Risshō Kōsei Kai on Sakhalin: the history and present day of a Japanese Buddhist community

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the history and current state of the Japanese Buddhist organization Risshō Kōsei kai in Sakhalin. Drawing upon field research materials, the author reconstructs the process of the community's formation, which began in 1992 with a visit by Japanese missionaries, and identifies the key milestones of its institutionalization. These include gaining administrative independence from the Japanese headquarters in 2006 and acquiring its own temple in 2012. The study analyzes the external and internal challenges the community faces at the present stage: the aging and decline in its membership, legislative restrictions on missionary activity in Russia, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The author highlights the flexibility and adaptability of the community of believers, which successfully transitioned to an online format for conducting hōza sessions and study seminars, thereby preserving its group identity and interpersonal connections.