Looking beyond
the temple walls

As rural areas in Japan face rapid population decline and aging, I developed a strong interest in the sustainability of local communities and the role of religion in contemporary society. My experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake prompted me to fundamentally reconsider the social functions of religion. Witnessing the relief efforts of religious practitioners in disaster-affected areas led me to examine religious practices that extend beyond temple settings as forms of public care.
I specialize in applied religious studies and the sociology of religion. My research investigates the public functions of religion in the field of social welfare since the modern period, employing historical and empirical approaches. In addition, I examine religious practices in medical, welfare, and post-disaster contexts from the perspectives of clinical religion and spiritual care.
More recently, I have focused on welfare practices conducted by Buddhist organizations and temples, positioning these practices within a broader theoretical framework. Through comparative studies of cases in Japan and other parts of Asia, I explore how religion contributes to the reconstruction of social relationships and the foundations of inclusion in local communities. My work aims to reconsider the public role of religion in contemporary society.