A study of the religious, sociological and political aspects of Sōka Gakkai

Abstract

The objective of this research is to comprehend the relation between the religious organization Sōka Gakkai and the political party Kōmeitō . In the first chapter I will briefly summarize the history of religions in Japan and then I will analyze the foundation of Sōka Gakkai and Kōmeitō. In the second chapter I will analyze and correlate the social transformation of post-war Japan (urbanization and economic growth) with the development,demographics and future of Sōka Gakkai. I will also put Sōka Gakkai in perspective of the theories of the sociology of religion and in the final chapter I will write about the history and development of Kōmeitō and its policies and alliances, searching for possible points of influence or intersection between the religious organization and the party. As a result of my research, we can say that even though Sōka Gakkai's growth has stopped and its demographic is shrinking, it still has a certain importance for Kōmeitō. Nevertheless, the party has sought its independence and has formed an alliance with Jimintō, despite their seemingly divergent political agendas.