FEATURE: Amid depopulation, Buddhist priests aim for community revival

FUKUOKA - On a Sunday in April, Sairinji temple in Fukuoka in southwestern Japan was bustling with people celebrating Buddha's birthday. But the religious festivities were also a prime example of how Buddhists are trying to reinvigorate Japan's aging, shrinking communities at the grassroots level.

Couples, families, senior groups, and foreign visitors packed the Hana Matsuri festival in Yoshizuka, Hakata Ward. The temple grounds were lined with food stalls serving Asian cuisine, while the memorial hall was transformed into a gallery hosting an exhibition by local art students.