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Cashless ‘saisen’ offerings spreading amid COVID-19

Respondents supporting cashless offerings said that such offerings are helpful in preventing COVID-19 infection, and that they fit with the times. (AFP)
Respondents supporting cashless offerings said that such offerings are helpful in preventing COVID-19 infection, and that they fit with the times. (AFP)
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03 Jan 2023 07:01:44 GMT9
03 Jan 2023 07:01:44 GMT9

TOKYO: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of cashless payment methods for “saisen” money offerings to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples is spreading in Japan, while there are various opinions about the new trend.

Cashless saisen offerings are believed to be effective in preventing COVID-19 infection, as people can avoid crowds forming around saisen throw-in boxes and do not need to touch paper notes or coins.

Such cashless offerings have been seen since before the coronavirus disease began to rapidly spread in January 2020, as cashless methods can prevent theft of money from saisen boxes and allow tourists from overseas to use foreign currencies.

Also behind the trend is the introduction by financial institutions of fees for depositing large amounts of coins.

The spread of COVID-19 has encouraged more shrines and temples, including Higashi Honganji temple in the western city of Kyoto, to adopt cashless saisen systems, as an infection prevention measure.

Hida Tenmangu shrine in the city of Takayama in the central prefecture of Gifu began to accept cashless offerings in December 2020, and it has been received better than the shrine expected.

According to the shrine, some visitors say that cashless offerings are innovative and good, while others jokingly ask whether donating electronic money would bring them good luck.

The Kyoto Buddhist Organization, which has around 1,000 member temples, is opposed to cashless offerings from a perspective of freedom of faith, concerned that such offerings might let a third party know how much and where people make their offerings.

In a survey conducted in November by a Tokyo-based insurance consulting firm, 43 pct of 500 respondents said cashless saisen offerings are good, while 57 pct said they are not good. The results pointed to persistent preference for cash among people in Japan.

Respondents supporting cashless offerings said that such offerings are helpful in preventing COVID-19 infection, and that they fit with the times.

Those opposing such offerings cited a lack of a real sense of offering money, as well as fears of receiving divine punishment. There were also concerns about the malicious use of cashless saisen systems, as well as system glitches.

“Saisen offerings were originally rice and agricultural goods, and cash became common later,” Masaki Hosoe, 64, chief priest at Hida Tenmangu, said. “So, it’s no problem if cash is replaced by electronic money in line with the trend of the times.”

“The important thing is to covey our gratitude to the gods,” Hosoe added.

JIJI Press

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