Hinduism in Japan
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{{Hinduism small}}
'''Hinduism''', unlike the closely related [[Buddhism]], is a minority religion in [[Japan]]. Even so, Hinduism has played a somewhat significant role in Japanese culture.
==History of Hinduism in Japan==
There is a relatively small number of Hindus found throughout Japan. There are currently 4,000 registered Hindus in the country, with about one third located in the [[Kansai]] area and living in [[Kobe]], where they remain the third largest foreign community, after [[China|Chinese]] and [[Koreans]].{{fact|date=February 2007}} The arrival of Hindus and other Indians in Japan began in the 1870s, when they arrived at [[Yokohama]] (specifically [[Osaka]], center of the [[textile]] trade) and began a profitable business exporting [[textile]]s and silk yarn to India while importing cotton yarn to be manufactured in Japan, which eventually made textiles one of the largest and most cheaply produced exports.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} However, this rising Indian immigration ceased in the 1980s when competing cheap labor from third-world countries caused the textile industry to decline in Japan.{{fact|date=February 2007}}
==The Cultural Impact of Hinduism in Japan==
Though Hinduism is a little-practiced religion in Japan, it has still had a significant, but indirect role in the formation of Japanese culture. This is mostly due to the fact that many Buddhist beliefs and traditions (which share a common [[Dharmic religion|Dharmic]] root with Hinduism) spread to Japan from China via [[Korean peninsula]] in the [[6th Century]]. One indication of this is the Japanese "[[Seven Gods of Fortune]]", of which three originated as Hindu deities, including [[Benzaiten]]sama ([[Sarasvati]]), [[Vaisravana|Bishamon]] ({{IAST|Vaiśravaṇa}} or [[Kubera]]), and [[Daikoku]] ([[Mahakala]]). Benzaiten arrived in Japan during the 6th through 8th centuries, mainly via the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] translations of the ''[[Sutra of Golden Light]]'' (金光明経), which has a section devoted to her. She is also mentioned in the [[Lotus Sutra]]. In Japan, the [[Guardians of the directions#Lokapālas|lokapālas]] take the Buddhist form of the [[Four Heavenly Kings]] (四天王). The Sutra of Golden Light became one of the most important [[sutra]]s in [[Japan]] because of its fundamental message, which teaches that the Four Heavenly Kings protect the ruler who governs his country in the proper manner. The Hindu god of death, [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]], is known in his Buddhist form as [[Yama (Buddhism and Chinese mythology)|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]]es. It should also be noted that in Japan that the Hindu [[Ganesha]] is displayed more than [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] in a famous temple in [[Futako Tamagawa]], [[Tokyo]]. Other examples of Hindu influence on Japan include the belief of "six schools" or "six doctrines" as well as use of [[Yoga]] and [[pagodas]]. Many of the facets of Hindu culture which have influenced Japan have also [[Hinduism in China|influenced Chinese culture]].
People have written books on the worship of Hindu gods in Japan.<ref>Chaudhuri, Saroj Kumar. Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan. (New Delhi, 2003) ISBN 81-7936-009-1.</ref> Even today, it is claimed Japan encourages a deeper study of Hindu gods.<ref> [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=adc05bf7-cfee-4a6a-80cb-4468ddd49c41 "Japan wants to encourage studies of Hindu gods"] Satyen Mohapatra </ref>
==See also==
* [[List of Hindu temples]] all over the world
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.iskconjapan.com Hare Krishna temple in Japan]
*[http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/miscPublications/I-R/pdf/45-Veliath.pdf Hindus in Japan]
*[http://vedanta.jp/en/about.html Vedanta Society of Japan]
*[http://www.salagram.net/VWHChinaJapanKorea.html Ancient Japanese carving of Lord Krishna Playing a Flute, Nara, Japan]
*[http://www.atributetohinduism.com/India_and_China.htm#India's%20influence%20on%20Japan A Tribute to Hinduism: India and China]
*[http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Suvarnabhumi.htm A Tribute to Hinduism: Suvarnabhumi, Greater India]
*[http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/miscPublications/I-R/pdf/45-Veliath.pdf Hinduism in Japan]
*[http://www.friesian.com/six.htm The "Six Schools"]
*[http://www.japanfile.com/culture_and_society/cross-culture/Indians-1.shtml Japan File: India]
*[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1995/3/1995-3-03.shtml Nippon Shakti]
*[http://www.hindueducation.org/multimedia/HinduInfluenceOnJapan.pdf Hindu Influence on Japan]
*[http://www.rxpgnews.com/india/Japans-Hindu-linkages-still-alive_15985.shtml Japan's Hindu linkages still alive]
{{Asia in topic|Hinduism in}}
[[Category:Hinduism by country|Japan]]
[[Category:Religion in Japan]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Asia|Japan]]