Shin Buddhism (Jōdo Shinshū) in Europe: Organizational Issues

This chapter presents a case study of the emergence in Europe of a network of local branches of one of Japan's major Buddhist sects, Jōdo Shinshū (also known as Shin Buddhism). Jōdo Shinshū is one of the largest Buddhist sects in Japan, dating back to the 13th century. There are nearly 20,000 temples in Japan affiliated to one of the two major branches of the sect: Hongwanji-ha and Ōtani-ha (also known as Nishi Hongwanji or Honpa Hongwanji, and Higashi Honganji), both of which have their head temples in Kyoto, and are headed by descendants of Shinran, the founder of Jōdo Shinshū. There is no difference between the teachings of Nishi and Higashi Honganji – the split between the two derives from a succession dispute in the late 16th century. Hongwanji-ha is the larger of the two, and the branch with which this chapter is primarily concerned. A form of Pure Land Buddhism, Jōdo Shinshū can be more broadly situated within Mahayana Buddhism. Its central teaching is reliance on Amida Buddha. The movement teaches that we are all embraced by Amida's primal vow, which assures rebirth in Amida's Pure Land. Rather than advocating a particular practice therefore, Jōdo Shinshū teaches that we can simply rely on, or entrust ourselves to, Amida Buddha. The aim of Jōdo Shinshū could be summarized as awakening to the power of Amida's vow, and reaching a state of entrusting oneself to Amida, commonly referred to in Japanese as shinjin

Jōdo Shinshū in the UK: Impermanence, Precarity and Change

This article outlines the history of Jōdo Shinshū in the UK, and asks why it has remained little known despite being one of the largest schools of Buddhism in Japan, with sizeable overseas branches in the Americas. I argue that this can be understood partly in relation to the absence of a settled Japanese migrant population in Europe, in contrast to the Americas, where Jōdo Shinshū has been sustained historically by its ethnic Japanese base, although this has changed somewhat in recent years. Another important factor is the unfamiliarity of “other power” Buddhism in Europe. With its emphasis on reliance on Amida Buddha, rather than more familiar forms of Buddhist practice like seated silent meditation, Jōdo Shinshū challenges popular conceptions of Buddhism outside Asia, and this may affect its appeal in a European context

The Branding of Space

An examination of the ways in which ideas of branding may be applied to retail spaces, with examples drawn from England and Japan. The article discusses the processes by which such spaces may be designed, produced, and used, and considers the limitations of an interpretation of branded space based on viewing the space as a text that can be "read"

Familiarity and Difference: Relocating Sukyo Mahikari in the UK

An examination of the adaptation of a Japanese New Religious Movement to the UK context

Spirit First, Mind Follows, Body Belongs: Notions of health, illness, and disease in Sukyo Mahikari UK

An examination of notions of health, illness and disease in a Japanese New Religious movement in the U

The Changing Face of Japanese Retail: working in a chain store

An ethnography of a Japanese chain store, which examines gender relations in the workplace; relations between regular and non-regular employees; and changes in employment practices in the aftermath of Japan's economic downturn in the 1990s

Kigyou no guroubaruka to nashonaru aidentitii [The globalization of enterprises and national identity]

An examination of approaches to understanding globalisation, focusing on one case study: the expansion of a large Japanese retail company (Yaohan) overseas, with particular reference to the UK. The chapter considers the importance to Yaohan, a Japanese supermarket selling mainly food, of retaining a distinctive Japanese identity overseas. The interaction between discourses of global and local identity within Yaohan is also considered

Spiritual Companies, Corporate Religions: Japanese Companies and Japanese New Religious Movements at Home and Abroad

An examination of the relationship between Japanese companies and Japanese NRMs, focusing on the case of Yaohan, a Japanese supermarket chain (now bankrupt) with a number of overseas branches, including one in the UK. The chapter explores the links between Yaohan and a Japanese NRM, Seicho no Ie, which was closely involved in Yaohan training programmes and management

Recollections of life crisis: distancing the personal

A reflection on the issues raised by long term personal involvement with the site of fieldwork, and on the use of personal experience as ethnographic source material