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Geography of Religion in Japan

Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior

  • Book
  • © 2014

Overview

Authors:
  1. Keisuke Matsui

    1. Laboratory of Advanced Research A307, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

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  • Is the only book in English that discusses Japanese religion in terms of geography
  • Written by is one of the famous cultural geographers in Japan
  • Presents aspects of geography as well as religious studies
  • Examines the newest dimensions of Japanese religion

Part of the book series: International Perspectives in Geography (IPG, volume 2)

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Table of contents (4 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
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  2. Recent Trends in the Geography of Religion in Japan

    • Keisuke Matsui
    Pages 1-15

  3. Religious Tradition in Japan

    • Keisuke Matsui
    Pages 17-37

  4. Spatial Structure of Japanese Religion

    • Keisuke Matsui
    Pages 39-131

  5. Sacred Places, Pilgrimage, and Tourism

    • Keisuke Matsui
    Pages 133-193

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 195-199
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About this book

This book discusses modern aspects of Japanese religion in terms of cultural geography. To understand the function of religion, it is essential to examine it in the context of local societies. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Japanese religion is its diversity; indeed, it is often remarked that “Japan is a museum of religions.” In this work, the author clarifies some geographical aspects of the complex situation of Japanese religion. Chapter 1 discusses the trend of geographical studies of religion in Japan, of which four types can be identified. Chapter 2 focuses on certain characteristics of Japanese religious traditions by discussing tree worship and the landscape of sacred places. Chapter 3 clarifies regional divisions in the catchment areas of Japanese Shintoism by analyzing the distribution of certain types of believers. The author discusses two case studies: the Kasama Inari Shrine and the Kanamura Shrine. Chapter 4 discusses some modern aspects of sacred places andtourism through two case studies. The first part of the chapter focuses on changes in the types of businesses at the Omotesando of the Naritasan Shinshoji-Monzenmachi, and the following sections examine the revitalization of the local community through the promotion of religious tourism.

Reviews

“This is a data-rich study that shows the complexities of faith in local settings in Japan not only spatially, but temporally as well–as new global forces, like the possibility of receiving World Heritage Site Status, transform the way people understand local manifestations of the sacred as a cultural resource. This is … for serious researchers interested in Japanese religion, sacred geography, and pilgrimage and religious tourism.” (Mark MacWilliams, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 42 (1), March, 2016)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Laboratory of Advanced Research A307, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Keisuke Matsui

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