Biography

Enko Sakai was born in 1963 in Aichi, Japan. After working as an office employee for a period of time, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, who was a Buddhist priest, and entered the priesthood. At the age of 27, he joined Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei-the head temple of the Tendai sect-after relinquishing the rank he had attained in the Pure Land sect.

Two years later, he completed the temple's rigorous training and entered Myojoin Temple, where he eventually became the head priest at the age of 42. Wanting to make the temple more welcoming and accessible, Priest Enko began extensive renovations so that visitors could find comfort and receive spiritual support in a more open environment. Myojoin Temple has since gained media attention as a unique and inspiring place of practice, frequently featured on television and in magazines. Visitors can participate in activities such as waterfall meditation, sutra chanting, and Zen meditation.

At the age of 40, he became a certified counselor after completing a course in mental health and hypnosis management. At the same time, he acquired expertise in Reiki, Qigong, yoga, meditation, and energy work. With this combination of knowledge and experience, he has offered people valuable guidance on how to live and think in today's high-stress society, encouraging them to find new paths forward in their lives. At 50, he took on a new challenge by beginning to study English, anticipating future opportunities to share his message with a global audience.

The film Love on Mars, in which he played himself, also marked his debut as an executive producer.
- IMDb mini biography by: EH