The first English-language overview of the interaction of Buddhism and Shintō in Japanese culture.

Peter Francis Kornicki and Ian James McMullen have put together a remarkable collection of essays on different aspects of religion in Japan by an international team of contributors. The essays in this 1996 book cover a wide range of subjects, from the new religions of post-war Japan to beliefs about fox-possession in the Heian period, and from French missionaries in Okinawa in the mid-nineteenth century to the Ainu bear festival in Hokkaido. Other chapters examine the religious life of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the first shogunate in the late twelfth century, and the role of pilgrimage in Japanese religion. The essays offer fresh insights into the rich religious traditions of Japan, many of which have been previously neglected in the English-language writing on Japan.

The Myōtei Dialogues is the first complete English translation of Fukansai Habian's Myōtei mondō (1605), one of the most important works of early Japanese Christianity.

A quick review of Japanese history and a detailed account of the country's religions.

This book by a Christian missionary Herbert W. Page aimed to present the overall picture of the religious vies in the middle of the Victorian era. The author mentions that Japan at that time had already developed strong boundaries with China and India, yet not absorbed by them. This book is an interesting read in terms of the history of religion or a study of Orient cultures and customs.

This series provides succinct and balanced overviews of the religions of the world. Written in an accessible and informative style, and assuming little or no prior knowledge on the part of the reader, each book gives a basic introduction to the faith--its history, beliefs, and practices--and emphasizes modern developments and the role and impact of the religion in today's world. Japanese Religious Traditions focuses on major Japanese religious concepts, practices, and sects within the traditions of Shinto, Buddhism, and popular modern movements. It is written in an accessible narrative that provides a valuable insight into the heart of Japanese culture. The coverage of the various key players in religious sects presents challenging philosophical questions to the reader, which in turn highlight the subtle nuances and shifts of expression in our own time and society.

Each of the eight chapters deals with a specific topic, such as Shinto, Buddhism, the new religions, and Christianity; there is an introduction that outlines the subject to be considered followed by a series of readings.