Tanaka Chigaku 田中智学 (1861–1939) represented modern Nichirenism, and had an interesting point of view about Shinto 神道.
First, Tanaka understood Shinto from the perspective of Buddhism which focused on the Lotus Sūtra and Nichiren. Based on the theory of Honji-suijaku 本地垂迹説 (the idea that Buddha is Buddha itself, Kami 神 its incarnation), he explained a connection between Buddha and Kami and positioned Kami as the guardian of the Buddha Dharma.
Second, from the perspective of Nichirenism, he denied Shinto (such as Tenri-kyō 天理教, Taisha-kyō 大社教, etc.) as religion. Nichiren’s Mandara was considered to be the core in his religious theory and he was negative about worshipping particular Kami outside the Mandara.
Third, he agreed with the policy recommended by theMeiji government that “Shinto is Japanese culture and convention, not religion.” That caused his religious actions to be seen as Shinto-oriented despite maintaining his Buddhism-oriented view theoretically.
