The Socio-Political Role of Freemasonry in Japan

Originally a Western phenomenon imported into Japan by a foreign military group, Freemasonry has existed in Japan for nearly 150 years with its very own Grand Lodge in Tokyo created 50 years ago and based on the Western model. The participation of Japanese nationals in Freemasonry was instigated and encouraged by General MacArthur. The aims and objectives of Freemasonry, most especially its attention to faith, hope, and charity, help to contribute to a more compassionate way of perceiving the less advantaged in Japanese society whereas at one time traditional notions of honour in the country would have prevented those more unfortunate such as the orphaned and mentally and/or physically handicapped from being nurtured at a higher level.

As Freemasonry is a relatively obscure subject, this talk will describe what Freemasonry is and what it aspires to accomplish in addition to explaining its presence in Japanese society as well as its future significance in being a quasi-spiritual organisation somewhat akin to popular “new religions” such as Tenri-kyo. Comparisons will be made with how Freemasonry functions in other countries worldwide.