Japan became one of the most industrialized countries in the world; it has developed rapidly in the economic field, but religious freedom in Japan is still in full maturity. Unlike the United States and other Western countries where the principle of separation of church and state has been enforced, Japanese tradition continues with the usual pattern of governments controlling religion. Most Japanese do not identify as adherents to a single religion; instead, they incorporate different elements from various religions. Japan enjoys religious freedom. Minority religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are also practiced. But censuses carried out in Japan show that 70% of the population prefers not to affiliate with any religion, 65% do not believe in God and 55% do not believe in Buddha. These figures raise many questions about whether Japan's modern lifestyle and religious beliefs are creating conflict within the Japanese population. Is it this rapid modernization of Japan that leaves traditions outside of Japanese culture? Japan's religious belief and Japan's modern, materialistic society create an ever-increasing ideological conflict. The contradictions between old and new, modernity and tradition are part of the contemporary issues of religion in Japan. Ideological conflicts like this create ripples leaving a schism in the psyche. Because of this, the beliefs and lifestyles of the Japanese community are becoming increasingly difficult, leading to internal confusion and isolation. As Japan's economic power grows, the Japanese can enjoy many goods and more modern urban areas and cities. The Japanese industrial era and religious messages create conflict in Japanese society. People face difficulties while trying...... middle of paper ......ersity Press.Jansen, Marius. 1965. Changing Japanese attitudes toward modernization. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Kawakami, Hajime. 1964. Kawakami Hajime Chosakushu, Vol. 8 (Collected Works of Hajime Kawakami). Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo..Keiko, Matsu-Gibson. 1995. “Novelistic synthesis of Buddhism and Marxism by Noma Hiroshi.” Japan Quarterly v.42, April/June p. 212-22.Masatsusu, Mitsuyuki. 1982. Modern samurai society: duty and dependence in contemporary Japan. New York: AMACOM. Mathews, Gordon. 1996. What Makes Life Worth Living? How Japanese and Americans Make Sense of Their World. Berkeley: University of California Press. O'Brien, David M. 1996. Dreaming of Dreams: Religious Freedom and Constitutional Politics in Postwar Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. Wolferen, Karel V. 1993. The enigma of Japanese power. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Co..