Society | May 16

Senior Buddhist priest resigns over affair

May 16 (NHK) - The chief priest at Yakushiji Temple in Nara City has resigned over what he calls an improper relationship with a woman. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Buddhist temple's chief steward said on Monday that the temple had accepted Taiin Murakami's resignation, and allowed him to leave Yakushiji.

Murakami assumed the post in August 2016. He led the project to reconstruct most of the temple's buildings by May 2017. A ceremony was held this month to connect the central pillar of the East Pagoda.

Murakami released a statement, saying the matter is entirely his own fault, and he is sorry for betraying the trust of many people.

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