Description:
Over the last five years Kōfuku no Kagaku has been one of the most prominent among the newer Japanese religious movements. Its leader, Ōkawa Ryūhō, proclaims himself to be the rebirth of the Buddha, citing as proof the astonishing number of books he has written. This paper traces the organizational development of Kōfuku no Kagaku, the evolution of its teachings, and its shift to active involvement in sociopolitical issues.