Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture

The Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture (南山宗教文化研究所 Nanzan shūkyō bunka kenkyujo) is one of the largest, if not the largest, centers in the world devoted to scholarly research on the interface of philosophy and religions East and West. Founded in 1976 on the campus of Nanzan University, it has established itself in Japan and around the world as a center of academic excellence through its publications, conferences, and team of permanent researchers.

The staff is made up of a group of 5 Permanent Research Fellows who belong nominally to the faculty of Arts and Letters of Nanzan University but who are relieved of most teaching and committee obligations in order to focus on the specific work of the Institute. A clerical staff of 2 full-time and 3 part-time secretaries take care of maintaining the library, distribution of journals, and other clerical tasks associated with the work of the research staff.

In addition, since the beginning post-doctoral scholarships have been offered to promising young scholars in Japan to spend two years at the Institute sharing in its activities and making their own contribution to its ever-growing range of interests. During a period of twenty years, from 1983 to 2002, visiting fellowships were also provided for scholars from Eastern Asia to spend a year at the Institute. Finally, there has been a steady stream of scholars from around the world spending longer or shorter periods of time on a particular project related to the aims of the Institute.

A non-lending, specialized research library divided among the three floors and full basement include some 35,000 titles, together with over 260 periodical journals. In addition to office space, the facilities also include 16 research offices, a reading room, 4 meeting rooms, and ample-size reading rooms. Also associated with the Institute is a nearby residence, the Paulus Heim, where Institute staff and its visitors share a common table and life together.