http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20040514p2a00m0dm011001c.html

Great Buddha Boogers hardly temple's favorite pick

NARA -- One of Japan's most famous Buddhist temples is up in arms over a company's sale of sweets it calls "Great Buddha Boogers," the Mainichi has learned.

Buddhist priests at Todaiji Temple in the ancient capital of Nara got snotty over the sweets, which come in a package featuring a picture of Buddha picking his nose.

They successfully stopped a Nara Prefecture company from continuing to use the controversial title as a trademark by successfully arguing that it offended believers.

Patent Office officials stuck by the priests when registering the trademark, but say there's nothing they can do to stop "Great Buddha Boogers" from being sold in the streets.

Officials from the company say tough times make it hard to be picky.

"Tourism is in a major slump in Nara, so we need to have fun products with impact," says a spokesman for the company that has been selling "Great Buddha Boogers" for about three years. "We're not making fun of Buddha, we just want to use our products to help people become more intimate with him."

Todaiji priests, however, are not amused. "They make Nara look bad," Todaiji's Kokei Kitagawara says. "Just because something sells doesn't mean we should sell it regardless. I'd like the company to follow its conscience and stop selling the sweets."

"Great Buddha Boogers" sell for 350 yen a packet. They are hard little balls of black sugar. The company that makes them is located in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture.

One of Japan's largest Buddhist statues is housed within Todaiji Temple. The temple has been one of the most prominent temples in the country for over 1,000 years. (Mainichi Shimbun, May 14, 2004)