{"id":638,"date":"2023-04-05T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-05T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/workmill.jp\/en\/?post_type=webzine&p=638"},"modified":"2023-09-06T16:08:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T07:08:56","slug":"innovation-japanese-temple-20230405","status":"publish","type":"webzine","link":"https:\/\/workmill.jp\/en\/webzine\/innovation-japanese-temple-20230405\/","title":{"rendered":"Scared to Change? Innovation of a Japanese Temple"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than ever, individuals and corporate organizations must change their way of working and running business to remain relevant in a constantly changing world. While most of us recognize the importance of making these adjustments, many are reluctant to alter their processes because of their innate fear of change. This reluctance is even more so in organizations regarded as the custodians of traditions that have transcended generations. “Why change something that has lasted centuries?” they ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s about survival. People and organizations that refuse to change are at grave risk of losing their relevance and going extinct. By making necessary adjustments where possible, organizations can continue to pursue their visions for much longer despite the changes in their environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple in Chuo-ku Tokyo is an example of a traditional institution that has embraced change to get astounding results. One man, Yugen Yasunaga, has been at the center of this evolution, and we can learn a lot from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Yugen
Yugen Yasunaga <\/strong>
Representative Director and Head of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji sect Tsukiji Hongwanji, born in Tokyo in 1954. Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Economics. D. in Business Administration from Cambridge University. After working at Sanwa Bank (now Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ) and Russell Reynolds, he joined Shimamoto Partners as a partner and served as the company’s president from 2006; in 2015 he was appointed head of religious affairs at Tsukiji Honganji Temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji sect; as representative director, he leads various Buddhist services at the top of Tsukiji Honganji Temple and Hongwanji and oversees the overall business management of the temple, as well as working on various missionary and missionary projects in the metropolitan area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Challenge Accepted<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though Yasunaga trained and qualified to be a monk, he never intended to become one. However, when he agreed to help out a senior colleague whose family owned a temple, he set foot on a path that would inevitably lead to becoming just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From his role as deputy chief priest at that temple, he established and nurtured his connection with the Buddhist community, delivering speeches at various meetings, during which his background in business stood out. He would later become an executive committee member of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From his position as trustee, which is also an external director of the temple, Yasunaga observed some harmful practices he couldn’t overlook in the temple. “If you keep doing this, you’ll go out of business!” he told the authorities over and over. “If you’re going to talk so much, then go in and do it!” was the response he got.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He duly accepted the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Closed Temple to a Refreshing, New Look<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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