Living Faith, Shaping Identity: Social and Religious Practices of Minority Communities in Japan

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring the complex interplay between faith, identity, and daily practices among Japan’s minority communities and aims to examine how religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and social practices shape the experiences and identities of minority groups in Japan, including Ainu, Okinawans, Zainichi Koreans, Chinese residents, and various religious movements. Understanding these dynamics is vital for advancing knowledge about multiculturalism, religious pluralism, and social cohesion within an increasingly diverse Japanese society. Japan’s minority communities navigate their identities amid a backdrop of historical marginalization and contemporary societal transformation. For example, Ainu cultural revival movements illustrate efforts to reclaim indigenous heritage within a broader national identity (Sakurai, 2011), while Zainichi Koreans often confront issues of cultural preservation and social inclusion (Yama, 2017). Religious practices—such as Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity, and new religious movements—serve as vital anchors for community cohesion, identity expression, and individual resilience (Kimani, 2024). These practices often intersect with social routines, festivals, and rituals, contributing to the sustainability of minority identities across generations (Ida, 2002).

This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted roles of faith, cultural identity and social practices among Japan’s minority communities by employing interdisciplinary approaches to investigate how religious beliefs and cultural traditions influence daily life, community cohesion, and the construction of identity within groups such as the Ainu, Okinawans, Zainichi Koreans, and other religious minorities. The focus is on understanding how these communities negotiate their religious and cultural identities in the context of contemporary societal changes, globalization, and migration, and researchers are encouraged to examine rituals, practices, and expressions of faith, as well as their social and political significance. By focusing on Japan’s minority communities, this Special Issue aligns with the journal's broader focus and will contribute to discussions on religious diversity, social inclusion, and identity politics from a global perspective. The overarching goal is to stimulate dialogue among scholars in religious studies, anthropology, sociology, and area studies with a view to fostering a deeper understanding of religion's role in shaping social realities in diverse contexts.

Submissions may include original research articles and comprehensive reviews, and potential themes for inquiry include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• The role of religious practices in shaping minority community identities in Japan;
• Cultural revival and transmission among indigenous and minority groups;
• Religious and social adaptations amid globalization and migration;
• Ethnographic studies of rituals, festivals, and community events;
• The influence of government policies and societal attitudes on minority religion and culture;
• Intersectionality of faith, ethnicity, and social belonging in contemporary Japan.

We hope that this Special Issue will open up new avenues for research and promote a more nuanced understanding of how faith and cultural practices sustain minority identities in Japan. By showcasing a variety of experiences and academic perspectives, our goal is to meaningfully contribute to the ongoing dialogue and policy considerations surrounding social inclusion and multiculturalism. 

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send this to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor of Religions, Amity Zhang (amity.zhang@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Reference list:

• Ida Takafumi 飯田剛史. 2002. Zainichi Korean no shūkyō to matsuri-Minzokuto shūkyō no shakaigaku 在日コリアン宗教と祭り―民族と宗教の社会学. Doctoral Thesis. University of Kyoto. http//hdl.hande.net/2433/149301.
• Kimani, Seth. 2024. The Influence of Religious Beliefs on Social Behavior and Community Cohesion. International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences 3 (3): 66–73.
• Sakurai, Yoshihide. 2011. Ainu Religious Consciousness and Challenges of Cultural Preservation. Report on the Hokkaido Ainu Living Conditions Survey : Ainu Report, Part 1 (English version), 107-115 Living Conditions and Consciousness of Present-day Ainu : Report on the 2008 Hokkaido Ainu Living Conditions Survey. Written and edited by Toru Onai. http://hdl.handle.net/2115/48211.
• Yama Yashiyuki 山 泰幸. Zainichi korian no risan to nama no shosō ―― hyōshō to aidentiti no kangeki o nutte 在日コリアンの離散と生の諸相――表象とアイデンティティの間隙を縫って. Tokyo: Akashi Shoten.

Dr. Nataša Visočnik Gerželj
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.