عنوان

"Religious Revival" in the Political World in Contemporary Japan with Special Reference to Religious Groups and Political Parties

Number

LA116735

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

"Religious Revival" in the Political World in Contemporary Japan with Special Reference to Religious Groups and Political Parties

General Material Designation

[Article]

First Statement of Responsibility

Kiyonobu Date

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

In the 1960s, the basic structure of linked religious organisations and political parties was formed, as can be seen from the rise of Kōmeitō, a political party founded by Sōka Gakkai, and the creation of the Shintō Political Association (SPA). In the 1970s, when Japan was undergoing high economic growth, the social status of Sōka Gakkai members was elevated, although the expansion of the group came to a halt. After Kōmeitō formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the 1990s, the supporters for each party came to play complementary roles. Seeing the active involvement of these religious organisations in politics-though with a varying degree of media exposure-it is possible to say that public religion has reappeared in Japanese society. However, I would like to argue that this is not a sign of post-secular "religious revival." It is rather the "depoliticisation" among Japanese people that makes the presence of religious organisations seem more conspicuous. This paper aims to redraw the configuration of religion and politics in postwar Japan chiefly by examining the relationship between the SPA and the LDP, and that between Sōka Gakkai and Kōmeitō. In the 1960s, the basic structure of linked religious organisations and political parties was formed, as can be seen from the rise of Kōmeitō, a political party founded by Sōka Gakkai, and the creation of the Shintō Political Association (SPA). In the 1970s, when Japan was undergoing high economic growth, the social status of Sōka Gakkai members was elevated, although the expansion of the group came to a halt. After Kōmeitō formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the 1990s, the supporters for each party came to play complementary roles. Seeing the active involvement of these religious organisations in politics-though with a varying degree of media exposure-it is possible to say that public religion has reappeared in Japanese society. However, I would like to argue that this is not a sign of post-secular "religious revival." It is rather the "depoliticisation" among Japanese people that makes the presence of religious organisations seem more conspicuous. This paper aims to redraw the configuration of religion and politics in postwar Japan chiefly by examining the relationship between the SPA and the LDP, and that between Sōka Gakkai and Kōmeitō.

Date of Publication

2016

Physical description

111-135

Title

Journal of Religion in Japan

Volume Number

5/2-3

International Standard Serial Number

2211-8349

Subject Term

Kōmeitō

Subject Term

politics and religion

Subject Term

postwar Japan

Subject Term

Shintō Political Association

Subject Term

Sōka Gakkai

Kiyonobu Date

Call Number

10.1163/22118349-00502008

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y