Save

Sōka Gakkai in Cuba

Building a ‘Spiritual Bridge’ to Local Particularism, the ‘Mystic East’ and the World

In: Journal of Religion in Japan
Author:
Girardo Rodriguez Plasencia Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan girardorp@gmail.com

Search for other papers by Girardo Rodriguez Plasencia in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

$40.00

Sōka Gakkai began to develop in Cuba as a religious organization after the visit of Ikeda Daisaku in 1996. Starting with a small group in the capital city, it received juridical recognition by the State in 2007 and has spread to most of the provinces in the country. Despite its modest growth, the Cuban case provides insights into the ways in which this religion develops in new sociocultural environments and thereby participates in the dynamics of globalization beyond Japanese enclaves. Based on the analysis of data collected in Havana, the article identifies, describes and explains four modes by which Sōka Gakkai negotiates its message and identity in Cuba: the hybridization of Sōka Gakkai themes with the life and thought of National Hero José Martí; the universalization of Sōka Gakkai’s particularistic Japanese elements to create a new identity connected to the movement’s global following; the hybridization of Sōka Gakkai with ‘Oriental’ spiritualities; and the combination of pluralism, inclusivism and exclusivism as a threefold attitude toward other religions. These modes involve multiple interactions in the global field, through which Sōka Gakkai strives to build a symbolic bridge to local particularism, the ‘mystic East,’ and the world.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 889 304 214
Full Text Views 239 3 0
PDF Views & Downloads 69 34 0