Nowadays, a large number of researchers and scholars are engaged in the research of Miyazawa Kenji’s life and his works, not only in Japanese universities and educational institutions but also in foreign universities. This boom in Kenji research itself stands as a testimony for the universal appeal of his works, which knows no boundary. Hitherto Kenji has been branded by scholars and critics as a Buddhist fanatic, saying that his sole aim of writing poetry or prose was for propagating the teaching of the Lotus Sutra for spreading religious fundamentalism. This misunderstanding on Kenji has started disappearing gradually, thanks to contemporary researchers within and without the country who are giving new dimensions to his works by reinterpreting Kenji’s works on the basis of universal values and concepts, like prosperity and peaceful co-existence of all living beings on the earth, well being of mankind, love, equality, non-violence, self sacrifice, vegetarianism etc., lying hidden in most of his literary works. Kenji visualized a harmonious co-existence of the cosmos and the human mind. Even the human thought should harmonize with the changing moods of the nature. As the objects in the cosmos are sources for new strength and ideas, human thoughts should also get amalgamated in to the cosmic objects. Only this unison with the nature and cosmos would bring everlasting happiness to all. Kenji’s ideals of self sacrifice, non-violence and vegetarianism have derived from the teachings of great religions like Buddhism and Christianity with which he had close contact right from his childhood. Dedicating oneself for the happiness of others is a virtue which very few people posses. Such virtuous people could turn the pains and worries of others into happiness through mercy, compassion and love as taught by the religions. A close look at his writings will make the fact clear that his literary works, be it the poetries or the children’s stories, undoubtedly, are manifestation of this unique world view and humanitarian outlook based on kindness and mercy towards fellow beings as taught by Buddhism. Hence, his literary works are, no doubt, derived through the fusion of philosophical teaching of religions, especially Buddhism, and the folkloric believes of Japanese people. This uniqueness of Kenji’s works has long been overlooked by the scholars. The aim of this research project is to dig out the “Japanese nature (Japaneseness)” and “Japanese sentiments” manifested in Kenji’s works by re-examining and re-interpreting his poetry and children’s stories from the point of view of religious teaching and folkloric believes evident in all his works. As mentioned earlier, fusion of religious teachings and folkloric believes is the essence, the core of his works. Bringing out these characteristics of Kenji’s works in to light is the most important objective of this research. Outwardly, Kenji’s works looks like mere fantasies derived from the hallucinative mind of a daydreamer. But actually it is not. Removing this misunderstanding from the minds of readers is essential not only for the right understanding of the writer but also for changing his stereotypical image.

Research Representative	Pullattu Abraham GEORGE	国際日本文化研究センター・外国人研究員
Organizer	小松　和彦	国際日本文化研究センター・教授
Team Researcher	青木　美保	福山大学人間文化学部人間文化学科・教授
〃	牛崎　敏哉	宮沢賢治記念館・副館長
〃	鎌田　東二	京都大学こころの未来研究センター・教授
〃	黒澤　勉	元岩手医科大学大学院共通教育センター教授
〃	杉浦　静	大妻女子大学文学部・教授
〃	鈴木　健司	文教大学大学院言語文化研究科・教授
〃	中地　文	宮城教育大学・教授
〃	萩原　昌好	埼玉大学名誉教授
〃	望月　善次	盛岡大学・学長
〃	森　三紗	元岩手大学宮沢賢治センター副代表
〃	山根　知子	ノートルダム清心女子大学文学部・教授
〃	荒木　浩	国際日本文化研究センター・教授
〃	鈴木　貞美	国際日本文化研究センター・教授
〃	稲賀　繁美	国際日本文化研究センター・教授