Finding marriage partners is a problem shared by many young Buddhist priests, who have few opportunities to meet people of their own generation.
An event was held last month at a restaurant in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, to help them find marriage partners. It was attended by 23 priests and other men in their 20s to 40s, and 17 women.
The party started with a lay sermon by So Asakura, 31, deputy master of a temple in the city of Niigata.