Hashimoto Mineo (橋本峰雄)
Mineo HASHIMOTO (1924 - 1984) was a Japanese philosopher and the thirtieth chief abbot of the Honen-in Temple.
History and Personality
Came from Tokushima Prefecture. Entered Division of Philosophy of Faculty of Letters of Kyoto University. He had been good friends with former classmates Takeshi UMEHARA and Norio FUJISAWA from those days. After graduation, he became a Buddhist priest. He was known as an unusual scholar who had entered the Buddhist priesthood and studied philosophy. As a professor in the Faculty of Letters of Kobe University, he taught in the department of philosophy and ethics.
He participated in forming 'Beheiren in Kyoto,' and also took part in the research activities in Shiso no Kagaku Kenkyukai (Association for the Study of Science of Thought, or the Institute for the Science of Thought) and Gendai Fuzoku Kenkyukai (Research Association of Contemporary Culture, or Research Group on Contemporary Popular/Everyday Culture) as a member. After his death, Gendai Fuzoku Kenkyukai founded 'Mineo HASHIMOTO Prize' to commemorate his achievements.
Shinsho KAJITA, the thirty-first chief abbot of the Honen-in Temple is first son.
His Writings
"Shukyo Izen" (Before Religion) in collaboration with Masao TAKATORI (NHK Books (Nippon Hoso Shuppan Association) 1968)
"Marui Megane o Kaese, Ori ni fureteno Tetsugaku" (Give me back round eyeglasses, Philosophy from time to time) (the Asahi Shimbun Company, 1973)
"Sei no Kami" (Sex gods) (Tankosha, 1975)
"Ukiyo no shiso, Nihonjin no jinseikan" (thought of 'ukiyo (this world),' the Japanese outlook on life) (Kodansha gendai shinsho, 1975)
"Kurashi no naka no Bukkyo" (Jinbun shoin, 1979, Chuko bunko, 1998)