You are invited to the next research workshop of Global Asia Studies Research Center at Waseda University, which will be held on Monday, 11 June 2018, at 6:15 PM.


*Global Asia Studies Workshop: Arguing "religion" in Japanese courts*

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*Date:* June 11, 2018

*Time:* 18:15-19:45


*Speaker:*Ernils Larsson

*Affiliation:*PhD Candidate, History of Religions, Faculty of Theology, Uppsala University



*Title: Arguing "religion" in Japanese courts*

Abstract: The central problem with "religion" as a legal category, as found in legislation on religious freedom or on the separation of religion from the state, is that there exists no generally agreed upon definition of what constitutes "religion". As American legal scholar Winnifred Sullivan has suggested, legislation on religion requires "essentialized religion" in order to be effective, and since no essentialized religion exists, defining what constitutes religion and, significantly, what doesn't, is generally left in the hands of individual judges and justices.


This workshop will focus on how religion is argued as a category under Japanese law. Articles 20 and 89 of the Japanese constitution provides a legal framework for both fundamental freedom of religion and, as a guarantee for this, a strict separation of religion from the state. In a number of court cases throughout the postwar period, Japanese courts have argued about what constitutes "religion" in a Japanese setting, and what does not. Although freedom of religion is usually granted to any actor recognized as a "religious juridical person", the issue is usually more complicated when it comes to the issue of disestablishment. Are Japanese politicians allowed to sponsor Shinto shrines? Can public officials partake in the rituals surrounding the enthronement of a new emperor? Is Shinto "religion", or is it simply a part of Japanese culture - a set of "social courtesies"?



*Place:* Waseda University Campus, Building 14, Room 960

1-104 Totsukamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8050, JAPAN

Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/vJbYazrTj3s

A Campus Map can be found at: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/access/waseda-campus


*Coordinators:*

Naoyuki UMEMORI (Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics)

Jeff Hall (Junior Researcher, ORIS)



*Event Information Page*: https://www.waseda.jp/inst/sgu/news-en/2018/05/10/3420/


*About Us:*The Global Asia Studies Research Center aims to contribute to the global interdisciplinary scholarship on reconciliation and sustainable development and to disseminate its results from Asia to the world. We pursue our research through the dual perspective of global history and global governance, integrating three spheres of knowledge: peace and security, economics and development, and society and culture.



Our official homepage: https://www.waseda.jp/inst/sgu/en/unit/global-asia-studies/


We regularly hold research workshops in which scholars deliver presentations and engage in discussion with members of the audience. Presentations generally last about 45 minutes, followed by 45 minutes of discussion.


These forums are open to scholars and members of the general public. All are welcome to attend, but please register in advance via e-mail (to Jeff Hall at jeffreyhall@aoni.waseda.jp <mailto:jeffreyhall@aoni.waseda.jp> ) so that we can prepare seating for participants.