Buddhism, Shinto and Japanese New Religions in Brazil

Latina/o Conversion and Miracle-Seeking at a Buddhist Temple

“…Compared to studies in other hemispheres, Buddhism in South America has been relatively unexplored outside of Nichiren groups in Brazil who are largely Japanese immigrants or non-Japanese coverts to Zen or Soka Gakkai traditions (sees for example da Rocha 2005;Metraux 2014;Usarski 2012;Usarski and Shoji 2016). Although none of the respondents in our study are from Brazil or of Brazilian heritage, the Brazilian case is important in that the majority of non-Japanese converts to Buddhism in these studies were largely Catholic prior to becoming Buddhists.…”

“…Although none of the respondents in our study are from Brazil or of Brazilian heritage, the Brazilian case is important in that the majority of non-Japanese converts to Buddhism in these studies were largely Catholic prior to becoming Buddhists. These populations either found Buddhism more spiritually fulfilling or flexible enough to maintain a loose connection to their former religion (Da Rocha 2005;Usarski and Shoji 2016). It is also important to note that many Zen and Soka Gakkai centers in Brazil, and elsewhere, actively seek converts through innovative marketing strategies and recruitment (Metraux 2014).…”

“…Historically, Buddhism's presence in South and Central America is the result of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese immigration to countries such Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela during the early nineteenth century (Gil 2007;Holland 2010;Noguchi 2008;Mair 2014;Quintero 2008;Usarski 2012;Usarski and Shoji 2016). 3 In most cases, these groups remained relatively small is population size and did not proselytize.…”