An overview of Religion and Politics in Japan before and after July 8, 2022

Although politics and religion were once closely intertwined in Japan, religion in postwar and contemporary Japanese society is generally viewed as politically irrelevant or, at best, peripheral. Or is it? This lecture will examine the significance of religion in contemporary Japan and its connections with politics. We will discuss: 1) religion in pre-modern Japan and the role of religious ideology in shaping the political identity of Japan during the 19th century as well as the prewar and wartime periods of the 20th century; 2) the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary Japan's religious landscape; 3) the assassination of Abe Shinzo on July 8, 2022, its implications, and the complex relationship between religion and politics in contemporary Japan.