Demarcation of “Religious Organization” in Wartime Japan: Discussions on the Inclusion of Islam in the Religious Organizations Law of 1939（October 16th 2024）

This presentation sheds light on the understudied significance of Islam and global politics in defining what counted as an acceptable “religious organization [shūkyō dantai宗教団体]” in the wartime period Japanese religion law. The Religious Organizations Law of 1939 was the first Japanese law which defined acceptable forms of “religious organizations” to be controlled while given privileges, and others as “religious associations[shūkyō kessha 宗教結社]” to be controlled without such privileges. Analysis of the Japanese Imperial Diet’s decision not to mention Islam as a “religious organization” in the law reveals that the lawmakers considered the power of non-EuroAmerican transnational influences, such as Muslim and Communist interests, and international relations crucial when defining both “religious organizations” and “the Shrine,” or Shrine Shinto, as the national core to be protected under this law.