New Religious Movements In Japan During The 19th And 20th Century

Masuzawa analyzes the different characteristics of a religion that have influenced its placement in the national or universal religion categories. In order to be identified as a world religion, criteria such as “the naming of an extraordinary yet historically genuine person as the founder and initiator or the tradition (Masuzawa, 132)” had to be met. This criterion fits all of the religions that achieved the status of a world religion by the twentieth century other than Hinduism and Shinto (Masuzawa, 133). Another principle was the “recognition of certain texts that could be claimed to hold a

Japan has been a home for Shinto and Buddhist religions for centuries. The Christian missionaries during the 16th, 19th and 20th centuries worked hard to evangelize the Japanese nation but could not get desired success. There efforts in past failed partly due to sanctions imposed by the local rulers. The Jesuits missionaries traveled with Spanish and Portuguese traders to many areas of America and Asia-Pacific and established their churches and religious missions. They were funded, sponsored and trained by their respective governments in order to spread Christianity. At several places they preached the Christian faith by force but the aboriginal population did not accept it wholeheartedly. Initially the Jesuits

The role of tradition within religion in medieval Japanese society was of great significance. Shinto and Zen Buddhism were two of the major religions practiced in medieval Japan. Shinto was mainly concerned with daily life, while Zen Buddhism prepared the people for the life to come. The samurai also followed an important code called Bushido, a form of warrior philosophy. The ancient Japanese religions helped people understand the universe and also provided a connection between the physical world on earth and the spiritual world.

Throughout history, different civilizations have been exchanging and spreading ideas. Of these ideas, religion often spreads the most drastically, finding new roots in places throughout the world. These spreading religions can greatly affect the nations they spread to, often impacting the political, social, and economic aspects of an area. Religions such as Buddhism in Japan and Christianity in the Americas allowed their monarchies to strengthen their reign on their citizens, adapt their societies to the new theologies, and cultivate wealth through both trade and conquest.

Wicca – A religion begun in the early 20th century by Gerald Gardner. This is a practice which adheres to rules such as the Law of Three (that which you send out comes back times three) and Harm None (do no harm in all you do). Wiccans often meet in covens (a group specifically designed for people to come together and celebrate their religious practices).

4) in our daily lives. In more prominent ways, Japanese culture can be noticed through cuisine and religion. “Buddhism” and “Shintoism” are the two significant religions of Japan, though in Hawaii more buddhist temples are seen rather than shinto shrines. Besides the majority of the Japanese population in Hawaii, buddhism is also practiced by a great amount of Hawaii locals. The only set back being, “The only temple activities that cater to non- Japanese…are taiko drumming and meditation.” (Borup

The foundation of Japanese imperialism, which eventually led to World War II was in the Meiji Restoration of the 1870’s. At that time, pro-war sentiment and desire for national strength and growth arose as the national attitude of the Japanese people. Certain groups, which advocated return to the traditional Japanese ways, began to grow in power. Shinto, the traditional religion of Japan, was revived with a new emphasis on emperor worship. By the time Emperor Hirohito assumed power in 1926, the nation was ready for a second restoration.1

Although much research has taken place on the involvement of Japan in WWII, only limited research has been conducted into the connection between Japan and the Jewish people who were being prosecuted at the time. This paper aims to produce further acknowledgement and understanding of the history of the Jewish people in Japan, as well as give a different perspective on Japanese views and ideas of the period and strive to correct any misconceptions that may be strongly held since Japan’s defeat in 1945. Throughout Japan’s history, foreigners have been regarded with alternating reverence and contempt, as benevolent gods and threatening demons (Goodman and Miyazawa, 1995). So substantial was this ambivalence that it evolved into a major feature of Japanese religion, whose deities are often interpreted as ‘visitors from afar’ (Goodman and Miyazawa, 1995). These deities would be waited upon until they could give their blessings to the Japanese people, and would then be ushered away. Japanese attitudes towards the Jews and foreigners in general have always followed this basic pattern, even in the present day. Foreigners are seen as visitors to be admired and revered or criticized and expelled depending on the fluctuating needs of Japan (Goodman and Miyazawa, 1995).

After the Meiji restoration, the West was taken as a supreme ideal for nearly every aspect of Japanese life. In fact it has become alarmingly difficult to differentiate the original cultural Japanese life and the Westernised Japanese way of life (‘A History of Modern Japan’, p13). The assimilation of Western ideas has largely been a negative transition, through the establishment of unreasonable treaties. However, according to historical events and accounts, it is evident that continued Western influence and interference between 1853-1941, led Japan to become a more aggressive nation.

Westernization, which primarily spread in the mid to late 19th century, brought forth a profound change of ideas and cultures across the world. Both Japan and India were affected greatly as Western practices and ideologies seeped into the minds of individuals throughout various societies. Influential individuals, such as Thomas Babington Macaulay and Fukuzawa Yukichi wished to reform India and Japan by introducing Western ideas into these countries. Artists such as Honda Kinkachiro and Werner Forman showed the effects of Westernization on Japan. Through the writings and artwork of Macaulay, Yukichi, Kinkachiro, and Forman, we are able to understand that Europe’s colonizing mentality, as well as Asia’s acceptance of new ideas, were both supported by the belief that the West is superior.

Many religions are popular within the Japanese culture. Two of the most influential religions, Shinto and Buddhism that help shaped a lot of Japanese values are Shinto and Buddhism, played a large role in shaping Japanese values. Numerous similarities and differences run between these two religions; nonetheless, the Japanese often believe in more than one religion at the same time. This is possible due to the polytheistic nature of most popular religions in Japan. It is not hard to say that religion is a big part of Japanese culture because a lot of religious beliefs can still be seen in their everyday lives.

The town of Koyasan, the starting location of Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, was once a women-only pilgrimage route. Today, it is a popular monastic place that Priest Kukai, the founder of Esoteric Buddhism, established 12 centuries ago. It has a university for religious studies. This signifies how religiously significant this town or location is as it holds spiritual meaning and has dedicated religious school. Also, the largest cemetery in Japan could be found in Koyasan which is located in Okuno-in. There are over 200,000 tombstones with a row of statues known as mizumuke Jizo – Japanese deity who reduces people’s suffering- where an individual can pray for departed family members. The grounds are lit with multiples of lanterns symbolizing the spirits of the dead. This sanctuary highly contributes to the significance of spirits and after-life since it is exclusively associated with death. In the dawn, there are the sutra chanting and goma fire ritual, where people could write their wishes on a wooden stick known as goma-gi. The monks then burn them to portray the burning of the source of people’s suffering by Buddha. This is a significant ritual in an anthropological aspect, allowing people to participate in religious acts during the course of a

This influential religion began with their founder and CEO, Master Ryuho Okawa, who was born on July 7th, 1956 in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. Ryuho was known to have an equivalent

All around the world, religion is a dominant idea for many cultures; exemplifying a certain way of life, serving as a basis for faith, and bringing charity to the world, religion is a extensive concept. For several cultures and countries religion may vary according to demographics, socio-economical class, and ethnicity. Main concepts of religion in Japan are natural and superstitious based. The leading religion in Japan remains Shinto, while other religions have come and go, interweaving themselves among the Japanese society.

Religion in Japan is Shinto and Buddhism are the two major religions. Shinto is as old and the Japanese culture. Buddhism came from the main island in the sixth century. Since then the two religions have co-existing in harmony