Japanese religions

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This website is an archive. It ran from 2006-2010. Virtually everything on here is outdated or inaccurate.

Japanese religions fall into two distinct categories.

The first and most prominent category is Buddhist-Shintou syncretism which is routinely denied by Japanese people to be religion at all. This category includes most of the population of Japan but has little philosophy and usually resembles simple superstition. Traditional Japanese religion can encompass summer matsuri at a shrine, pokkuri temples, memorial services for one's ancestors, and buying omamori to ensure good luck in an endeavour. This form of religion developed primarily in the Kamakura period (13th century), with the exception of Shingon Buddhism, the basis of the popular Japanese conception of Buddhas, which developed somewhat earlier.

The second category contains all those world-defining movements which Japanese people consider "religion." It means Christianity, which is now a recognized but miniscule part of Japanese society, and homegrown new religious movements such as Tenrikyo, which most Japanese people seem to consider somewhat dangerous following the Aum Shinrikyou sarin gas attacks.

Contents

Largest religious organizations in Japan

All links in this section are official and in English! Browse and enjoy!

Source : Ministry of Education Shukyo Nenkan, 2003. Where *starred 1998 numbers are used due to my laziness. Absurdly inflated figures from former State Shinto are not included.

  1. (Nichirenism) Souka Gakkai: 12,000,000 (8,270,000 households)
  2. (Mahayanism) Jodou Shinshuu Hongwanjiha: 6,900,000
  3. (Mahayanism) Jodoushuu: 6,000,000
  4. (Nichirenism) Risshou Koseikai: 5,600,000 (2,180,000 households)
  5. (Mahayanism) Shinshuu Otaniha: 5,530,000
  6. (Mahayanism) Kouyasan Shingonshuu: 5,490,000
  7. (Nichirenism) Shoshuu: 3,900,000
  8. Tenrikyo: 1,960,000
  9. (Nichirenism) Reiyukai: 1,700,000
  10. (Nichirenism) Bussho Gonenkai Kyoudan: 1,600,000
  11. (Zen Buddhism) Soutoushuu: 1,550,000
  12. (Mahayanism) Tendaishuu: 1,530,000
  13. (Mahayanism) Shingonshuu Chisanha (ja): 1,510,000
  14. (Shintou) Izumo Ooyashirokyou: 1,250,000*
  15. (Mahayanism) Shingonshuu Buzanha: 1,200,000*
  16. PL Church: 1,140,000*
  17. (Nichirenism) Mouchikai Kyoudan: 1,100,000*
  18. (Shintou) Reiha-no-Hikari: 890,000*
  19. Seicho-No-Ie: 870,000*
  20. Sekai Kyuuseikyou (MOA): 830,000*
    Below this line the source is [1]
  21. Ooyamanezunomikoto Shinjikyoukai: 810,000
  22. Shinnyo-en: 760,000
  23. Shizen no Izumi: 750,000
  24. (Nichirenism) Honmon Butsuryuushuu: 590,000
  25. Ontakekyou: 570,000
  26. Suukyou Mahikari: 560,000
  27. Byakko: 500,000

Japanese religions by sect

Data from "Religious Yearbook 1998", Ministry of Education [2]

Note: I haven't finished moving all data into these categories.

Shrine Shintou

  1. 神社本庁 Association of Shintou Shrines: 94,150,000
  2. 出雲教 Izumokyou: 120,000
  3. 石鎚本教 Ishidzuchi Honkyou: 90,000
  4. 神社産土教 Jinja Ubusunakyou: 90,000
  5. 木曽御獄本教 Kiso Mitake Honkyou: 60,000
  6. 北海道神社協会 Hokkaidou Jinja Kyoukai: 60,000
  7. 誠心明生会 Seishin Akio: 40,000

Sect Shintou

  1. 出雲大社教 Izumo Ooyashirokyou: 1,250,000
  2. (unlisted) (ja) Ontakekyou: 570,000
  3. 金光教 Konkoukyou: 430,000
  4. 黒住教 Kurozumikyou: 290,000
  5. 神理教 Shinrikyou: 290,000
  6. 神習教 Shinshuukyou: 230,000
  7. 金刀比羅本教 Konpira Honkyou: 220,000
  8. 大本教 Oomotokyou: 170,000
  9. 世界心道教 Sekai Shindoukyou: 100,000
  10. 禊教 Misogikyou: 90,000
  11. 知覚山民主教教団 Chikakusan Minshukyou Kyoudan: 50,000
  12. 大道教（福島） Daidoukyou (Fukushima): 50,000
  13. (unlisted) Fusoukyou: 46,000

Unorthodox Shintou lineages

  1. 大日本大道教 Dainihon Daidoukyou: 150,000
  2. 心睦教団 Shinmoku Kyoudan: 90,000
  3. 大和教団 Yamato Kyoudan: 50,000
  4. 祖神道教団 Soshinyou Kyoudan: 50,000
  5. 大真界教団 Daishinkai Kyoudan: 30,000

Buddhist sects

(Skipped because these are all divided up into subsects which would be painful to translate, but basically there are tens of millions of people claimed as members)

Nara sects of Buddhism:

  1. 真言律宗 Shingon Risshuu: 100,000
  2. 華厳宗 Kegonshuu: 40,000

Christian lineages

  1. Catholic Church: 440,000
  2. United Church of Christ: 140,000

Other

  1. Tenrikyo(u): 1,910,000
  2. PL Church: 1,140,000
  3. 生長の家 Seicho(u)-No-Ie: 870,000
  4. 世界救世教 Sekai Kyuuseikyou (MOA): 830,000
  5. 天照皇大神宮教 Tenshou Koutai Jingukyou: 460,000
    The "dancing religion"
  6. 円応教 Ennoukyou: 450,000
  7. Honmichi: 310,000
  8. 善隣教 Zenrinkyou: 290,000
    "Good Neighborism"
  9. 救世主教 Kyuuseishukyou: 120,000
    "Messianism"

External links

Retrieved from "http://shii.org/knows/Japanese_religions"

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