Japan's Political Religion of Rent-Seeking: Changes in Politics and Religious Relations for Recent Thirty Years

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was killed by a young man who held a grudge against the Unification Church on July 8, 2022. Since then, (1) the damage caused by its psychic sales and excessive demands for donations has attracted attention in Japan, (2) the Unification Church and other second-generation followers of this new religion have issued demands for safety in their homes and religious freedom, and (3) the collusive relationship between political parties and religious groups has become a social problem. The Unification Church issue has led to media coverage and social awareness in Japan that re-examines the relationship between politics and religion.

In this paper, I will classify the forms of political participation by religious organizations into three categories: 1) support for specific political parties and politicians by traditional and new religions, 2) the formation of political parties by religious organizations such as the Soka Gakkai and the Kōmeitō, and 3) underground political participation by organizations such as the Unification Church.

Focusing on the Unification Church's strategy to expand its religious and social influence by taking up political power and receiving patronage, I will present the concept of rent-seeking political religion. I will also discuss the trends of the Soka Gakkai, the most influential religious organization in Japan that maintains political organization.