This book is an attempt to explore one small but fasci-
nating area of this cultural interpenetration -- the impact in
America of five groups numbered among the "New Reli-
gions" of Japan. This study has brought together two long-
standing interests of mine: Japanese religion and new reli-
gious movements in America. The book reflects a series of
experiences I have had with the members and activities of
these groups. I hope it reflects something of the enjoyment
and understanding which this encounter brought to me.

Invariably, I found the leaders and members of the
groups I visited kind, patient, extremely helpful, and ap-
preciative of my interest. I wish to express my deepest
gratitude to all those who devoted hours of time to assist-
ing me with this project. I wish to thank also the officials
of each of the groups discussed for generous gifts of litera-
ture and for permission to quote therefrom. While the de-
scriptions in this book represent the perceptions of an out-
sider striving to combine objectivity, sympathetic under-
standing, and personal interpretation, and may not in
every case correspond exactly to the self-understanding of
members of these groups, I sincerely hope the tone of my
writing reflects the gratitude I feel for their many kind-
nesses to me.

R.S.E.

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