Japanese perception of religion

Throughout history, polytheistic religions such as Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism have been dominant in Japan. Today, although a large portion of the Japanese define themselves as non-religious, they participate in religious rituals at a high rate in their daily lives. This seemingly contradictory situation stems from the fact that Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are intertwined with Japanese culture. While Shintoism lacks belief in the afterlife and has a nature-centered structure, Buddhism has been associated mainly with funeral ceremonies in Japan. Confucianism, on the other hand, has focused on moral principles rather than a religious belief. This thesis analyzes the perception of religion in Japanese society in the context of linguistic, historical, and sociocultural elements. In Japan, the concept of "religion" is expressed with the term "shūkyō", which came from the West. This term has ideological and political connotations rather than an institutional religious meaning. Again, the classification method on the subject of "religion" affects the views on the perception of religion. Historically, Shintoism, Buddhism and Confucianism have been integrated over the centuries, allowing religion in Japanese society to function as a structure that strengthens central authority and regulates subordinate-superior relations, preserving social order, rather than an individual belief. With the Meiji Restoration and the modernization process, religion became a tool for state control, and secularization accelerated, especially in the post-war period. In addition, terrorist incidents caused by religious organizations and certain characteristics specific to the Japanese character have also been influential in shaping the perception of religion.