Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Young apprentices line up for group photos at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011, after attending a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become Buddhist monks earlier in the day. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony.

Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - A young boy makes a droll gesture with his rosary beads before a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become a Buddhist monk at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony.

Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Young apprentices attend a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become Buddhist monks at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony.

Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Young apprentices attend a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become Buddhist monks at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony.

Multilingual services to be promoted at Higashi Honganji

Multilingual services to be promoted at Higashi Honganji

Choyu Otani, heir to the chief priest of the Otani sect of Shin Buddhism, speaks at a press conference at Higashi Honganji, the head temple of the Buddhist branch in Kyoto, on April 22, 2015. The Brazilian national expressed his hope to offer multilingual services in addition to those now provided in Japanese and English at the temple. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Young apprentices line up for group photos at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011, after attending a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become Buddhist monks earlier in the day. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony. (Kyodo)

Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Young apprentices attend a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become Buddhist monks at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony. (Kyodo)

Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Young apprentices attend a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become Buddhist monks at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony. (Kyodo)

Little monks in Kyoto

Little monks in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - A young boy makes a droll gesture with his rosary beads before a Tokudo ordination ceremony to become a Buddhist monk at Higashi Honganji, mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Shin Buddhism, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on August 4, 2011. One hundred and thirteen elementary school and junior high school students were among the 153 men and women aged nine to 65 from across Japan who attended the ceremony. (Kyodo)