Seiji Chihara, a monk and a “sounding board” figure, was spotted in Asakusa!　His eyebrows are wrinkled and he nods his head in a dignified manner.

Just after noon in mid-March, three monks were standing in front of a temple-related facility near Sensoji Temple (Taito-ku, Tokyo). In the middle of them was popular comedian Seiji Chihara (55). In front of them were people holding up movies or giving instructions with what looked like a white script in their hands. Apparently, they were filming a movie.

Seiji is a Buddhist monk who performed his ordination ceremony at Enryakuji Temple, the head temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, in May ’24. He talks about how he got started in the YouTube channel “Ieda Shoko Channel” of Ieda Shoko, an author and high priest of the Koyasan Shingon sect. According to him, when he told another acquaintance that a friend of Seiji’s was having trouble putting his pet in a grave with him because of his religious beliefs, he was told, ‘You should become a monk so that you can put your pet in a grave with him.

Currently, Seikei conducts animal-specific memorial services under the monk’s name, Seikei (靖賢). Last November, he became an advisor to the Japan Buddhist Association, and is said to be a lecturer at corporate training programs, gives lectures in the funeral service industry, and gives Dharma talks at events.

Incidentally, Seiji was visiting a facility affiliated with a historic temple founded in the early Edo period, which is known for offering pet memorial services. When some middle-aged women noticed his presence and waved their hands, Seiji’s difficult-looking face turned into a grin. He turned to them and said, “Yeah, yeah. He nodded his head in agreement, as if to say, “I know, I know, I know.

Speaking of Seiji, he frequently updates his YouTube channel “Seijin toko,” and on March 10 he mentioned that “no one is going to the Osaka World Expo,” which is about to open in the Kansai region. In response to a feminist rally in Tokyo on March 19, Seiji said

If you think about the feelings of women who can’t have children for various reasons, you wouldn’t say such a thing.

This is coming from someone you don’t have to deal with in your life.

This was met with sympathy from many viewers. Many viewers sympathized with him.

Seiji used to be called the “crassest comedian,” but now he has established himself as an “opinionated” person. He continues to perform live as the comedy duo “Chihara Brothers,” and is expected to be even more active in the future.

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