A cartoon of a handsome man bathing hung in a thousand-year-old temple in Japan caused an uproar in the public opinion, but the abbot refused to remove it in protest

The island nation has always been a country where tradition and modernity blend strangely. Recently, Japanese netizens dug up old news again to spark a topic. Previously, a famous temple in Japan with a history of 1,300 years invited a famous cartoonist to draw a super-large "Handsome Men's Sensual Scroll" and hung it in a prominent place in the temple. The almost nude and stimulating pictures caused an uproar in public opinion. However, the abbot said that not only did he reject the protests from the surrounding people who strongly demanded that it be removed, but he also said that it would be hung until May next year.

Kokugami-ji Temple is known as the oldest temple in Echigo. It is located in Kunikami Mountain in Kunikami, Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture. It was built in 709 and has a history of 1,300 years. It is such an ancient temple that has once again refreshed the three gates of the island people under the leadership of the avant-garde abbot.

Kokujoji Temple invited Japanese cartoonist Kimura Ryoko to draw a special scroll "Handsome and Sensual Scroll". Yes, it is this Japanese-Western name. The prototypes of several handsome male protagonists are from Japanese historical celebrities such as Uesugi Kenshin, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Benkei, Ryokan, and Saken-doji. They are almost naked in the bath and have gay sex. Such a rare avant-garde painting appeared in the thousand-year-old temple, which caused an uproar among local residents, who strongly protested and demanded its removal.

·Various protests were soon submitted to the county council. Despite the heavy pressure, the current abbot of Kokujoji Temple, Yamada, remained unmoved and said that he would not remove the shrine. Regarding the accusation of "destroying cultural heritage", he said that the government could remove the temple's cultural heritage qualification; regarding the accusation of "polluting children's minds", he suggested that elementary school students should not come to worship, and said that the shrine would be hung until May next year. The incident is still under intense discussion.