Laura Miller, "Occult Hunting and Supernatural Play in Japan" (U Hawaii Press, 2024)
Apr 16, 2025
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Laura Miller, an author and professor specializing in the intersections of religion, gender, and popular culture in Japan, offers fascinating insights into the world of occult hunting and supernatural play. She discusses how younger women are pivotal in this emerging cultural phenomenon, shaping a unique industry that intertwines spirituality and entertainment. The conversation uncovers the social value of divination practices, their role in self-exploration, and the evolution of traditional beliefs within contemporary society, emphasizing personal empowerment and community.
Women, especially younger ones, are pivotal in shaping occult industries in Japan, driving a new wave of supernatural entertainment that promotes self-exploration.
Divination practices like omikuji serve not only individual but also communal needs, facilitating group discussions and offering insights into personal concerns.
The rise of power spots exemplifies a shift towards personalized spirituality, allowing individuals to engage with practices that affirm their agency outside traditional religious frameworks.
Deep dives
The Intersection of Gender and Occult Activities
The analysis reveals that women, particularly younger ones, are driving the development of industries related to occult practices and religious entertainment in contemporary Japan. These industries offer opportunities for self-exploration and spiritual capital while being marketed primarily towards female consumers. The research highlights how female seekers engage with these activities, challenging traditional notions of gender roles and emphasizing the pleasure associated with supernatural play. By broadening the scope of what constitutes spiritual practice, this approach enhances our understanding of gender dynamics within the context of Japanese religious culture.
Rethinking Divination within Japanese Culture
Divination practices, particularly omikuji, play a significant role in Japanese culture, often serving as communal activities rather than strictly individual beliefs. These practices provide participants with an opportunity to approach personal concerns dispassionately, allowing for group discussions and deeper insights into their lives. The growing popularity of diverse divination forms reflects shifts in consumer desires, as women increasingly seek out interactive and cute variations of traditional practices. This trend not only challenges stereotypes of divination as trivial but also emphasizes its socio-cultural relevance, helping individuals navigate their lives around familial and societal expectations.
The Concept of Power Spots Explained
Power spots are significant locations in Japan where individuals seek spiritual energy or positive luck and serve as spaces for mental refuge. These spots can be natural landmarks or designated sites like temples and shrines that have gained popularity through media portrayals. The rise of these locations represents a blend of traditional beliefs with modern interests, as people engage with them for personal reasons rather than purely religious motivations. Participants view visits to these spots as opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment, enabling a break from societal obligations and reinforcing notions of personal agency in spiritual matters.
Personalization in Religious Practices
The rise of power spots indicates a shift towards personalized forms of spirituality that operate outside established religious frameworks. This trend aligns with broader cultural movements, where individuals select and engage with spiritual practices that cater to their personal beliefs and experiences. The focus remains on individual enjoyment and self-development rather than adherence to traditional religious norms enforced by clergy. Consequently, this personalized approach fosters a sense of empowerment among practitioners, allowing them to redefine their spiritual journeys on their own terms.
Interdisciplinary Research Approaches
The wide-ranging research methodologies employed in the analysis of occult practices highlight the intricate interplay between anthropology, gender studies, and popular culture. The integration of diverse academic perspectives enables a richer understanding of the spiritual landscape in Japan, particularly regarding how women shape and influence occult industries. There is a need to challenge established scholarly narratives that disregard the significance of popular culture in religious practices. By doing so, researchers can uncover the complexities inherent in how spiritual activities evolve in response to socio-cultural changes, offering fresh insights into contemporary beliefs and behaviors.
In Occult Hunting and Supernatural Play in Japan(Hawaii 2024), Laura Miller examines the intersections of ludic capitalism with formal and informal religious practices and beliefs in contemporary Japan. Miller shows that women―often younger women―are the primary drivers of industries of religiously flavored entertainment that offer avenues of self-exploration and spiritual capital that are marketed to appeal first and foremost to women “hunters” engaged in supernatural play. Miller’s eclectically interdisciplinary analysis reveals the ways that supernatural play, incorporated into the fabric of everyday life in contemporary Japan, can contribute to social and personal wellbeing for these seekers. The book will appeal to readers interested in religion, material culture, media, gender, and more.
