Jainism in Japan

In today's world, Jainism in Japan has become a topic of increasing interest and debate for people of all ages and walks of life. Whether it is its impact on society, its relevance in popular culture or its influence on everyday life, Jainism in Japan has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. From its origins to its current evolution, Jainism in Japan has left an indelible mark on the modern world, and it is crucial to understand its importance in the current context. In this article, we will explore the various facets of Jainism in Japan and examine its impact on today's society.

Japanese Jains
Mahavir swami Jain Temple in Kobe
Total population
5,000 families
Languages
Japanese Languages
Indian Languages
Religion
Jainism

Jainism, unlike the closely related Buddhism, is a minority religion in Japan. At present, there are three Jain temples in Japan, with the Kobe Jain temple being the most famous one. Jainism is growing in Japan, more than 5,000 ethnic Japanese families in Japan have converted to Jainism.

History

Forty Japanese students were sponsored by the Government of India in the early 1950s to live and study in India. Some of them studied Navinaya[clarification needed] in Varanasi and Gujarat, which led to new interest in the study of Jainism in Japan. One of the accomplishments was the first Japanese book by Minakata Kumagusu to simplify and translate the concepts of Jainism into Japanese for use by the common people in Japan.

See also

References

Citation

Source

  • Kesavapany, K.; Mani, A.; Ramasamy, P. (2008). Rising India and Indian Communities in East Asia. Japan: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9789812307996.
  • Wadhwa, Megha (2020). Indian Migrants in Tokyo: A Study of Socio-Cultural, Religious, and Working Worlds. Routledge Studies on Asia in the World. Routledge. ISBN 9781000207811.
  • Chhapia, Hemali (23 February 2020). "Thousands of Japanese making a smooth transition from Zen to Jain". The Times Of India.
  • Mehta, Manish (March 2007). "Jain studies" (PDF) (2 ed.). SOAS University of London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

Further reading

  • A Japanese take on Jainism (in English)- kamit.jp