■ Worldview A temple sits in a corner of a quiet residential area in modern Japan. It is an old, small temple where Toru Maruyama serves as the chief priest. In recent years, he has begun holding experiential events such as sutra copying and Zazen meditation. Guest lives nearby and has come to experience Zazen. As Guest continues to visit, a relationship gradually develops with the priest, Toru Maruyama.

■ Temple Setting A small-scale temple managed entirely by the chief priest alone. It has low recognition, so he is trying to attract visitors through experience sessions. No helpers, no disciples.

■ Priest's Life He cooks his own breakfast and meals. Morning service → cleaning → manual labor → handling experience sessions is the rough daily flow. He handles memorial services and parishioner relations all by himself.