Weekly Playboy magazine discerns among young people a rising interest in Buddhism. This is surprising, given Japan's well-known "religion allergy" — or not, given that troubled times often inspire spiritual quests.

"Buddhism is often considered a doctrine of resignation, but it isn't," explains Masaru Sato, a writer on religious themes. True, the notion of karma ascribes present circumstances to past actions in this life or previous ones, but "by the same token," says Sato, "your present actions will determine your future, so don't resign yourself to present suffering but do good now with an eye to creating a happy future."

Conspicuously absent in Playboy's six-page feature is mention of the catastrophe that shattered so much of Japan one year ago today. Sato is thinking instead of the shriveled economy in which young men and women are fated to make their start in life. Economies rise and fall, and religion perhaps can teach us happiness in poverty, but radiation is a different matter — a different karma, so to speak. Is there such a thing as a happiness that transcends radiation?