2014 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

Themes and Implications of the Heisei Era Shikoku Henro Literature Boom

Research Project

Project/Area Number	26370074
Research Institution	Kansai Gaidai University
Principal Investigator	JOHN A.SHULTZ 関西外国語大学, 外国語学部, 講師 (90722728)
Project Period (FY)	2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
Keywords	Shikoku henro / pilgrimage / Japanese religion / spirituality / asceticism
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	First, there has been progress with regard to academic publications. An article was published in a journal titled 研究論集, which outlines the theoretical underpinnings for the monograph. A second article is nearly ready for submission to a top journal in the field. Second, a fantastic amount of literature has been collected for analysis. We currently have obtained approximately 260 primary source books and a range of secondary source materials as well. The data collection phase is nearly complete. Third, the research has been exchanged with other scholars at the conference of the European Association of Japanese Studies in Ljubljana, Slovenia in Aug. 2014 and will be showcased at the International Association of the History of Religion in Erfurt, Germany in August.
Current Status of Research Progress	Current Status of Research Progress 2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned. Reason The project is roughly three weeks behind the planned schedule due primarily due an unexpected amount of primary source materials.
Strategy for Future Research Activity	The project will continue exactly according to the initial proposal. In FY 2015, efforts will shift to concentrate on the monograph and to share results at academic conferences.
Causes of Carryover	The total amount of data was greater than expected and took longer to collect. Also, the cost of primary resources was far less than anticipated.
Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget	The plan will continue roughly in line with the original research proposal.