Koukyo Yoneta, a fifth-generation Buddhist priest in a small town in Hokkaido, was struggling to keep up with the maintenance needs of his century-old temple, so he chose a path that would have been unthinkable for his predecessors — rather than wait for his congregation to give money they don’t have, he invested what they’d already donated.
The move paid off. Within two years, his portfolio of US Treasuries, Japanese real estate investment trusts and stocks including BYD Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. returned more than 10% annually, helping to cover part of the roughly ¥25 million ($162,000) in needed repairs. The extra money even allowed him to expand the renovations beyond the original plan.
