Followers at Choyoji Temple, which belongs to the Soto Zen sect of Buddhism, have filed a criminal complaint against the priest, whose name has been withheld, and law enforcers are investigating his actions.

A new main building was constructed at the temple in 2001 and followers put in 42 million yen to pay for the work. However, suspicious arose about the way the money was being used and when followers investigated, they reportedly found that funds had been misappropriated.