Hinduism is a minority religion in Japan mainly followed by the Indian, Sri Lankan and Nepali expatriate residents of Japan, who number about 166,550 people as of 2022. It's also widely integrated into the native Shinto-Buddhist religion which has had a significant impact of Japanese culture; Buddhism is largely related to Hinduism, and most of its cultural practices are similar to those found in Buddhism.[1]
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 Statues of Benzaiten (Saraswati), Kangiten (Ganesh), and Bishamonten (Kubera) in the Daishō-in temple. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
 166,550 (0.1%) (2022) | |
| Languages | |
| Liturgical: Sanskrit, Old Tamil |
History
Hinduism diffused throughout East Asia via trade routes, and also through the expansion of Buddhism in the sixth century. [2] There has also been significant transfer of Hindu-derived material native to China and South East Asia into Japan over the past two millennia.[3][4][5]
Diffusion of Hinduism in Japan
Hindu deities have been integrated into Japanese religious culture and several deities are worshiped for good luck.[6] In fact there are many deities that are still worshiped in Japan which have long been forgotten in India.[7]
Saraswati (Benzaiten) is arguably the most revered deity in Japan after the Buddha.[8] She forms as a part of the "Seven Gods of Fortune", of which four originated as Hindu deities: Benzaitensama (Sarasvati), Bishamon (Vaiśravaṇa or Kubera), Daikokuten (Mahākāla or Shiva), and Kichijōten (Lakshmi). The last, along with Benzaitennyo (Saraswati) and the female version of Daikokuten completes the nipponized Tridevi of Great Goddesses.[9]
The Hindu god of death, Yama, is known in his Buddhist form as Enma. Garuda, the mount (vahana) of Vishnu, is known as the Karura (迦楼羅), an enormous, fire-breathing creature in Japan. It has the body of a human and the face or beak of an eagle. Tennin originated from the apsaras.[citation needed]
Ganesha (or Kangiten) is prayed to for health, success and good fortune. Many Japanese Buddhist deities (or Tenbu) have their roots in Hinduism and are still revered by many Japanese particularly in Shingon Buddhism.[citation needed]
Other examples of Hindu influence on Japan include the belief of "six schools" or "six doctrines" as well as use of yoga and pagodas.[citation needed]
People have written books on the worship of Hindu gods in Japan.[10] Even today, it is claimed Japan encourages a deeper study of Hindu Gods.[11]
List of Hindu gods in Japanese culture
| English | Japanese | Thai-Brahmi | Devanagari-Sanskrit |
|---|---|---|---|
| กัตเต็ง 月天 | พระจันทร์ | चन्द्र | |
| Agni | คาเต็ง 火天 | พระอัคนี | अग्नि |
| Ganesh | คังงิเต็ง 歓喜天 | พระพิฆเนศวร | गणेश |
| Garuda | คารูระ 迦楼羅 | ครุฑ | गरुड़ |
| Lakshimi | คิชโชเต็ง 吉祥天 | พระลักษมี | लक्ष्मी |
| Virupak | โคโมกุเต็ง 広目天 | ท้าววิรูปักษ์ | विरूपाक्ष |
| Dhritaratra | จิโกกุเต็ง 持国天 | ท้าวธตรฐ | धृतराष्ट्र |
| Prithavi | จิเต็ง 地天 | พระปฤถวี | पृथ्वी |
| Varun | ซุยเต็ง 水天 | พระพิรุณ | वरुण |
| Viruthak | โซโจเต็ง 増長天 | ท้าววิรุฬหก | विरूढक |
| Dakini | ดากินิเต็ง 荼枳尼天 | ฑากิณี | डाकिणी |
| Mahakal | ไดโกกุเต็ง 大黑天 | มหากาฬ | महाकाल |
| Apsara | เท็นนิง 天人 | อัปสร | अप्सरा |
| Sakr | ไทชากุเต็ง 帝釈天 | ท้าวสักกะ | शक्र |
| Surya | นิตเต็ง 日天 | พระอาทิตย์ | सूर्य |
| Brahma | บนเต็ง 梵天 | พระพรหม | ब्रह्मा |
| Vaishravana | บิชามนเต็ง 毘沙門天 | ท้าวเวสวัณ | वैश्रवण |
| Sarswati | เบ็นไซเต็ง 弁才天 | พระสุรัสวดี | सरस्वती |
| Vayu | ฟูเต็ง 風天 | พระพาย | वायु |
| Rahu | ราโง 羅睺 | พระราหู | राहु |
| Rakshassa | ราเซ็ตสึเต็ง 羅刹天 | รากษส | राक्षस |
| Ishan | อิซานะเต็ง 伊舎那天 | พระอีศาน | ईशान |
| Skanda | อิดะเต็ง 韋駄天 | พระเวทโพธิสัตว์ | स्कन्द |
| Yam | เอ็มมะเต็ง 閻魔天 | พระยม | याम |
Present situation
Hinduism is practiced mainly by the Nepali, Indian and Sri Lankan migrants, although there are others. As of 2022, there are 40,917 Sri Lankans, 40,752 Indians and 125,798 Nepalis in Japan.[13][14]
The few Hindu temples in Japan are as follows:
- Shirdi Saibaba Temple, Tokyo
- ISKCON New Gaya, Tokyo
- Vedanta Society of Japan, Kanagawa
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Tokyo
- Shiva Shakti Temple, Tokyo
The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated that 24,182 Hindus in Japan as of 2020.[15]
