#39 - Self-Mummification

Shugendō is a religion practiced in Japan since as early as the 7th century, and involves severe asceticism as a form of worship and spiritual development. While most of this involves mountain climbing, some of the more enterprising monks in the past 1000 years have taken to the attempt to preserve their physical form my mummifying themselves while they are still alive.  Today's guest is Tony Srimongka! You can find him via his Twitter page! For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode! You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app. Sources: Ask a Mortician - Caitlin Dougherty  Atlas Obscura - Sokushinbutsu Mummipedia - Tetsumonkai Religious Rituals in Shugendo - Miyake Hitoshi SoraNews24 - Takigyo Senshu Tourism  Wikipedia - Shinbutsu Bunri Wikipedia - Sokushinbutsu Trip Advisor - Shipporyuji Review Japan Today - Sogen Kato BBC News - Sogen Kato BBC News - Fusa Furuya Wikipedia - Sogen Kato