Well, there is some effort in Japan to make Buddhism a bit hipper and flashier to attract younger Japanese folks. That's cool usually, with rapping monks and such, but sometimes ... I just have to wonder if some are going a bit too far ...

Cute young monks are apparently gaining in popularity among young women in Japan. Whether the draw is the sage advice or unadorned good looks ... the popularity of “The Illustrated Picture Book of Beautiful Young Monks,” published last month, seems to indicate that some women are focusing on the physical, rather than metaphysical, attractions of the Buddhist religion.... This illustrated book features hunky monks.
http://blog.japantimes.co.jp/japan-puls ... my-sutras/

Gassho, J (anybody want to see me and Taigu in a calendar? ops: )