Hinduism in Japan

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Japanese Hindus
日本のヒンズー教徒
Om in Katakana(Japanese).png
The "Om" symbol in Katakana [a]
Total population
Increase2.svg280,000 (0.23%) (2025)
Languages
Liturgical : Sanskrit

Hinduism is a minority religion in Japan mainly followed by the Indian, Sri Lankan and Nepali expatriate residents of Japan, who number about 280,000 people as of 2025 .

Contents

History

Depiction of Hindu deity Krishna playing the flute in a temple constructed in 752 CE on the order of Emperor Shomu, Todai-ji Temple, Great Buddha Hall in Nara, Japan Krishna-in-Kyoto.jpg
Depiction of Hindu deity Krishna playing the flute in a temple constructed in 752 CE on the order of Emperor Shomu, Todai-ji Temple, Great Buddha Hall in Nara, Japan

Hinduism diffused throughout East Asia via trade routes, and also through the expansion of Buddhism in the sixth century. [1] There has also been significant transfer of Hindu-derived material native to China and South East Asia into Japan. [2] [3] [4]

Hindu deities have been integrated into Japanese religious culture and several deities are worshiped for good luck. [5] In fact there are many deities that are still worshiped in Japan which have long been forgotten in India. [6]

Saraswati (Benzaiten) is arguably the most revered deity in Japan after the Buddha. [7] She forms as a part of the "Seven Gods of Fortune", of which four originated as Hindu deities: Benzaitensama (Sarasvati), Bishamon (Vaiśravaṇa or Kubera), Daikokuten (Mahākāla or Shiva), and Kichijōten (Lakshmi). The last, along with Benzaitennyo (Saraswati) and the female version of Daikokuten completes the nipponized Tridevi of Great Goddesses. [8]

Benzaiten shrine, Inokashira Park INOKASHIRA1.jpg
Benzaiten shrine, Inokashira Park

The Hindu god of death, Yama, is known in his Buddhist form as Enma. Garuda, the mount (vahana) of Vishnu, is known as the Karura (迦楼羅), an enormous, fire-breathing creature in Japan. It has the body of a human and the face or beak of an eagle. Tennin originated from the apsaras.[ citation needed ]

Ganesha (or Kangiten) is prayed to for health, success and good fortune. Many Japanese Buddhist deities (or Tenbu) have their roots in Hinduism and are still revered by many Japanese particularly in Shingon Buddhism.[ citation needed ]

Present situation

Hinduism is practiced mainly by the Nepali, Indian and Sri Lankan migrants, although there are others. As of 2025, there are 63,472 Sri Lankans, 53,975 Indians and 233,043 Nepalis in Japan. [9] [10]

The few Hindu temples in Japan are as follows:

The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated that 24,182 Hindus in Japan as of 2020. [11]

References

  1. ↑ Acharya, Amitav. "Journey to the East: The Hindu-Buddhist Making of Southeast Asia". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  2. ↑ Pant, Don McLain Gill & Harsh V. (2023-11-21). "India and Japan Converge in Southeast Asia". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  3. ↑ "Southeast Asia: History and Culture – Japan society for Southeast Asian Studies" . Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  4. ↑ "Southeast Asia and Japan: Linked by Ties of Cultural Exchange". The Government of Japan - JapanGov -. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  5. ↑ "Japan's Hindu Linkages Still Alive". hwpi.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  6. ↑ "Hindu deities in Japan". Frontline. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  7. ↑ "'Saraswati is the most revered deity in Japan, after the Buddha': Filmmaker Benoy Behl". The Indian Express. 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  8. ↑ "Butsuzōzui (Illustrated Compendium of Buddhist Images)" (in Japanese). Ehime University Library. 1796. p. (059.jpg). Archived from the original (digital photos) on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  9. ↑ Ministry of Justice Statistics
  10. ↑ "データセット一覧". e-stat (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Japan, Religion And Social Profile". thearda.com. Retrieved 2023-06-04.

Notes

  1. ↑ オーム (U+30AA & U+30FC & U+30E0)
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