Buddhism approves of Tenga

As we know, religion in Japan is traditionally not conservative or moralistic about sex.

Just look at the Shinto fertility festivals for a perfect example.

Shinto is full of raucous, erotic gods. The islands of Japan itself are said in mythology to have been formed out of sexual union between Izanagi and Izanami.

Shrines apparently have no trouble with people drawing on prayer plaques with bondage illustrations.

Religions run all sorts of non-religious businesses too, such as love hotels.

So we are not really surprised that Buddhism approves of Tenga.

Tenga recently published an interview with Jodo Shinshu Buddhist monk Junya Furukawa.

Furukawa first got his hands on a Tenga in 2012 when he heard at a seminar how Tenga was used as rehabilitation for people who have difficulty ejaculating inside a woman (a sexual dysfunction called chitsunaishasei-shougai in Japan, said to be caused by excessive masturbating with your hands, which makes the penis overly used to stimulation through rapid up and down movement).

“Tenga has a very colorful image so it’s really good for cover the areas where people find it hard to voice their opinions,” says Furukawa.

Furukawa wants everyone to be open about their difficulties, even if sexual.

“If I talk about Tenga in front of a group of men, people will open up to me because they feel like they can ask me for advice even about sex. It’s a great communication tool!”

Furukawa certainly seems like an unusual character. Besides his temple duties in Saga Prefecture, he’s involved with AIDs education and the Japan Society of Adolescentology.

Tenga, the “Apple of the Japanese adult industry”, is currently on a blitz to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

This involves lots of fun marketing, plus a batch of new releases: Tenga Condoms, Premium Tenga Premium Vacuum Cup Onacup, and Tenga Vacuum Controller.