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Curzon
Author

Curzon

Date

June 22nd, 2006

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Pyongyang-esque

I summarized Japan’s minor cult-religions earlier this year, noting that Sokagakkai, an offshoot sect of Nichiren Buddhism with ten million believers worldwide, was in many ways a personality cult. Whether it’s beningn or not depends largely on one’s perspective.

But there is little doubt that they are damn creepy. This is a video of a Sokka Gakkai convention, which is positively… well, Pyongyang-esque.

No, this is not North Korea.

Comments to this entry

Jing
June 22, 2006
10:14 pm
Nah Curzon, it seems more like a harmless craptacular to me. Now when they start doing it at night in the glow of torchlight and to the sound of marching boots, well then we may have a problem.
Lexington Green
June 22, 2006
10:36 pm
I want the old-guy-in-a-suit's job.
cirby
June 22, 2006
11:00 pm
You think the US doesn't have stuff like this?

We do, but the susceptible folks are into multi-level marketing (AKA "pyramid schemes").

And yes, they do this sort of large-scale chanting and such (but with less elaborate costumes and better technical production values).
Dan Nexon
June 22, 2006
11:46 pm
Its like the Olympic opening ceremonies crossed with Benny Hinn!
Matt
June 23, 2006
12:09 am
Did anyone else notice the prominently displayed token foreigners?
Matt
June 23, 2006
12:10 am
CUrzon, you forgot to mention that they were actually kicked out of Nichiren buddhism because they were forming a cult of personality around Daisaku Ikeda.
Elambend
June 23, 2006
12:23 am
Not to mention that that the Nichiren elders tore down the giant temple Daisaku Ikeda built. It was spectacular looking.
Akira Ohiso
June 23, 2006
12:53 am
Holy Crap! Are they going to start goose-stepping soon?
Lexington Green
June 23, 2006
3:31 am
I like how the attractive young women start weeping when the leader stands up and waves. I think the same thing happens in Triumph of the Will. Then again, similar phenomena occurred at Tom Jones concerts. So it may be harmless.
Joe
June 23, 2006
4:17 am
I do believe that Soka gakkai has their own political party in Japan. The group is called the New Clean Government party or the New Komeito party.

Also the actor Orlando Bloom is a member of the U.K. Soka Gakkai.
Younghusband
June 23, 2006
3:04 pm
Soka Gakkai and NHK have a very intertwined relationship as well. Lots of celebs in Japan like Takki (from Takki & Tsubasa) are SG, and use the network to further their careers.

"Sign up now!":http://www.sgi.org/
Gollios
June 23, 2006
5:17 pm
Lots of celebs in Japan like Takki (from Takki & Tsubasa) are SG, and use the network to further their careers.

Sounds like Scientology to me.
CTDeLude
June 24, 2006
5:05 pm
Basically....and having been to the Celebrity Centre here in LA a couple times (they love targeting minorities by offering their auditorium for quite cheaper then everything else in LA with the caveat that they have a five to ten minute spiel after the ceremony) it's a pretty weird place. Nothing strinkingly out of place but a thing or two that just make you uneasy. That and in the case of a Filipino gathering for a singing competition they troted out this rather attractive movie who didn't talk but was told to us that she was a productive print model who is starring in two movie productions including an upcoming Vin Diesel flick. Considering this was a few months ago I wouldn't be surprised if this was actually was Fst and Furious Tokyo Drift (where Vin makes a small appearence at the end.) They have their fingers deep and you can't drive the 101 in LA without seeing the Centre...not too far from the Hollywood sign.