CHFA | Global Languages Senior Colloquium
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
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Major
Japanese
Minor
Political Science
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Prof. Yoko Hatakeyama; Dr. Roxanne Riegler
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
Sam Kincer is a senior at MSU, majoring in Japanese with a minor in Political Science. His main research foci are International Shintoism and Modern Shintoism within Japan. He has a particular interest in current Japanese religion and religious evolution. After graduation, Sam plans to pursue further education abroad.
Shintoism, Japan’s traditional religion, in the US has existed as long as there have been Japanese immigrants to the continent. However, unlike other religions which were brought over to the United States and have achieved more success, Shintoism was not brought over almost at all, despite being an essential part of Japanese people’s lives within their country of origin. While there are many possible reasons resulting in this situation, and while research about overseas Shintoism exists, little to no research has been conducted on this particular topic, even by prominent scholars. This project examines the structural factors concerning the USA’s culture and religious framework that may affect the currently limited importation and spread of Shintoism. By analyzing recent statistics about Shinto in the US and by analyzing the comparison between Shinto and other prominent American religions, the current lack of Shintoism in the US appears to be affected by three factors - polytheism clashing with the dominant Christian framework, Shintoism’s unpopularity with non-Japanese persons due to its Japan-centricism, and Shintoism’s lack of any written or spoken directives to spread the faith. Further research in the future of these factors in conjunction with more comparative analysis with other prominent religions in the USA may provide an even deeper look why at Shinto’s presence is so weak in the US, as well as possible methods that could be used to spread Shinto if one wished to do so.
Spring Scholars Week 2024 Event
GTL 400 Senior Colloquium
An Analysis of Shinto’s Weak Presence in the USA
Sam Kincer is a senior at MSU, majoring in Japanese with a minor in Political Science. His main research foci are International Shintoism and Modern Shintoism within Japan. He has a particular interest in current Japanese religion and religious evolution. After graduation, Sam plans to pursue further education abroad.
Shintoism, Japan’s traditional religion, in the US has existed as long as there have been Japanese immigrants to the continent. However, unlike other religions which were brought over to the United States and have achieved more success, Shintoism was not brought over almost at all, despite being an essential part of Japanese people’s lives within their country of origin. While there are many possible reasons resulting in this situation, and while research about overseas Shintoism exists, little to no research has been conducted on this particular topic, even by prominent scholars. This project examines the structural factors concerning the USA’s culture and religious framework that may affect the currently limited importation and spread of Shintoism. By analyzing recent statistics about Shinto in the US and by analyzing the comparison between Shinto and other prominent American religions, the current lack of Shintoism in the US appears to be affected by three factors - polytheism clashing with the dominant Christian framework, Shintoism’s unpopularity with non-Japanese persons due to its Japan-centricism, and Shintoism’s lack of any written or spoken directives to spread the faith. Further research in the future of these factors in conjunction with more comparative analysis with other prominent religions in the USA may provide an even deeper look why at Shinto’s presence is so weak in the US, as well as possible methods that could be used to spread Shinto if one wished to do so.