Yamanaka Hiroshi is Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Tsukuba University.
關鍵詞
spirituality; Ehara Hiroyuki; consumerism; media; religious marketplace; karui shūkyō
摘要
This article examines the state of religion in contemporary Japan from the perspective of consumerism and marketization, focusing on the influence spirituality movements have had on the established religious traditions of Buddhism and Shinto as well as traditional practices such as visiting family graves. By introducing statistical data, the article analyzes the popular notion of shifts “away from temples” and “away from shrines” in Japanese society. As a case study, the article discusses Ehara Hiroyuki and his use of media such as television and magazines, which situates his notion of spirituality within a religious marketplace dominated by the fluidity of individual choice. These trends are not alternatives to the religious practices and worldviews of traditional religions, but rather are in continuity with dominant social values such as reverence of ancestors.
目次
Systemic Change and Marketization in Buddhism 368 Change and Survival Strategies for Shrine Shinto 370 The Spirituality of Ehara Hiroyuki 373 Media and the Dominant Traditional Culture 375 Conclusion 378 References 380
