What happens if a man comes to a Japanese Buddhist temple and explains that he’d like to spend a few days, fasting, meditating and keeping silence? I’d expect them just to show him a quiet place and let him be. In fact, most monasteries would respond the same way. They’d probably just leave some water for him and that’s it. In this cases, natural human curiosity gives way to respect for a person that has made a vow, or is guided by some higher idea, whatever way you put it.
Now, if a professional moonlights as a priest, he comes home and reads newspapers. But for monks who live in the temple, the latest news might come with a 1-2 days of delay, and in the meantime, he’d be gone.
I don’t think that it is the highest possibility, but it may not be totally unlikely. I don’t think we have to compare different paths of Buddhism, because tbh, in a Christian monastery, the reaction would be exactly the same. There is no privacy more respected than between a man and his God.
I tend to think the killer did not simply go to the temple and ask to be let in. If access was that easy, thousands of tourists would make pilgrimages to temples to save on accommodation. There is a process in place for being accepted to stay on temple grounds.
To be accepted in a Buddhist temple, one must first visit the temple, participate in activities, and learn about the community. It is necessary to discuss your interest with the monks or the temple's abbot to understand their expectations and requirements. Generally, you need to be 18+ and in good health to handle the demands of monastic life. You must provide necessary legal documents including a visa, if required. Most traditions have a probation period where you live in the temple and follow the monastic routine without taking full ordination vows. This period can range from a few months to a few years. If you decide to pursue full ordination, you will take monastic vows in a formal ceremony, committing to the monastic lifestyle. Even after full ordination, monks continue their training and education in Buddhist teachings and practices. Temples often provide basic necessities such as food, lodging, and clothing. Some may expect you to contribute financially or through work during your stay.
Diet (important!). A Buddhist diet in Japan is generally quite simple. The specifics can vary depending on the sect and the individual's level of adherence to monastic rules. Traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryori) excludes meat, fish and pungent vegetables like garlic, onion, and leeks, which are believed to hinder meditation. The emphasis is on seasonal and local vegetables, tofu, legumes, seaweed and grains. Common ingredients include daikon radish, carrots, burdock root, shiitake mushrooms, tofu, miso, plus vinegared dishes or pickled vegetables. In Zen monasteries, meals are conducted with a formal and ritualised style called oryoki, which involves using a specific set of bowls and utensils and following a precise sequence of serving and eating. While monastics might strictly adhere to shojin ryori, laypeople often skip the principles to fit their lifestyle and may eat some fish or meat. But the general trend is to consume plant-based foods. Drinks: water, barley tea, green tea and other non-caffeinated beverages.
Today, I am thinking that skateboarding later than the most at the Setagaya park is a possibility. He had some board tape in his bag and he wasn’t remembered by other boarders, meaning, he was not the part of their group. I looked up different posts about evening skating - many people find it calming; I don’t quite buy it but I think that 1) perhaps, our perpetrator is nocturnal; 2) he is not the best skateboarder, so training alone would be easier; 3) many mentioned that in Tokyo, the police would pick nighttime skateboarders unless they skate in the park; 4) the park, as many posted here, was well-lit. 5) if indeed there were maimed animals found in the park and no one saw the perpetrator, perhaps he did it in the evening.
@Sor Juana, if you are interested in the perp profile, I wonder if he has nocturnal circadian rhythm. That would allow him to stay undetected, especially if he now works at night. He could be a garbage man, a stacker, have a shift work in a port or at any assembly line. He has to avoid being fingerprinted but for some jobs, it is easy, He can work at a graveyard. I don’t know if he ever graduated, perhaps not, but staying with parents and working at night is a perfect way to be under any radar. People know him, maybe know he’s odd, but he leaves for work every night, so no one thinks of him twice. There are nocturnal cities (Barcelona), but Tokyo, probably, is merely “evening enough”? That’s actually an easy way. He can become a pest exterminator, too.
The hypothesis that the killer could have been someone on probation or a layperson with access to Buddhist grounds is supported by several factors. The killer's calmness and deliberation while in the house - could be associated with someone trained in meditation and mindfulness. The food consumed did not conflict with a vegetarian diet, though this is not conclusive. Also, the killer's fitness suggests he was fit, similar to monks or monk candidates. However, there are also factors against this hypothesis, such as the violence involved, which conflicts with
ahimsa, and the lack of specific evidence like religious artifacts left behind. The psychological profile of the killer is also inconsistent with that of a common monk. This hypothesis still holds some merit as certain pieces of evidence fit within this plot. Also, many temples have zelkova trees on their grounds. I will write about the trees separately. The hypothesis that the murderer could be someone with Buddhist training who was disillusioned and turned to crime due to financial desperation is also speculative. However, temples can be good places to lay low, so it’s not impossible. Another reason I don’t dismiss the monk theory is that excessive meditation can trigger psychotic episodes. While most people benefit from meditations, it is contraindicated for some. The killer was at an age where certain conditions are statistically likely to onset.
Monks aside, the more likely profile imho would be a male, 20-30 years old, a
local resident for at least a few years, familiar with the area, psychologically disturbed, financially strained, calm and calculative, able to remain unnoticed, socially limited, attentive to details yet careless, and aware of basic forensic practices. This male could be a local resident or a local worker such as a delivery person or maintenance worker with a history of violence but not in the database. He could be known to local health services but not considered a risk. Alternatively, the killer could be an immigrant without stable employment, or low paid (fish cutter), and without a permanent address, making him hard to trace. Migrants often feel isolated and face financial challenges. Since there is no specific evidence pinpointing socio-demographic details, there could be a number of profiles. I agree with you that being nocturnal would fit his profile. This trait often describes a loner who wanders the streets, possibly delivering junk mail, watching other people's lives, and gradually growing angrier. If he was socially active, he wouldn't be able to accumulate so much anger. Anger and social isolation often go hand in hand.
JMO
