Stories
Japanese Monk Begins 12-Year Isolation in Ancient Buddhist Tradition
M
Moneycontrol•02-10-2026, 16:21
Japanese Monk Begins 12-Year Isolation in Ancient Buddhist Tradition
- •Sogaku Taguchi, a 31-year-old Buddhist monk, has started a 12-year period of seclusion at the historic Enryaku-ji temple complex on Mount Hiei, expected to last until September 11, 2038.
- •Taguchi is undertaking the demanding role of a ‘jishin’, caring for the mausoleum of Saicho, the ninth-century founder of Japanese Tendai Buddhism, a role only 118 people have undertaken since 1699.
- •His rigorous routine includes rising before dawn, preparing food for Saicho’s tomb, reciting sutras, performing thousands of prostrations, and maintaining the mausoleum and gardens, even during harsh winters, with only a few hours of sleep nightly.
- •This practice is a prolonged period of religious discipline and service, distinct from other Mount Hiei traditions like kaihogyo, and has historically led to serious illness or death for some monks due to its extreme physical demands.
- •Taguchi expressed joy at beginning this journey, driven by his desire to live according to Saicho’s teachings, with his next direct contact with the outside world scheduled for September 2038 if he completes his commitment.
Key Questions Answered
Sogaku Taguchi's 12-year period of seclusion is scheduled to end on September 11, 2038, when he is expected to have his next direct contact with the wider world.
A "jishin" is a monk entrusted with caring for the mausoleum and gardens of Saicho, the ninth-century founder of Japanese Tendai Buddhism.
Sogaku Taguchi is only the eighth monk to begin this demanding training at Mount Hiei in the past 80 years.
