A Tentative Analysis of the Religious Behaviors and Beliefs in Contemporary Japan

An Investigation based on the NHK Japanese Value Orientation Survey

Abstract

Based on data from the NHK Japanese Value Orientation Survey, several personal and socioeconomic factors were found to be associated with religious beliefs and behaviors in Japan. Regression analysis revealed that age, level of urbanization, educational attainment, marital status, employment, and work values all show significant correlations with religiosity. Findings also suggest that different characteristics are linked to religious behaviors motivated by worldly interests versus those driven by self-cultivation. On the other hand, similar attributes appear to underlie both religious beliefs and the self-cultivation-oriented religious behaviors. Overall, these results contribute to a clearer understanding of contemporary religiosity in Japan, particularly in relation to education, work values, and urbanization.