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1996 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Modernization of Japanese Society and Religious Ethics.

Research Project

Project/Area Number 07301021
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section総合
Research Field 社会学(含社会福祉関係)
Research InstitutionTokyo Woman's Christian University

Principal Investigator

KAWAMURA Nozomu  Tokyo Woman's Christian Univ.Dept.of Sociology, Professor., 文理学部, 教授 (60086923)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) IIJIMA Nobuko  Tokyo Metropolitan University, Dept.of Sociology, Professor, 人文学部, 教授 (20010019)
KONDO Toshio  Bukkyo University, Dept.of Sociology, Lecturer (full-time), 社会学部, 専任講師 (70225621)
SAKOTA Kosaku  Aichi University Junior College, Dept.of Sociology, Associate Prof., 短期大学部, 助教授 (30211270)
TERADA Ryoichi  Tsuru Liberal Arts College, Dept.of Sociology, Professor., 文学部, 教授 (00163923)
WATANABE Yoshio  Tokyo Metropolitan University, Dept.of Sociology, Professor., 人文学部, 教授 (90103209)
Project Period (FY) 1995 – 1996
Keywordsmodernization / Westernization / Protestantism / Buddhism / Confucianism / capitalism / indivictualism / groupism
Research Abstract

Since Max Weber demonstrated in his The Protestantism Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism that modern rational capitalism had been only passible together with the Protestant ethic, most scholars of modern Japanese studies believe that modernization of Japanese Society is nothing but Westernization. Culture and religion which are indigenous to Japanese Socity are irrelevent to modernization or rationalization
On the other hand, on American sociologist on religion, Robert Bellah pointed out in his Tokugawa Religion (1957) that Jodo Shinshu is the closest Japanese analogue to Western Protestantism and its ethic is most similar to the Protestant ethic. According to him, Japanese modernization did not originote in the late nineteenth century Meiji era but began at least as early as the eighteenth century Edo era. But this view has been neglected as extreme of absurdity by Japanese.Social scientist like Masao Maruyama.
Bellah said that Japanese religious ethic of Buddhism, Confucianism and Shinto functioned to exalt loyalty to the group. Thus achievement of collective goal was realized, Development of capitalism was only possible by such collective spirit. Bellah's book was published before a miracle of high economic growth happened. The events of the last forty years would seem to prove Bellah right.
However, Bellah pointed out on the other hand that Japanese society would seem to be especially in hospitable to ethical universalism. According to him, the "competitive groupism" constimulate self-sacrifice and devotion, but the end of such ethical action seldom transcend the interests of one's group. So, he asked whether the results of rapideconomic growth, which the Japanese tradition and its modern permutations have so assidnously fostered, have not begun to under mind the very conditions that made that growth possible. This study is anasirer to that question.

  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All Other

All Publications (6 results)

  • [Publications] 河村望: "日本の社会と社会学" 東京女子大学社会学会紀要『経済と社会』. 第24号. 29-45 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 河村望: "時間と空間のなかの社会学" 東京女子大学社会学会紀要『経済と社会』. 第25号. 19-36 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 河村望: "G・H・ミ-ドと伊波普猷" 新樹社, 349 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Kawamura, Nozomu: "Society and Sociology of Japan" Economy and Society. No.24. 29-45 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kawamura, Nozomu: "Sociology in Time and Space" Economy and Society. No.25. 19-36 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kawamura, Nozomu: G.H.Mead & Fuyu Iha. Tokyo : Shinju-Sha, 349

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 1999-03-09  

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