Japan
In Mexico, a Japanese traditional dancer shows how body movement speaks beyond culture and religion
By MarÍa Teresa HernÁndez Reyes — December 4, 2023
MEXICO CITY (AP) — For Latin American audiences, Kihara said, Japanese traditional dance might be hard to embrace.
‘Godzilla Minus One’ offers a profound critique of war and American pop culture
By Jim McDermott — November 29, 2023
(RNS) — The lizard god returns as a complex character reflecting his roots in postwar fears of nuclear weapons.
Japan’s Laughing Buddha Hotei is merging into Santa Claus — both are roly-poly sacred figures with a bag of gifts
By Megan Bryson — December 14, 2022
(The Conversation) — Hotei, a Japanese god who carries a large sack, has come to be identified with Santa Claus – except that he brings the goodies on New Year’s Day instead of Christmas.
New Japan law aims at Unification Church fundraising abuses
By Mari Yamaguchi — December 13, 2022
TOKYO (AP) — The new law allows believers, other donors and their families to seek the return of their money and prohibits religious groups and other organizations from soliciting funds by coercion or linking donations to spiritual salvation.
Monsters, meditation and Marie Kondo: the religious roots of Japan’s ‘waste not’ ethic
By Kevin C. Taylor — December 6, 2022
(The Conversation) — The impact of centuries-old Shinto and Buddhist rituals and stories continues today.
No, they do not worship the devil, and other myths dispelled in new book on satanism
By Heather Greene — October 21, 2022
(RNS) — Satanism appeals to people who feel marginalized in some way, said La Carmina, whose "Little Book of Satanism" attempts to curb some of the misinformation on satanists and their organizations.
Japan leader sends offerings to controversial Tokyo shrine
By Mari Yamaguchi — October 18, 2022
TOKYO (AP) — The religious offerings were donated to a Tokyo shrine viewed by many as a symbol of Japanese wartime militarism.
Japan PM orders probe of Unification Church problems
By Mari Yamaguchi — October 17, 2022
TOKYO (AP) — Many critics consider the church to be a cult because of problems with followers and their families over their financial and mental hardships.
Hundreds demand cancellation of Japanese ex-leader’s funeral
By Yuri Kageyama — September 23, 2022
TOKYO (AP) — Opposition to the state funeral has grown in part because of politicians’ close ties to the Unification Church.
Half of Japan governing lawmakers tied to Unification Church
By Mari Yamaguchi — September 9, 2022
TOKYO (AP) — An internal survey found that nearly half of Japan's lawmakers have ties to the Unification Church, in a widening controversy that emerged after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan PM purges Cabinet after support falls over church ties
By Mari Yamaguchi — August 10, 2022
TOKYO (AP) — Seven ministers who acknowledged their ties to the church were removed.
Lawyers say church caused suffering for Abe’s alleged killer
By Mari Yamaguchi — July 29, 2022
TOKYO (AP) - The church has been flooded by harassing phone calls, it says, including death threats.
Photos of the Week: Shinzo Abe assassination; Eid al-Adha commemorations
By Kit Doyle — July 15, 2022
(RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Muslims commemorating Eid al-Adha and more.
Unification Church distances itself from Abe’s assassination
By Yuri Kageyama — July 11, 2022
TOKYO (AP) — Abe was not a church member, but may have spoken at some events held by affiliated groups, said Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church's Japan branch.
Japan’s Shinto religion is going global and attracting online followers
By Kaitlyn Ugoretz — February 10, 2022
(The Conversation) — An anthropologist of Japanese religion met followers of Shinto religion online and found how they were building a community and sharing instructions on practice.
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