Ernils Larsson

Ernils Larsson is a researcher at the Center for Multidisciplinary Research on Religion and Society (CRS) at Uppsala University's Faculty of Theology, Department of Theology. His current postdoctoral project, "From Secular Institution to Religious Organization: Shrine Shinto in Postwar Japan," is funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet).

Dr. Larsson's research primarily focuses on the intersection of religion, law, and politics in postwar Japan. His work examines how religious institutions navigate legal frameworks, particularly focusing on Shinto and Confucianism in contemporary Japanese society. Key areas of investigation include:

• Religion-making processes in Japanese courts of law
• Shinto's relationship with political institutions
• Religious pluralism in supposedly "homogenous" Japanese society
• Constitutional interpretations regarding religion and state
• Spirituality beyond traditional religious frameworks

Analysis of Dr. Larsson's recent publications (2019-2025) reveals a consistent focus on how religious traditions in Japan negotiate legal and political spaces. His work demonstrates particular expertise in Shinto studies, examining both institutional Shinto (Jinja Honchō) and popular expressions of Shinto in contemporary media. There is also a strong thread examining Confucianism's status as a religion within Japanese legal contexts. His scholarship bridges religious studies, political science, and legal studies, offering nuanced analyses of Japan's complex religion-state relationship.

Dr. Larsson has contributed to numerous academic journals including Critical Research on Religion, Contemporary Japan, Review of Faith and International Affairs, Religions, Japan Review, and Nova Religio. He has also published book chapters with prestigious academic presses including University of Hawai'i Press and Palgrave Macmillan.