Rudolf Otto and the Foundation of the History of Religions brings to the English-reading public a comprehensive understanding of the life, intentions, and scholarly achievements of Rudolf Otto (1869-1937). Yoshitsugu Sawai's erudite study shows Otto to be not only a well-known scholar of comparative religion with a deep and lasting interest in India's Hindu traditions, but also a philosopher of religion and a dedicated Lutheran theologian. Generalizations about Otto can now be nuanced and corrected, so that we can better appreciate his contributions and their limits too. This is now the go-to work for understanding Otto.

Francis X. Clooney, SJ, Parkman Professor of Divinity, Harvard University, USA

This is a very important, even definitive, work on Otto; the author's erudition is evident throughout this engaging and well-written book.

Gavin Flood, Professor of Hindu Studies and Comparative Religion, Oxford University, UK

In this perceptive study, Yoshitsugu Sawai suggests that we reframe Otto's ideas in terms of the semantic analysis of the Japanese philosopher and scholar of religions, Toshihiko Izutsu. As a bonus, he draws attention to the work of Japanese scholars that are not generally accessible to English speakers.

Gregory Alles, Professor of Religious Studies, McDaniel College, USA