Japan's temples are an integral part of the country's traditional culture. For the majority of us, visits are usually limited to specific events such as New Year's Eve, or perhaps as part of a sightseeing agenda if the temple is a famous one. The lives of some Japanese, however, still revolve around their local temples — and none more than those families that care for them.
While Japanese Buddhist priests traditionally inherit the position from their fathers and grandfathers, what happens to the women who marry into these families? Several women share their insights into a lifestyle that is little understood by most Japanese, let alone foreign nationals.
American Gretchen Miura lives at Dairyuji, a temple on the picturesque Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture, where her husband, Keno, is the head priest. In addition to caring for the couple's four children and managing an online business, Miura assists with running the temple. With 400 temple "members" — each consisting of one household — to take care of, it's a busy life.