TY - JOUR
T1 - Pop religion in Japan
T2 - Buddhist temples, icons, and branding
AU - Porcu, Elisabetta
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - The need manifested by Japanese Buddhist organizations to present themselves as "modern" forces that are relevant to present-day society seems to be central in shaping their communication strategies. In this regard, one interesting aspect is represented by religious institutions' attempts to "brand" themselves to enhance their profiles and visibility, specifically by drawing on popular culture formats. Based on fieldwork in Japan, I examine the use made by Japanese Buddhist institutions of these formats in their attempt to revive Buddhism and make its teachings attractive to an audience greater than the elderly parishioners who still maintain contact with their temples, mainly for funerary rites and other memorial rituals related to the ancestors.
AB - The need manifested by Japanese Buddhist organizations to present themselves as "modern" forces that are relevant to present-day society seems to be central in shaping their communication strategies. In this regard, one interesting aspect is represented by religious institutions' attempts to "brand" themselves to enhance their profiles and visibility, specifically by drawing on popular culture formats. Based on fieldwork in Japan, I examine the use made by Japanese Buddhist institutions of these formats in their attempt to revive Buddhism and make its teachings attractive to an audience greater than the elderly parishioners who still maintain contact with their temples, mainly for funerary rites and other memorial rituals related to the ancestors.
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U2 - 10.3138/jrpc.26.2.157
DO - 10.3138/jrpc.26.2.157
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84904806634
VL - 26
SP - 157
EP - 172
JO - Journal of Religion and Popular Culture
JF - Journal of Religion and Popular Culture
SN - 1703-289X
IS - 2
ER -