International Institute for the Study of Religions
Religious Information Research Center
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International Institute for the Study of Religions Religious Information Research Center |
"Religious Articles Select 5" is the contents that introduce the Religious News Digest in Japan. All articles are picked up by Prof. Nobutaka Inoue who is the chief of RIRC, and selceted from the last "RIRC REPORT"; the publication for our members by the seasons.
May 23
The sixtieth anniversary celebration of the founding of the Jinja Honchō (Association of Shintō Shrines) was held in the Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo, and roughly 1,600 people attended.
June 3-4
The fourteenth conference of the Japanese Association for the Study of Religion and Society was held at Dōshisha University, and jointly held a session with Dōshisha's Centers of Excellence Program on the theme of "Interdisciplinary Research into Monotheism" as one of the theme-based sessions regarding monotheism and fundamentalism.
June 11
The "Third Leader Dharma Transmission Ceremony," in which second-generation leader of Kōdō Kyōdan, Okano Shōkan, passed on the leadership to Okano Masazumi, took place at the Kōdōzan Honbutsuden in Yokohama City.
June 23
Among the various lawsuits regarding Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichirō's worship at Yasukuni Shrine, the Supreme Court decided against the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in Osaka. It was the first Supreme Court decision related to the Prime Minister's worship practices.
August 20-30
An exhibition entitled "The Vision and Craft of Itō Shinjō" was held at the Tokyo Arts Club as part of the One Hundredth Anniversary of deceased Shinnyo-en founder Itō Shinjō's birth.
June 1
According to the Metropolitan Police Department's analysis, the year 2005 marked the eighth straight year that the total number of suicides topped 30,000 deaths, at 32,552.
June 9
The Tokyo Board of Education strictly admonished 7 teachers at 3 schools for improper guidance of students during unison singing of "Kimi ga yo" [the Japanese national anthem] at graduation and induction ceremonies held at public schools this spring.
July 1
In [the group formerly known as Aum Shinrikyō] Aleph's internal disputes, Group Representative Jōyū Fumihiro separated from the "Anti-Jōyū Faction" which claims allegiance to defendant [former Aum leader] Matsumoto Chizuo [Asahara Shōkō], and the two groups began living in separate dwellings. The "Jōyū Faction" numbers about 90 people.
July 6
Sōka Gakkai unanimously agreed to renew President Akiya Einosuke's term, and the decision was acknowledged by the Supreme Board of Directors. The period of the term is 5 years. Akiya became the fifth President in 1981, and this renewal of his term is the sixth.
August 26-28
The Eighth World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) was held in the National Kyoto International Center. It was the first time in 36 years (1970) that the Conference was held in Japan..
June 9
Thai monarch Bhumibol (Phumipon) approached the 60th anniversary of his ascension to the throne. His is the longest active reign in the world.
June 24
President Arroyo of the Philippines signed a proposal to abolish the death penalty, putting the bill into law. Due to the passage of the law, roughly 1200 death row inmates are expected to receive reduced sentences.
July 5
The first Biblical annotation by an African theologian was published in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the result of 5 years of effort with assistance from 70 people from 25 countries, made possible due to the assistance of President Moi, an evangelical.
July 15
The General Assembly of the Anglican Church approved the proposal put forth by Archbishop of York John Sentamu, announcing that appointing women to the position of bishop is "theologically justified."
August 13
North Korea's first Russian Orthodox Church, the "Holy Trinity Cathedral," was completed in Pyongyang, and leaders of the Orthodox Church conducted a purification rite.