Paul L. Swanson and Clark Chilson: Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions

Abstract

Straight off. This is a substantial work which promises to define "Japanese religions" as a field for some time to come. It is produced by a wonderful constellation of expert writers who have evidently been persistently cajoled and organised by Paul Swanson of the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture and Clark Chilson of Ithaca, New York (and previously associated with Nanzan). These are both well known and highly competent editors who humbly admit that they were assisted by others at every turn, including two of the contributors themselves, namely Trevor Astley and Robert Kisala, three Japanese members of the "project team", namely Horo Atsuhiko, Okuyama Michiaki and Terao Kazuyoshi, and the brilliantly indefatigable James Heisig, who not only advised from the stratosphere but also found time to handle the very nice layout.