Women and Religion in Japan

In this book it was possible to examine only a small part of the various religions in Japan, and so it could not be said that this is still not a sufficient elucidation of Japanese patriarchy. In some chapters the criticism of religion is very strong, others investigate ‘femininity’ before religion and test the regeneration of women’s religion which has been stuck from male history; therefore, the positions on religion are varied. However, these are only differences in focus of interest and as such are illustrative of the diversity of feminism, not essential differences. Okuda Akiko, Introduction Okano Haruko, A feminist Critique of Japanese Religions Kono Nobuko, Women and Nation – Reflections on the Kojiki Nakano Yuko, Women and Buddhism – Blood Impurity and Motherhood Iwata Sumie, Meeting Christian Women in Sixteenth Century Japan Okuda Akiko, The Conflict of Tradition and Modernity Igeta Midori, Women’s Role – A Channel for Power Haga Akira, Women and Soka Gakkai Chun Kwangne, Victims of the Emperor Faith Okano Haruko, Afterword – The Future of Feminism and Religion