Apprentice Monk Arrested for Arson After Burning Down Historic Zen Temple in Saga
A fire has completely destroyed the main hall of Entsu-ji, a temple in Imari City, Saga Prefecture. Local police have arrested Yoshi Morinaga, a 28-year-old apprentice monk who was training at the temple, on suspicion of arson of an inhabited building. The suspect has admitted to the charges, stating, 'I grew sick of everything in life, so I set the fire.' Police believe his motive stems from frustration over the rigorous daily training and discipline he received. Morinaga is accused of setting fire to Entsu-ji, where he was training, at around 3:30 a.m. on June 30. The fire destroyed over 1,000 square meters of the temple grounds, including the main hall. During questioning, Morinaga told investigators, 'I just grew sick of my entire life.' Having begun his training at the temple in April last year, he reportedly harbored deep dissatisfaction with his daily life guidance and the sheer volume of training. Specifically, he stated that he felt he was struck with the kyosa...