Existentialism in Japanese Philosophy

Abstract

The article briefly describes the history of existentialism development in Japan on a staged basis, notes that the ideas of existentialism in Japan developed in the fertile ground of the originating Japanese idealism (Nisida Kitaro). Although existentialism has changed, it preserved its nature, and, having integrated into the local idealistic trends, produced new diverse concepts. It resulted in the so-called ‗classic Japanese idealism‘, established by Nisida Kitaro, Tanabe Hadzime and their followers. The existentialism was the basis of the innovative scientific ideas and concepts, created by the Japanese philosophers of Kioto school. Using European philosophic ideas and
additionally referring to the traditional Japanese worldview, they promoted the development of the innovative and distinctive philosophic state of mind.