Spiritual Legitimacy in Contemporary Japan: A Case Study of the Power Spot Phenomenon and the Haruna Shrine, Gunma

Since the 2000s, Japanese internet media as well mass media, including magazines, television and newspapers, have promoted concept of a “power spot” part spirituality movement in country. This emerging social environment for power spot phenomenon has developed new form religiosity, which can be called “spiritual legitimacy,” according to transformation religious legitimacy embedded society. paper, therefore, examined emergence spiritual utilizing case study Haruna Shrine, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The development Shrine indicates that consumption narratives strongly construction context legitimacy, such through shared images symbols related sacred site. As result, this paper clarifies embodies stakeholders’ consensus on narratives, people struggled construct ensure hot authentication their individual experiences.