In the 1970s, Japan experienced a cultural phenomenon known as the “occult boom”. While this boom was intertwined with the alleged Western New Age movement, it did not represent a mere acceptance of Western ideas. Instead, it involved a reinterpretation and reevaluation of Japanese religious traditions.
This lecture will discuss the contemporary Japanese occulture in connection to the revival of Mikkyō (Esoteric Buddhism) in Japan in the 1970s, situating it within the broader context of esotericism and global religious history.
Guest lecture by Han Sang-yun
