The most beautiful monk in Japan

Koyu Osawa was the only female contestant and winner of this year's Japan's most beautiful monk contest.

3 contestants participate in the annual contest "Japan's Most Beautiful Monk". Photo: Reuters.

The second annual "Japan's Most Beautiful Monk" contest was held at a Buddhist funeral exhibition in Tokyo on August 22.

According to Reuters, the contest was originally scheduled to have five contestants, but two were unable to attend due to the storm.

About 40 viewers voted forKoyu Osawa, a Tokyo monk, after the contestants went through the interview and talent show.

Osawa was the only female contestant to ever participate in the competition and demonstrated her ability to lead the audience into a meditative state.

Aigen Yokoyama, a monk from Chiba Prefecture, broke 10 layers of bricks with his hands.Renka Haseo, a monk from Aichi Prefecture, presents a segment from his radio program.

In the end, it was Osawa who won the majority of the audience's support.

Nun Koyu Osawa won the title of Japan's most beautiful monk this year. Photo: Reuters.

This nun said she wishes to spread not only Buddhism but also meditation methods to everyone.

“I want to connect with people who have never meditated or have always wanted to try it,” Osawa says.

About 90 million Japanese consider themselves Buddhists, but aspects of the religion do not affect their daily lives. Japanese people often visit temples and monks during the New Year to pray for good fortune, ward off evil spirits, or at funerals.

Contest organizerKazuma Hayashi, director of a Buddhist funeral service company, said he wants people to integrate Buddhism into their daily lives.

According to VNE