AUTUMN 2019, VOL. 46
FEATURES: Manga, Anime, and Contemporary Religion
2 Manga, Anime, and Contemporary Religion Dharma World presents Buddhism by Hiroshi Munehiro Niwano as a practical living religion and 3 Manga, Anime, and Religion promotes interreligious dialogue in Contemporary Japan for world peace. It espouses views by Jolyon B. Thomas that emphasize the dignity of life, 7 The Quest for Selfhood in seeks to rediscover our inner nature and bring our lives more in accord Manga and the Spirituality of Photo: AFLO with it, and investigates causes of Contemporary Japanese human suffering. It tries to show by Hara Takahashi how religious principles help solve 10 Manga: Fiction and Reality— problems in daily life and how the the Case of Hayao Miyazaki’s least application of such principles Shuna’s Journey has wholesome effects on the world by Martin Repp around us. It seeks to demonstrate truths that are fundamental to all 14 Wild Words and Pointy religions, truths on which all people Pictures: Hōben in Jirō Kuwata’s can act. Lotus Sutra Manga Photo: Courtesy of Daikyoji by Jon Holt Publisher: Koichi Saito Director: Naoki Taketani 19 “Translating” the Lotus Sutra in the University Classroom Senior Editor: Kazumasa Osaka by Aaron P. Proffitt Editor: Katsuyuki Kikuchi 24 Given the Gift of Life and Sustained by the Buddha Editorial Advisors: Dominick Scarangello, Miriam by Dominick Scarangello Levering, Michio T. Shinozaki 37 Because We Are Different Copy Editors: by Nichiko Niwano DeAnna Satre, Stephen Comee, 38 The Third Shift: The Long Journey to Unite Humanity Catherine Szolga and Heal Our Woundedness Editorial Staff: The Thirty-Sixth Niwano Peace Prize Acceptance address Eriko Kanao, Kensuke Suzuki by John Paul Lederach Subscription Staff: Kazuyo Okazaki 42 Following Days Layout and Design: Abinitio Design by Nikkyo Niwano
THE THREEFOLD LOTUS SUTRA: A MODERN COMMENTARY Cover: Illustration: Leiji Matsumoto 45 The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law Photoshop work by Abinitio Design Chapter 27: The Story of King Resplendent
Dharma World is published semiannually by Rissho Kosei-kai International, Fumon Media Center 3F, 2-7-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8537. E-mail: [email protected]. Copyright © 2019 by Rissho Kosei-kai International. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan by Komiyama Printing Company. Change of Address: Please provide both old and new addresses. Six weeks’ advance notice is requested. Requests for permission to reprint all or part of any article in this issue must be made in writing to the editor of Dharma World. FEATURES Manga, Anime, and Contemporary Religion by Hiroshi Munehiro Niwano
Hiroshi Munehiro Niwano is president The affirmation of life seen in the works of Tetsuya Chiba and the of Rissho Kosei-kai’s Gakurin Seminary concepts of universality and timelessness in the works of Leiji and chairperson of the Niwano Peace Matsumoto are also found in the message at the core of religion. Foundation, both in Tokyo.
drawing manga, therefore, “you have to I grew up as a boy under the influence his own words] [Shueisha, 2014], 150). make sure that your work is informed by of manga and anime. One of my favor- According to the writer Shizuka Ijūin, an awareness of ideas, religions, beliefs, ites was Play Ball, which appeared in “the fundamental belief in humanity” national sentiments . . . an