Japan from A to Z

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James M. Vardaman. Japan from A to Z

Acknowledgments

Introduction

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A to Z

We owe a special word of thanks to our editor David Friedman, who devoted himself to this project as if it were his own. This book would be far less accurate and readable without his incisive comments and sure editorial hand.

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Are Japanese BUDDHISTS or Shintoists?

According to the "Religion Yearbook" issued by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, most Japanese are a little of both. The data supplied by various religious organizations indicates that the number of members in Shinto-related groups is close to 120 million, and that of Buddhist groups is close to 90 million. Add Christian and various other organizations, and the total becomes 220 million members—about twice the population of Japan. This apparent contradiction can be explained easily. Japanese tend to follow Shinto observances for celebratory and auspicious events and Buddhist observances for inauspicious events such as funerals and memorials. They share neither the monotheistic, nor the one-religion-per-customer proclivities of Westerners.

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