Overseas Shinto Shrines

This detailed study explores how Overseas Shinto Shrines played a significant role in Japan's imperialism and modernization efforts across various regions.

This comprehensive study delves into the intricate role of overseas Shinto shrines in the context of Japan's colonization and modernization efforts from 1868 to 1945. Through extensive primary resources and fieldwork, the author reveals how these shrines emerged as prominent symbols of Japanese imperialism across the Asia-Pacific region, influencing areas from Sakhalin to Taiwan and even extending to the Americas. The construction of these shrines by both the government and Japanese migrants illustrates their significance in the cultural landscape of newly acquired territories.

The book argues that modern Shinto shrines were often perceived as secular sites within a newly established framework of Japanese secularism. This perspective challenges conventional notions of religion and secularism by demonstrating how these shrines communicated evolving ideas about space, time, and ethics among imperial subjects. By examining the constructed nature of these categories, the author provides valuable insights into the complexities of modern identity in the context of Japanese imperialism.

Overseas Shinto Shrines also contributes to the understanding of non-Western secularities, highlighting the relationship between religion and the modern state. By employing postcolonial theories of secularism, the book offers a nuanced analysis of how these shrines facilitated the colonization and modernization of Japanese territories and people, ultimately enriching the discourse surrounding the interplay of religion, secularism, and state construction in a global context.