Japanese temple stirs criticism with naked men paintings
In an attempt to attract younger visitors, particularly women to its grounds, Kokujoji Temple in Niigata Prefecture has installed panels of an art series titled “Ikemen Kanno Emaki” (Scroll of Handsome and Sensual Men) within the temple. Head priest Kotetsu Yamada says that he wants to dispel the old-fashioned and boring image of the temple to appeal in particular to young women, and so the temple has teamed up with Kyoto-born artist Ryoko Kimura to create scrolls of art depicting five famous historical and mythical figures -- bathing naked together. 
The scrolls match up perfectly with Ryoko Kimura's specialty, which includes replacing the courtesans and other women in found in traditional Japanese art with handsome men, of erotic art.
The artwork features handsome anime-style depictions Uesugi Kenshin (a 16th century warlord), Musashibo Benkei (a brigand monk), Ryokan Taigu (a Zen master) Minamoto no Yoshitsune (a 12th century general) , and Shuten Doji (a drunken demon leader) naked, with deliberately placed flowers and towels covering their privates. All five figures have some historical relevance to the temple.
Since this was reported in 2019, the art is now set to be removed. Too radical an idea for a Buddhist temple, I guess. Shame that.
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7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I think everybody expected those paintings to be removedremoved. It is Japan we are talking about, after all. Most of them consider talking about sex in public or wearing revealing clothes a sin. And they put it into their temples? No way they could have resisted. But it's honestly a shame. Those drawings were good. Even my advisor from [crello.com] liked them. The color matched perfectly; the design and application were immaculate. Even the message was interesting. It could have a double-meaning message.
RumarLos
Level 5
Dec 27, 2021
0
Am glad the temple initially refused in 2019 to remove the panel, even they will remove them now.
Love them!
AnonySchmoose
Level 8
Nov 21, 2021
1
That is odd that such stirred up controversy, given it's in Japan. One would expect outrage like that in the puritanical and prudish west. I wonder who had complained more, women or men?
SpikeTalon
Level 9
Nov 20, 2021
1
It's odd that the paintings of bathing men raised many eyebrows, considering that 'onsens' (hot spring public baths) are a huge traditional part of Japanese culture. Many traditional Japanese inns boast about their onsens on their websites that include photos, like this one, which cause no offence whatsoever.
Ryo1
Level 8
Nov 20, 2021
1
Well, if nothing else, certainly more appealing
Oh, I likey!
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