The Japanese and Okinawan American communities and Shintoism in Hawaii: through the case of Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii

Abstract

In this thesis, I focus on the Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii on the grounds that the shrine surpasses other Shinto shrines in the length of its history (on O'ahu Island), the population of visitors, and the scale of the building. This thesis intends to examine the perspectives of two different groups: the Japanese Americans and the Okinawan Americans. My research questions are: 1) How has the Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii functioned in the Japanese American community over time? 2) How do Japanese Americans or Okinawan Americans perceive Shintoism and Shinto shrines in Hawaii today? 3) How do Okinawan American outlooks to Shintoism or Shinto shrines in Hawaii differ from those of Japanese American?