Daughters Lead the Way: Women Successors in Japanese New Buddhist Movements

This research examines women's leadership in Japanese new Buddhist movements through case studies of Shinsō Itō (1942-) of Shinnyo-en and Kōshō Niwano (1968-) of Risshō Kōseikai. As daughter and granddaughter of their organizations' founders respectively, these women navigate the intersection of gender, lineage, and religious authority in traditionally male-dominated contexts. Through textual analysis of their published works and organizational materials, the study explores how they understand their leadership roles, how familial succession influences their approaches, and how gender shapes their leadership expression. Initial findings reveal that while both emphasize continuity as "torchbearers," they differ in addressing gender: Niwano reinforces traditional norms through family themes, while Itō explicitly frames her female leadership as reflecting societal change and her parents' inclusive vision. This research addresses significant gaps in Japanese Religious Studies by simultaneously examining women's contributions and new religious movements, offering fresh perspectives on evolving organizational leadership within contemporary Japanese Buddhism.