Kyoyo (Bildung or self-cultivation) and Religion in the First High School

When it comes to the problem of "religion in modern Japan", it seems necessary to use the concept of "religion" in a broad sense. From this perspective, "Kyoyo" (Bildung or self-cultivation) would be one of the most important concepts. It kept very closely relationed to "religion". The First High School (Ichiko) is a good example, because the concept of Kyoyo - to cultivate oneself throughout the acceptance of culture - came into existence there. First, this paper traces the process of the birth of Kyoyo in Ichiko. Second, it shows the complicated relationship between Kyoyo and religion with three hermeneutic frameworks -- religion as a part of Kyoyo, religion as an ideal of Kyoyo, religious function of Kyoyo. Finally, this case study is extended to the broader field of religion in modern Japan