This document outlines a research proposal to study how Japanese Buddhism has addressed its role in justifying violence during World War II. The researcher plans to examine texts on Japanese nationalism and Buddhism's involvement in the war. They will conduct surveys of American and Japanese Buddhists, and ethnographic research in Japan, including participating in rituals and interviewing people of different ages and Buddhist leaders. The goal is to understand if the ideology that led to violence still exists, and how Buddhist communities memorialize the war and its victims. The proposal provides a multi-step process over 2 years involving literature review, language learning, data collection, analysis, and writing.