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Introduction
Brief History
Brief History of the Association
By-laws
Regulations of the Association
Contact Us
Introducing the Japanese Association for Religious Studies
Overview
The Japanese Association for Religious Studies (JARS) brings together groups and individuals engaged in the academic study of religion with the aim of advancing and disseminating research in the field. Founded over seventy-five years, in 1930, the JARS numbers some 2,100 members and is the most comprehensive association for religious studies in Japan.
Annual conferences
A three-day conference is held annually, the venue alternating between the Tokyo metropolitan area and other parts of Japan. The conferences open with a symposium of special lecture, followed by two days of panels and presentations. Typically more than 300 papers are presented, each followed by lively discussion.
Academic journal
Religious Studies (Shukyo kenkyu), the official academic journal of the JARS, has been published since 1916. As of March 2005, over 12,000 entries have appeared in 343 issues. In its ninety years of existence the journal has reflected the cutting edge of religious studies, both in the timeliness of its contents and in opening new areas for research.
Structure
The General Meeting of the members, held during the annual conference, is the most important decision-making body of the JARS. The association is overseen by a President, a board of 70 directors (20 of whom serve as executive regents), 170 councilors, and 2 auditors. The term of office is 3 years, renewable. The President, however, may not hold office for consecutive terms and cumulatively for no more than two terms. Executive regents are elected from among the board of regents and councilors are selected from among the membership at large. Auditors are chosen by election among the councilors.
A number of committees exist to assist the present in matter such as general administration, international relations, informatics and database management, the editing of the journal, and so forth.
Membership
Membership includes ordinary members, supporting members, honorary members, and associate members. Applicants for membership are required to secure the recommendation of two existing members. Approval is decided at the meeting of the board of directors.
In addition to individual membership, groups may join as associate members or as sponsoring members.
Brief History
Brief History of the Association
1930 Establishment of the Japanese Association for Religious Studies (JARS).
On May 10 and ll an academic congress is held from to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of a chair in Religious Studies at the Tokyo Imperial University. On the second day of the congress, the Japanese Society for Religious Studies is formally established and the congress is denominated the Society’s 1st annual meeting. Anesaki Masaharu is named as the first president of the Society.
1931 A special issue of Religious Studies is published on the theme “Studies in Contemporary Buddhism.”
1932 The 2nd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Taisho University.
1933 Special issue of Religious Studies 10/2: “Japanese Culture and Buddhism.”
Special issue of Religious Studies 10/2: “Religious Studies in Japan” (included with the proceedings of the 2nd annual meeting of the JARS).
1934 The 3rd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Rissho University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 11/6: “Examining Japanese-Style Religion.”
1936 The 4th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Komazawa University.
1938 The 5th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Rikkyo University.
1939 Inaugural issue of Religious Studies Periodical appears.
Special issue of Religious Studies Periodical 1/4: “Issues in Japanese Religions.”
1940 The 6th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Ryukoku University.
1941 Special issue of Religious Studies Periodical 3/4: “Culture and Religion.”
1942 The 7th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tokyo Imperial University.
Special issue of Religious Studies Periodical 4/2?3: “Essays in Honor of Dr. Anesaki on his Seventieth Birthday.”
1943 Special issue of Religious Studies Periodical 5/4: “Religious Faith and the Life of the People.”
1948 After six years of interruption due to World War II, the 8th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tokyo University and publication of Religious Studies resumes. The JARS participates in the Association of Academic Societies (later known as “The Council of Nine Learned Societies”).
Special issue of Religious Studies 121: “Issues in Contemporary Religion.”
Special issue of Religious Studies 122: “Religion and Humanity.”
Special issue of Religious Studies 123: “In Memorian Dr. Anesaki: Death and Religion.”
1949 The 9th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tohoku University.
1950 The 10th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kokugakuin University.
Kishimoto Hideo, professor of Tokyo University, is elected as the new president.
1951 The 11th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tenri University.
The general assembly votes to establish a Committee on Religion and Education.
1952 The 12th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Rikkyo University.
The general assembly endorses a statement expressing the “desire for a systematic diffusion of religious knowledge in our educational institutions.”
1953 The 13th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Doshisha University.
1954 The 14th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Waseda University.
?hata Kiyoshi, professor at Tokyo University, is elected president.
1955 The 15th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tokyo University.
1956 The 16th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kyoto University.
Ishizu Teruji, professor at Tohoku University, is elected president.
1957 The 17th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Taisho University.
1958 The 9th World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions, the first since the end of World War II, is held in Tokyo (27 August?4 September) and Kyoto (5?9 September) with nearly 500persons from Japan and abroad in attendance.
1959 The 18th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kwansei Gakuin University.
1960 The 19th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Aoyama Gakuin University.
Kishimoto Hideo, professor of Tokyo University, is elected as the new president.
1961 The 20th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Taisho University.
1962 The 21st annual meeting of the JARS is held at Nippon University.
Ishizu Teruji, professor at Tohoku University, is elected president.
1963 The 22nd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Toyama University.
1964 The 23rd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tokyo University.
Masutani Fumio, professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, is elected president.
1965 The 24th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Hokkaido University.
The Anesaki Memorial Award, instituted at the time of the establishment of the JARS, is discontinued and in its place the Award for Academic Achievement of the Japanese Association of Religious Studies is established.
1966 The 25th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Toyo University.
Ishizu Teruji, professor at Tohoku University, is elected president.
1967 The 26th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Ryukoku University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 191: “Methods in the Study of Religion.”
1968 The 27th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Musashino Women’s University.
Hori Ichir?, professor of Tokyo University, is elected as the new president.
1969 The 28th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Osaka City University.
1970 The 29th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Waseda University.
Ishizu Teruji, professor at Tohoku University, is elected president.
1971 The 30th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Hiroshima University.
1972 The 31st annual meeting of the JARS is held at Komazawa University.
Oguchi Iichi, professor at Aichi Gakuin University, is elected president.
1973 The 32nd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kanazawa University.
1974 The 33rd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Taisho University.
Furuno Kiyoto, professor at Komazawa University, is elected president.
1975 The 34th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tenri University.
1976 The 35th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Sophia University.
Oguchi Iichi, professor at Aichi Gakuin University, is elected president.
1977 The 36th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Aichi Gakuin University.
1978 The 37th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kokugakuin University.
Wakimoto Tsuneya, professor at Tokyo University, is elected president.
1979 The 38th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tohoku University.
1980 The 39th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tokyo University.
Yanagawa Keiichi, professor at Tokyo University, is elected president.
1981 The 40th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tsukuba University.
1982 The 41st annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kyushu University.
Wakimoto Tsuneya, professor at Tokyo University and professor emeritus of Tokyo University, is elected president.
1983 The 18th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Taisho University.
1984 The 43rd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kogakkan University.
Tamaru Noriyoshi, professor at Tokyo University, is elected president
1985 The 44th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Rissho University.
1986 The 45th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kwansei Gakuin University.
Wakimoto Tsuneya, professor emeritus of Tokyo University, is elected president.
Special issue of Religious Studies 268: “Proselytizing and Civilizing.”
1987 The 46th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Rikkyo University.
1988 The 47th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Bukkyo University.
Tamaru Noriyoshi, professor at Tokyo University, is elected president.
1989 The 48th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Dokkyo University.
1990 The 49th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Otani University.
Ueda Shizuteru, visiting professor at Hanazono University and professor emeritus of Kyoto Tokyo, is elected president.
1991 The 50th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Waseda University.
1992 The 51st annual meeting of the JARS is held at Shukutoku Junior College.
1993 The 52nd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Hokkadi? University.
Tamaru Noriyoshi, professor at Tokyo University, is elected president.
1994 The 53rd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Rissho University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 300: “Scriptures, Myths, and Tales.”
1995 The 54th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Okinawa International University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 304: “Religion and Nature.”
1996 The 55th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kokugakuin University.
Ikado Fujio, professor emeritus of Tsukuba University, is elected president.
Special issue of Religious Studies 308: “Healing and Salvation.”
1997 The 56th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Keio University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 312: “The Religions of Okinawa.”
1998 The 57th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Ryukoku University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 316: “Religion and Language.”
1999 The 58th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Nanzan University.
Miyake Jun, professor at Kokugakuin University and professor emeritus of Keio University, is elected president.
Special issue of Religious Studies 321: “Cumulative Index of Religious Studies: 1916-1999.”
2000 The 59th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Komazawa University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 325: “Popular Religion.”
2001 The 60th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kurume University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 329: “Modernism, Postmodernism, and Religious Pluralism.”
2002 The 61st annual meeting of the JARS is held at Taisho University.
Ikado Fujio, professor of Tokyo University, is elected president.
Special issue of Religious Studies 333: “Religion in Daily Life.”
2003 The 62nd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tenri University.
Special issue of Religious Studies 337: “Christianity as a Religion of Daily Life.”
2004 The 63rd annual meeting of the JARS is held at Tokyo University.
2005 The 64th annual meeting of the JARS is held at Kwansei University.
The 19th World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions is held in Tokyo.
By-laws
Regulations of the Association
(Revised on 26 January 1961)
(Sections 17, 18, 19 and 24 revised on 15 October 1961)
(Sections 19 and 24 revised on 16 September 1988)
(Section 24 revised on 1 September 1995)
Article 1. General Regulations
Section 1 The name of the association shall be the Japanese Association for the Religious Studies.
Section 2 The registered office of the association shall be located wherever the Board of Directors so determine.
Section 3 The purpose of the association shall be to advance and promote religious studies by means of contact with associations and individuals related to the academic study of religion.
Section 4 The association shall be made up of persons engaged in the academic study of religion.
Section 5 Research groups in accord with the purposes of the association shall be allowed to join the association as a body. Details regarding the nature of this affiliation shall be determined by separate regulations.
Section 6 The association shall permit branches consisting of individual members or affiliate organizations. Details regarding the nature of such branches shall be determined by separate regulations.
Section 7 The association shall engage in the following activities to accomplish its purpose:
1. The conducting of academic research.
2. The organization of academic conventions, lectures, conferences, and similar meetings.
3. The publication of the journal Religious Studies.
4. The allocation of financial assistance for research by members of affiliated organizations.
5. The conducting of other related activities.
Article 2. Membership
Section 8 Members shall be classified in four categories:
1. Ordinary members
2. Supporting members
3. Patrons
4. Honorary members
Section 9 Persons wishing to join the association as ordinary members or supporting members may apply for membership with the recommendation of two or more current members, and their application shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 10 Ordinary members and supporting members shall pay fixed dues to the association. Patrons and honorary members shall be recommended by the Board of Directors. Details concerning fixed dues shall be determined by separate regulations.
Section 11 Members shall receive the journal of the association and shall be allowed to attend meetings, to publish their research in the journal, and to present papers at academic meetings.
Section 12 There shall be a separate category for associate member. Associate members shall pay fixed dues, receive the journal, and be allowed to attend the meetings of the association.
Article 3. Officers
Section 13 The officers of the association shall be composed of the following:
1. A President
2. Directors
3. Two Auditors
4. Councilors
5. An Executive Committee
Section 14 Councilors shall be elected from among the membership at a general meeting of the association. Details concerning the election shall be determined by separate regulations. The Councilors shall act as a body to deliberate on important matters related to the association.
Section 15 Directors shall be elected from among the Councilors. Directors shall organize a Board of Directors and manage the affairs of the association. Directors may elect managing directors from among their number.
Section 16 Auditors shall be elected from among the Councilors. They shall be responsible for auditing the accounts of the association.
Section 17 The President shall be elected by the general meeting to represent the association and to oversee its affairs. Details concerning the election of the President shall be determined by separate regulations.
Section 18 Members of committees shall be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to carry out specific responsibilities.
Section 19 Officers shall be elected for a term of three years and shall be eligible for reelection. The President shall be eligible for reelection for a single term, but may not serve two consecutive terms of office.
Article 4. Meetings of the Association
Section 20 Decisions made at meetings of the body of Councilors and the Board of Directors shall be determined by majority vote. Details concerning general meetings of the membership shall be determined by separate regulations.
Article 5. Finances
Section 21 The expenses of the association shall be covered by dues, donations, and other sources. Surplus monies and donations may be set aside as an endowment.
Section 22 The fiscal year of the association shall begin each year on 1 April and shall end on 31 March 31 of the following year.
Article 6. Additional regulations
Section 23 Amendments to these By-laws shall be discussed among the body of Councilors and approved at the general meeting of the members by a two-thirds majority.
Section 24 These By-laws shall go into effect on 1 September 1995.
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