Source: Oriental Image / Stringer
[Saba Sports News] Japanese badminton women’s doubles star Shida Chiharu has been influenced by Buddhism since childhood, as her parents and brother are all monks. Yesterday, Shida attended a temple event celebrating the Lunar New Year, reuniting with her brother, who has been practicing for four years. After participating in the celebration, Shida also visited a Soto Zen temple and showed her Olympic medal to the senior monk at Sojiji Temple. To honor Shida’s achievements at the Olympics, the Buddhist sect’s leader presented her with a certificate of recognition. Later, Shida posted on social media that she was born and raised in a Soto Zen temple, having a deep connection with Sojiji Temple. She expressed her happiness at returning in this way and thanked her fans for coming out to greet her in such cold weather. Reports indicate that Shida’s father is the abbot of Seigenji Temple in Hachirōgata, Akita Prefecture, Japan. Growing up surrounded by the sounds of temple bells and chanting, Buddhist culture has deeply influenced her life and shaped her unique personality.