point, after spending a lot of time on MAL, you just realize it's totally pointless.
Niko-kun said:
On MAL, everyone who has used the lame rating system becomes a critic and an intellectual by default, haven't you heard?
Nov 11, 2009 7:39 AM

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Meh...
I don't know if I should laugh or cry, but anyway it really looks like a joke.
So I say it: wtf??!
Nov 12, 2009 12:27 AM

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As an actual Buddhist, I am so offended by this. (I really am.)
Geez, why isn't anyone stopping this?!

wakka9ca said:
JuicyBuddha said:
Asako said:
On topic, all I can say is... neat. I like seeing things promoted in a creative manner. Whatever works for them. If it's good business sense, then go for it.


My problem is, Buddha's teachings are meant to move people away from attachment to material things, such as business and making money. So a buddhist temple using materialist propaganda to make money = not a buddhist temple = hypocrisy.



Again, moving away from attachment = moderation and recognizing that the attachment is illusory.

However, our world is not a Buddhist world and the temple needs money to survive... that is the simple truth. They need either funding/donations or need to gain that money by themselves, which is mostly what all modern Buddhist temple do (in some way or another)

And Buddhists are not all ascetics. The important is to recognize that the extreme paths can lead to more suffering in a long term. And extreme anti-materialism is not what Buddhism fundamentally is.


Buddha does teach to stray people from worldly goods. And a true Buddhist monk, should stray from worldly material: Phones, computer, television, stuff like this.

Mod edit: Merged double post.
AsakoNov 12, 2009 1:07 AM
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