30% of Japan's temples could disappear by 2040; monks turn to AI
Facing a decline in religiosity and potential temple closures by 2040, Japanese monks are integrating AI into temple operations to manage administrative tasks. While some monks use technology for efficiency, they emphasize that the human element of spiritual guidance remains irreplaceable.
Why it matters
This illustrates the intersection of ancient cultural traditions and modern technology, highlighting how institutions are adapting to demographic shifts.
According to estimates, 30% of temples in Japan may disappear by 2040. The cause of the event will not be some extravagant sci-fi catastrophe or a predicted public uprising but the decrease in religiosity. Against this backdrop, it seems monks in the country have turned to shake hands with AI and use it to turn more people towards Buddhism while also helping them out spiritually, according to a report by The Japan Times.At Ganshuji temple in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, resident monk Souou Iwayama has pioneered a change. During the pandemic, he introduced an online zazen service as companies shifted to remote work and transformed the temple cemetery into one centred on jumokuso, a form of burial in which cremated remains are interred beneath trees, shrubs or flowers rather than a stone monument requiring expensive maintenance.
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