Thinking about distant cousins. Cultural distance in the transplantation of Japanese religions to far countries

Abstract

This article considers the question of “cultural distance” in the transplantation of Japanese religions to far countries, that is, to countries which are distant from Japan, both geographically and culturally. In particular, the article refers to selected examples of what in Japan are regarded as “new religions”, some of which such as Ōmotokyō, Sekai Kyūseikyō, Seichō no Ie, Shinnyoen, Tenrikyō and Tenshō Kōtai Jingū Kyō, are quite active in Brazil.