Nagoya monks turn Buddhist teachings into songs

NAGOYA - At a festival in the central Japanese city of Nagoya, Buddhist monk Kenyu Sasaki dressed in a black robe sang the "Namu Amida Butsu" mantra, as audience members waved towels bearing his band's name.

The song, "Nembutsu Boogie," is part of the repertoire of Bousan Band G Pundarika, a group of five monks whose lyrics draw on Buddhist teachings. More than 50 people watched the performance late last month.