Citation

Takayama KP. Sociol. Relig. 1988; 48(4): 328-341.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Association for the Sociology of Religion)

DOI

10.2307/3710871

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper explores some dynamic aspects of the religio-political problems in Japan as expressions of the revitalization movement of modern Japanese civil religion, of which state Shinto is an important part. Many governmental leaders are convinced that Japan needs to restore its sacred Shinto symbols that once gave the people of Japan a strong national identity and cosmic unity. This conviction is expressed in political and religious leaders' persistent efforts to again make the Yasukuni Shrine the national shrine. It is also seen in their efforts to revise social studies and history textbooks for the patriotic education of children. The paper attempts to identify some of the cultural, historical and economic reasons for the revitalization movement and the dilemma it presents.