New religions and mental health

Abstract

Whoever comes to Japan will be impressed by the tremendous vi tality of the Japanese people. Their crushing defeat in 1945 was a traumatic shock that brought to the older generation loss of faith and national destiny, and to the young people insecurity and confusion. Yet there has been a vigorous rebound to recover from malnutrition and deprivation, to rebuild bombed cities, to develop new economic resources, to adopt a new constitution, to create new schools with coeducation, and to move toward a new society on democratic lines. Two decades later, this surging vitality is everywhere manifest. Industrial production is high, international trade is expanding, inventive genius is bringing forth a wide variety of goods attractive to con sumers. There is steady construction of homes and apartments, depart ment stores and shopping centers, factories, and communication and transportation facilities. Children and young people are streaming to school with lively conversation and spontaneous laughter. Families count no sacrifice too great for the education of their children through college and university as the gateway to success. Exciting extracurricu lar activities have become a means to self-expression and group loyalty. Trains, streetcars, and buses are crowded with people on the go to work or school or shopping, mountain climbing, and skiing, or golf and athletic contests. Radio and television are beamed into almost every home; newspapers and magazines are avidly read at home or on the train and carried everywhere. Yet signs of stress are appearing. The rapidity of social change is pressing upon everyone. The change from feudal and imperial society to modern democracy has come at dizzy speed, paced by new laws and social relationships. The mobility from rural agriculture to indus