Actor Hosaka to enter priesthood

Actor Naoki Hosaka announced on Thursday that he will be entering the Buddhist priesthood next month. On April 12, he will undergo the tokudo ceremony (the ordination ritual for Buddhist priests) at a Shingon temple in Koshi, Kumamoto.

Up until now, Hosaka had publicly stated that both of his parents died in a car accident. But in explaining his decision, he revealed that his parents had actually committed suicide when he was seven years old.

Hosaka currently visits his parents’ grave in Shizuoka every month. He says that ever since he turned 26 or 27 (his parents’ ages when they died), he thought about entering the priesthood to give something back to the world.

Unlike most priests, Hosaka said that he will not be shaving off his hair. He plans to travel between Kumamoto and Tokyo to train as a priest while continuing his work in show business.

Source:
Sankei Sports