Society

South Korean temple to return Buddhist statue stolen in Japan 'after service'

Dec 26 (NHK) - A temple in South Korea says it will return a Buddhist statue stolen from a Japanese temple after holding a memorial service for it next year.

The statue has been designated a tangible cultural asset in Japan. It was stolen from Kannonji Temple on the island of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture in 2012. It was later found in South Korea when the thieves tried to sell it.

Busuksa Temple in central South Korea claimed ownership of the statue and filed a lawsuit. A provincial court in South Korea said it should be given to Busuksa on the grounds it had been stolen by Japanese pirates centuries before.

But in October last year, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that the Japanese temple owns the statue. It's now in the custody of the South Korean government.

Busuksa Temple told NHK that Kannonji Temple had agreed to allow the statue to be temporarily moved to its facilities for rituals to be held as soon as March.

It added that people related to the temple's religious activities had submitted a document to the Japanese temple that guarantees the statue's return.

Kannonji Temple will house the statue for the first time in 13 years if it is returned next year.

Will Japan’s Gas Costs Fall?

Following the Japan-U.S. summit during the Trump administration, discussions about liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports gained momentum. The agreement to expand LNG purchases from the U.S. was seen as a key development, but significant challenges remain. Will this lead to lower gas prices in Japan? And what are the five countries that pose obstacles to fulfilling this commitment?

Japan's Visa Easing for Chinese Tourists Sparks Political Debate

Japan’s recent decision to ease visa requirements for Chinese tourists has sparked mixed reactions, with some expecting an influx of visitors and others arguing that the impact will be limited.

Thousands Clash in Aichi’s Naked Festival

Aichi’s famed Konomiya Hadaka Festival took place on February 10th at Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa City, where men clad in only fundoshi loincloths clashed in a frenzied struggle. The traditional event, which has continued for over 1,200 years, centers around the ‘Shin Otoko’ or ‘Sacred Man,’ chosen by lottery, whom participants believe will cleanse them of misfortune if they manage to touch him.

Japan to Release Emergency Rice Reserves Amid Rising Prices

Rice prices in Japan continue to rise, despite the government’s plan to release emergency reserves in an effort to stabilize the market. A bowl of tendon, topped with freshly fried tempura, is incomplete without steaming hot rice, but the cost of this staple has been steadily increasing.

Avalanche Strikes Tsuchiyu Onsen in Fukushima

An avalanche occurred around noon on Monday along a prefectural road in Fukushima City, leaving two hot spring inns isolated once again due to record snowfall.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Kobe Homes Targeted by Thieves? Mysterious Stones Left at Gates

Authorities in Kobe are investigating a series of suspicious stones found placed on residential gates, warning they may serve as burglary markers.

Police Raid Kyoto University Dormitory Following Student Protest

Six Kyoto University students have been arrested for storming the university’s main administration building during a 2022 dormitory festival with about 250 others, disrupting operations with loudspeakers, leading police to conduct a search of Kumano Dormitory on Sunday.

Low-Alcohol Drinks and Board Games: The Evolving Culture of Gen Z

Gen Z, known for valuing their personal time, is redefining how they unwind after work. From low-alcohol cocktails to board games, new trends are emerging in Tokyo's nightlife scene.

Fiery Descent at Wakayama's Kamikura Shrine

The annual Otomo Festival took place on February 6th at Kamikura Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. The event saw men clad in white robes, each carrying a flaming torch, racing down the shrine’s steep stone steps in a centuries-old tradition.