{"product_id":"9781350170148","title":"Dynamism and the Ageing of a Japanese 'New' Religion Transformations and the Founder","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDynamism and the Ageing of a Japanese 'New' Religion\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTransformations and the Founder\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eErica Baffelli | Ian Reader\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistory \/ Asia \/ Japan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book examines the trajectory and development of the Japanese religious movement  Agonshu and its charismatic founder Kiriyama Seiyu. Based on field research spanning 30 years, it examines Agonshu from when it first captured attention in the 1980s with its spectacular rituals and use of media technologies, through its period of stagnation to its response to the death of its founder in 2016. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The authors discuss the significance of charismatic leadership, the  'democratisation' of practice and the demands made by movements such as Agonshu on members, while examining how the  movement became  increasingly focused on revisionist nationalism and issues of Japanese identity. In examining the dilemma that religions commonly face on the deaths of charismatic founders, Erica Baffelli and Ian Reader look at Agonshu's response to Kiriyama's death, looking at how and why it has transformed a human founder into a figure of worship. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy examining Agonshu in the wider context, the authors critically examine the concept of 'new religions'. They draw attention to the importance of understanding the trajectories of 'new' religions and how they can become 'old' even within their first generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eErica Baffelli \u003c\/b\u003eis Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies at The University of Manchester, UK. She is co-editor of the forthcoming \u003ci\u003eBloomsbury Handbook of Japanese Religions\u003c\/i\u003e (2019) and her most recent book is\u003ci\u003e Media and New Religions in Japan\u003c\/i\u003e (2016).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eIan Reader\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor Emeritus at The University of Manchester, UK. He is the author or co-author of ten books and co-editor of several volumes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25 June 2020\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781350170148\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e216\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10.88\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51332842291340,"sku":"9781350170148","price":42.26,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/getimage_fbd1345b-7d64-4593-9ae9-c9d1ce1f8665.jpg?v=1783606631","url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9781350170148","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}