ABSTRACT
Historically, Buddhism spread from India through China and then to Japan so naturally that the teachings were communicated with relevant cultural references. Buddhism is in essence a universal teaching – Nichiren Daishonin taught that everyone has Buddhahood and the capacity to reveal it by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. When people who are not Japanese begin to practise Buddhism, they can feel confused about what aspects of the practice are Buddhist teachings and what are cultural overlays. Inevitably, there are cultural overlays because Buddhism spread throughout the world thanks to the great faith and efforts of the Japanese members of the Soka Gakkai after the Second World War. In thirteenth century Japan, the indigenous religion, Shinto, emphasized ritual purity. Women were supposed to refrain from religious observance during their menstrual period. Religion should by no means be separate or isolated from the society.
