Japan and Christianity

[castro1975]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum, so I will ask this questions because I am very curious. Most literature on Japan states that Christians make up less then 1% of the population of Japan. If that is so, why do a large proportion of idols, singers, and others seem to be wearing cross necklases???? Is this a fashion statement or something? Would Japanese people wear something that is meaningful to over one billion around the world just for fashion. This is a stupid example, but a lot of japanese female singers seem to do so, especially members of MM. How many are actually Christian. I am especially curious considering I come from a country that is 97% Catholics.

Regards,

[PopCulturePooka]

If that is so, why do a large proportion of idols, singers, and others seem to be wearing cross necklases????
Fashion




Is this a fashion statement or something? Yes


Would Japanese people wear something that is meaningful to over one billion around the world just for fashion.

Oh yes. Just like people wore Bindi's a few years ago as fashion statements.

[japanat]

Japan is approximately 1% Christian. Many Japanese are egalitarian about religion; taking a little here, a little there, using the things they like. The ground-breaking for my house was attended by a Shinto priest, as were the naming ceremonies for the kids, the New Year's prayer visits with the in-laws. The funerals I've attended have been Buddhist, and many of the weddings mock Christian. My friend even gets paid 6000yen per wedding (about 30min work) to pretend to be a Catholic priest (which is doubly funny, since he's Mormon).

And the cross is the number one fashion accoutrement for the young ladies. But it rarely means anything other than fashion.

[Nannou]

Its purely fashion.

There are a few that perhaps wear it for religions pupose. but 9 times out of 10 it's just because it looks cool.

I wear jeans, but that doesn't make me a miner. ;)

[yakamashii]

Would Japanese people wear something that is meaningful to over one billion around the world just for fashion.

People wear crosses as a fashion statement in many countries, even in nations with heavy Christian influence.

[RandomPasserby]

Its purely fashion.

There are a few that perhaps wear it for religions pupose. but 9 times out of 10 it's just because it looks cool.

I wear jeans, but that doesn't make me a miner. ;)
Are you a farmer then?

[castro1975]

Thanks,

I suspected as much. When you see large, outlandish looking symbols being used, it is expected to be for fashion. Most true catholics will only wear small gold crosses. Nothing to over the top. At first I use to get annoyed at people using such symbols for fashion and the holidays as jokes, but not anymore. Sometimes I think maybe we are converting them without their knowledge. Anyway, God can tell the difference, if it in fact makes any. I myself would never wear anything that is related to another religion. I guess its just how your brought up. So, which Japanese idols are actually christian, if anyone knows? How can they perform weddings without the use of a church?

Regards,

[hanacker]

How can they perform weddings without the use of a church?

There's no shortage of faux churches in Japan. Even a few real ones too.

[Lisa M]

People can still have weddings without a Catholic church.

Some people have traditional Shinto weddings, some people have "Western-style" weddings with the white dress, some people mix the two.

The wedding itself is not necessarily a religious ceremony in Japan - it is more of a celebration with a lot of tradition.

(keep in mind I am not Japanese, but this is what I've learned through study)

[Roxie]

well, people can also get married by judges and such. it doesn't have to take place in a church or any religious arena.

[castro1975]

I meant Catholic weddings. In most places you need to be a parish member for x years before they will agree to marry anyone.

[shadow]

The weddings aren't performed by actual Catholic churches, though. They just simulate Catholic weddings... What don't you get?

[Roxie]

I meant Catholic weddings. In most places you need to be a parish member for x years before they will agree to marry anyone.

Oh, I thought you said Christian.

[Lisa M]

Of the Japanese Christians, very few are Catholic.

I went to a Christian church while in Japan, but I never actually figured out what denomination it was. Definitely not Catholic.

Certain other denominations are much better about incorporating aspects of Shintoism and Buddhism (ancestors in heaven are not Gods per se, but in heaven with God; living simply while giving money and material posessions to charity, etc). Catholocism tends to not mesh as well with the existing Japanese religious beliefs.

Although my host family did ask if it was okay in my religion for me to visit temples and shrines. I was able to have a nice discussion about religion with a Zen Buddhist monk who spoke English.

Also, I learned from a Catholic monk that a lot of Zen Buddhist monks study with Catholic monks (there are a lot of similarities between the two). So while there are similarities between monkhood, there aren't a lot of similarities in everyday life.

Also, I'm curious - which country are you from that is 97% Catholic? (you don't have to answer if you don't want to)

[Lisa M]

I figured I would add some that I learned from my friend, who is Catholic and very interested in Catholocism around the world.

Most priests who go to Japan have been priests for years, and "retire" from their home churches to do mission work abroad. So they'll have been priests for a long time, and definitely able to perform marriages. Most Japanese Catholics are a part of a small Catholic community, so the same priest that leads Mass would be the priest to conduct their wedding.

[Vic_Rattlehead]

Also, I'm curious - which country are you from that is 97% Catholic? (you don't have to answer if you don't want to)

Probably a country in south America methinks.

[castro1975]

Do not mind. Portugal.

[Vic_Rattlehead]

Do not mind. Portugal.

Half right! :P

[castro1975]

Half right? Because of Brazil. Portugal is in Europe.

[jindojim]

My girlfriend is Japanese and Catholic (more or less).

Granted, there aren't many. But they do exist, and there are a number of Catholic run schools in Tokyo (the Empress herself graduated from a Catholic university). Additionally, there's a Catholic church in the city that I live in. You can definitely find traces of it, so I wouldn't say that Christianity is nonexistant here like a lot of people make it out to be.

I think they're mostly attended by old women though.

[japanat]

While many other churches will marry non-parishoners for a small donation (or not so small), I was told by Catholic churches during my own wedding-site search that they would only marry members of the congregation. If you joined the church, they'd be glad to marry you, but... Now, how universal that may be, I don't know.

And an Idol's religious persuasion, if any, is rarely known, unless it's unusual or associated with a fringe religion.

[Pierrot le Fou]

It's the truth, you need to be a Catholic to be married by a Catholic, at least in the Roman Catholic denomination (I do not know about Russian or Greek Orthodoxy, and its rules).

[Pierrot le Fou]

And in Japan (much like the US), religions do not legally marry people. In Japan, the ceremony, be it Shinto, Christian, or Nudist, is entirely ceremonial.

There is absolutely no connection between the ceremony and the legal marriage, as marriages are registered through the city/town/ward office. In the US, you need a license (from the state) to marry people, such that the trip to the town hall/city hall is eliminated in favor of marrying people legally during the ceremony itself.

But same general concept.

[Kleshya]

It's the truth, you need to be a Catholic to be married by a Catholic, at least in the Roman Catholic denomination (I do not know about Russian or Greek Orthodoxy, and its rules)

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, we have a sister partnership so to speak where Orthodox Christians can be married in a Roman Catholic church, BUT it still has to be by a Orthodox priest, you would really only be borrowing the church itself. A Roman Catholic priest cannot perform the service. As for the other way around, I believe it is a two way street, but I am not positive, and I am unable to contact my father at the moment and ask. I do know that a wedding can be performed in an Orthodox church as long as they have been baptized in a Christian faith, what I am not sure about is if either the bride or groom have to be Orthodox at least. hmm a possible place to look that up would be www.goarch.org

[Jetsetlemming]

I wonder if scientology has caught on in japan? :watson: it sounds like something that would go over well with anime fans.

[erbiumfiber]

To get married in the Catholic church (in the US at least) you have to go through about 6 months of "pre-Cana" counselling (as in the wedding feast at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine). Yeah, counselling from priests who've never been married and who (supposedly) do not have sex. Usually some virtuous Catholic couples thrown in who discuss "natural family planning" with you so you won't consider sinful methods of birth control (every sperm is sacred...). Plus you take a vow to raise your children as Catholics. I think you can marry a non-Catholic but that person must agree to raise the children as Catholics. I was marrying a non-Catholic, wasn't sure about how I wanted to raise my child (ended up half-Lutheran, half-Catholic) so I just got a local Protestant clergyman to marry me at home (on a small dock on a lake). Thus avoiding the church issue altogether.

On O-Daiba in Tokyo, there is an entire fake "wedding village" complete with fake church, etc.

Most hotels also have wedding "chapels" where the service can be performed.

[stsparky]

7/10s of a percent! Which is one reason I love Japan.

And many of the "crosses" are the Buddhist symbol meaning '10' as per the wife so they don't get hassled by annoying evangelists.

Otherwise - it's an annoying meme that should die.

[mikem]

If that is so, why do a large proportion of idols, singers, and others seem to be wearing cross necklases???? Is this a fashion statement or something?

Duh, cruicifiction is cool! It fits right in there with the Japanese mindset of always being in pain at all times except while drinking! :hat:

[jindojim]

That reminds me, there are a number of "chapels" and Western looking houses in my city that all exist for the wedding business. They're definitely not for anything else besides that though.

I think Japanese generally don't seem to like organized religion. I heard about it arising in the 1950s and 1960s or something. Before, Christianity was fairly prevalent.

[羽之助]

I really think that if you said that in England everybody decided to get married in a Shinto ceremony because it was fashionable, most Japanese people would say "that's fucked up".

[gentlemanandscholar]

I really think that if you said that in England everybody decided to get married in a Shinto ceremony because it was fashionable, most Japanese people would say "that's fucked up".

But then you would have to have the media in England saturated with reports of celebrity Shinto weddings, and have weddings in movies, fairy tales, etc. Shinto style to have that happen.

[Lisa M]

I really think that if you said that in England everybody decided to get married in a Shinto ceremony because it was fashionable, most Japanese people would say "that's fucked up".

But that's perfectly acceptable, because Japanese people are the only REAL people, and therefore have the only REAL culture.

It's okay to use important symbols of other cultures, because they're not Japanese, so it doesn't count. Duh.

:watson:

(obviously that was sarcasm, for anyone for whom English is not a first language :innocent: )

[Murakumo]

Nagasaki was traditionally under a lot of Christian influence. But let's not forget that at one point they pissed off the 3 unifiers just enough to get themselves 'cleansed', which I'm sure didn't set good ground work to spread the religion much further. Only the Dutch were left to trade because they didn't use religion as a means of control/defiance against the military government.

After having done away with a true state religion, many Japanese will take what is useful from various religions, and often only what suits them. The religion is only set up to serve THEIR interests, in their minds. Andwhile they may follow various practices, like Shinto ceremonies and Buddhist funerals, most will not say that they are religious.

There's also a saying,
"Be born shinto, marry christian, die buddhist"

[Vic_Rattlehead]

Half right? Because of Brazil. Portugal is in Europe.

No, I meant in regard to the Portuguese and Spanish share a very distinct faith in christianity. When they went to South America they brought with them a pretty strict catholic faith. Which is now apparent in places like Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia etc.

[RandomLurker]

No, I meant in regard to the Portuguese and Spanish share a very distinct faith in christianity. When they went to South America they brought with them a pretty strict catholic faith. Which is now apparent in places like Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia etc.

How's that? I'm kinda curious since I can't notice any apparent catholic faith in Brazil. I mean there is obviously a major catholic influence in brazilian history, but still, I would like to know what makes you think that this is true nowadays. I can't imagine anything that could portray Brazil as a strict catholic faith country.

I'm not saying that it isn't somehow the country with the biggest catholic population in the world, although 40% of the people that consider itself catholic admits being non practicant. It's just funny how we might perceive situations differently i guess.

I'm not trying to be rude here, just wanting a different point of view, sometimes we can't notice such obvious things simply because we've never thought about it.


Hmm, i hope that made any sense in english..

[Eddie Echoplex]

To get married in the Catholic church (in the US at least) you have to go through about 6 months of "pre-Cana" counselling (as in the wedding feast at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine). Yeah, counselling from priests who've never been married and who (supposedly) do not have sex. Usually some virtuous Catholic couples thrown in who discuss "natural family planning" with you so you won't consider sinful methods of birth control (every sperm is sacred...). Plus you take a vow to raise your children as Catholics.

Which is why I love living in Mexico :).

[atomiton]

Not that the Cross is even a True Christian symbol... the 1st Century Christians never venerated an idol such as a cross, especially one with pagan origins.

According to the bible, God hates things like crosses or other images used as worship.

I know I wouldn't appreciate it if someone venerated the instrument used to kill my son.

[Kyoushu]

You know, my social studies teacher in freshman year said the same thing.

He told us the real symbol is the "Jesus fish."

[Digital Masta]

Not that the Cross is even a True Christian symbol... the 1st Century Christians never venerated an idol such as a cross, especially one with pagan origins.

According to the bible, God hates things like crosses or other images used as worship.

I know I wouldn't appreciate it if someone venerated the instrument used to kill my son.

Its been my experience that its mostly catholics wear the crosses.

[castro1975]

Catholics do not worship the cross. It is a reminder of sacrifice. Love, and forgiveness, not torture or pain. I agree that I hate it when there is an actual man on them (crucifix) vs. a simple cross. Plus, Catholics believe that Jesus was God, son of man, we are all children of God. The holy trilogy, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same to Catholics. Plus, the Old Testament is just a companion peace to Catholics. It is what the Jewish faith follows. God is rather mean in the old book. Certain things are the same, Ten Commandments, laws of Noah, and the meaning in the stories. But God as Jesus finally understood why humans are flawed and forgave us for what God once found unforgivable. It goes back to the thinking; do not judge until you have walked a mile in other person’s shoes. God walked in our shoes. I am a Catholic, but let’s not turn this place into a religious debate. I would like to respond to the comment about Brazil not being religious. I have been there, have a home there, and have lots of family there. A lot of people do not go to Church regularly, if at all. Religion is about faith, not walls, organizations, and mindless devotion. If Catholics had not awakened from the old thinking, the world would right now be in one hell of a war. (Sorry about that Pierrot le Fou. I did this quickly. English is not my first language.)

[Roxie]

If Catholics had not awaken from the old thinking, the world would right now be in one hell of a war.
I think there's still some more waking to do. Currently, imo you're groggy with one eye open trying to figure what's going on. You could use a cup of coffee/tea.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Catholics do not worship the cross. It is a reminder of sacrifice. love, and forgiveness, not torture or pain. I agree that I hate it when there is an actual man on them (crusifix) vs a simple cross. Plus, Catholics believe that Jesus was God, son of man, we are all children of God. The holy triligy, God, Jesus, and the holy spirit are one and the same to Catholics. Plus, the old testimant is just a companion peace to Catholics. It is what the Jewish faith follows. God is rather mean in the old book. Certain things are the same, ten commandments, laws of Noah, and the meaning in the stories. But God as Jesus finally understood why humans are flawed and forgave us for what God once found unforgivable. It goes back to the thinking, do not judge until you have walked a mile in another persons shoes. God walked in our shoes. I am a Catholic, but lets not turn this place into a religious debate. I would like to respond to the comment about Brazil not being religious. I have been there, have a home there, have lots of family there. A lot of people do not go to Church regularly, if at all. Religion is about faith, not walls, organizations, and mindless devotion. If Catholics had not awaken from the old thinking, the world would right now be in one hell of a war.

I always thought 'the holy triligy' was the Lord of the Rings Saga, or Neal Stephenson's 'The Baroque Cycle.'

This post sounds like a 5th grade book report on the Bible for Sunday School.

Please please PLEASE tell me English isn't your native language, or that you're 9 (and a half!) years old...

And Hanenosuke, if Brits or anyone else started getting married Shinto-style wholesale, Japan would be ECSTATIC and broadcast it on TV shows. Do you know how many times I've seen them reporting on how popular Japanese things in France are? And how the French do them all wrong?

[jindojim]

haha, holy trilogy...

Holy Trinity (for those sinners who haven't been baptized into the Catholic Church ;) )

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

I wonder if scientology has caught on in japan? :watson: it sounds like something that would go over well with anime fans.

I'm pretty sure Japan isn't as insane as that.

[Digital Masta]

haha, holy trilogy...

Holy Trinity (for those sinners who haven't been baptized into the Catholic Church ;) )

It ain't just the catholics that preach the holy trinity.

As far as Japan is concerned Nagasaki either has one of the largest christian populations in Japan or the largest population in japan.

[hanacker]

Please please PLEASE tell me English isn't your native language, or that you're 9 (and a half!) years old...

Do not mind. Portugal.

Apparently quoting people doesn't count towards the 10 character minimum...

[Pierrot le Fou]

I feel so much better. I was worried that a college educated native English speaker wrote that, and was about to resign from the human race.

[Azrael]

One of the things I love about living in Japan (yes, I do like living here at present) is that I can't remember the last time anyone tried to shove a religion down my throat. It's just like "Do whatever works for you, I don't care," and that is wonderful.

Really, the biggest concern I have concerning unwanted solicitors is finding new and innovative ways to send the NHK guy packing.

[six-eight-ten]

I have had a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses knocking on my door here. And then occassionally I see some mormons outside the station, but they're easy to spot (and, therefore, avoid).

[jindojim]

As far as Japan is concerned Nagasaki either has one of the largest christian populations in Japan or the largest population in japan.

That's not a good thing...

I have some HARDCORE Christian (not Catholic) friends from college, who spout out so much crap about "saving my soul" and wanting me to come to church. It's very very nice to be in a place where the chances of meeting someone like that my age are quite slim.

I enjoy sleeping in on Sunday mornings.

[Kyoushu]

My mother got so worried when she found out Japan wasn't very religious. I just told her that it's better that they are neutral rather than some other religion they might try and convert me to.

Little does she know that I'm pretty hardcore atheist. >.>

So yeah, Sunday is a good day, especially with Monday off. :D

[japanat]

One of the things I love about living in Japan (yes, I do like living here at present) is that I can't remember the last time anyone tried to shove a religion down my throat. It's just like "Do whatever works for you, I don't care," and that is wonderful.
You're lucky. There's some kind of religious compound near me (with the razor wire on top of the fence leaning in); and every 2wks like clockwork, a group of very conservatively-dressed ladies with 1 male leader meet in the park behind my house. They set up lists, or use maps to divide up areas, and then ring every damn doorbell around. You'd think that after 12 years (300+ attempted visits), they'd understand that I'm not interested. I'm not even polite about it anymore.

And the fruitcakes at the busy stations who want to stand over you and pray for you drive me absolutely batshit! If you say 'no', watch them. They'll often try to sidle over and then pray for you anyways, their hand extended out toward your head. I saw one guy actually pray for someone in Sannomiya - from behind a tree!

[atomiton]

The holy trilogy, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same to Catholics. Plus, the Old Testament is just a companion peace to Catholics. It is what the Jewish faith follows.
Yeah, I think you mean the trinity. That was adopted about 300 years after Jesus instituted the Christian Congregation. Basically from Constantine, if I'm not mistaken... it's an ancient teaching with non-Christian Roots.

A lot of people do not go to Church regularly, if at all. Religion is about faith, not walls, organizations, and mindless devotion.

Definitely not as popular as before. I'd imagine a lot stopped going if they thought that what they're getting taught didn't make sense, or they didn't feel going to church satisfied their spiritual side... or sometimes because they saw some hypocrasy somewhere... that's a pretty common theme.

Totally true about mindless devotion. Faith was never meant to be BLIND faith... and it's imporatant to see for oneself whether what one learns makes sense or not.

[羽之助]

funny stuff

Got any pictures of the compound or the name of the cult/organization there?

[Justin Ellis]

If my host family is any indication of a larger trend, then I would venture that many Japanese Christians are attracted to the religion out of a larger affinity for Western culture (although that's not to say that Japanese people don't care for popular Christian values).

Also, a Japanese Jehovah's Witness gave me some literature/propaganda a few weeks ago in Kobe, in the area near the Okamoto Hankyu Station. Imagine my surprise when a middle aged Japanese woman came up to me, started speaking in English and gave me a copy of Awake! (my friend got The Watch Tower)!

And castro1975, if you really are interested in religion around the world, you may like to look into the works of Sir James Frazer and Joseph Campbell...

[雨]

I used to be Jehovah's witness back in the day. All
their editions of Awake! and the Watchtower have
the ethnic rainbow written all over them. Sometimes
it seems they put up asian people more often than
anything else.

I wear a silver cross just because it's a nice pendant.
There isn't a person that I've talked to so-far that
assumes that I'm religious.

It seems it would be popular in Japan after all the
attention it gained by famous US rappers.
(Sorry, I have a feeling somebody already mentioned
this...)

[Civilization Phrase III]

I'm a Christian. In Japan. Whoa.

I told my friend he can be Christian too.

[Nannou]

I'm a Christian. In Japan. Whoa.

I told my friend he can be Christian too.

I'm an Atheist. In Japan. Whoa.

I don't tell my friends they can be Atheist too. I let them figure it out for themselves.

[Civilization Phrase III]

I'm an Atheist. In Japan. Whoa.

I don't tell my friends they can be Atheist too. I let them figure it out for themselves.

I'm more interested in starting religious discussions with people of different religions.

[gentlemanandscholar]

That's not a good thing...

I have some HARDCORE Christian (not Catholic) friends from college, who spout out so much crap about "saving my soul" and wanting me to come to church. It's very very nice to be in a place where the chances of meeting someone like that my age are quite slim.

I enjoy sleeping in on Sunday mornings.

Christianity:
"1. the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches."

[japanat]

I'm an Atheist. In Japan. Whoa.

I don't tell my friends they can be Atheist too. I let them figure it out for themselves.

Had to laugh at that response!!!

[theunraveler]

do japanese ppl take christianity seriously? i mean as in going to church on sunday, belief in jesus is "The One" , salvation through faith...etc...?

[japanat]

The, um, Christian ones do, yeah.

[stsparky]

do japanese ppl take christianity seriously? i mean as in going to church on sunday, belief in jesus is "The One" , salvation through faith...etc...? No. The Western League is all a blur to them. ... S'funny - I had to go to a Muslim butchers for Kosher meat, we all had a big laugh at the Mormon bicyclists being studiously ignored by everyone else that we invited the ill-clad duo in for a lemonade.

[Vi.Vi]

Fashion. Fashion. FASHION.
I think people do that also to gain popularity from the Christian and Catholic population. I'm not sure about that, but hey, it's what I think.

[Vi.Vi]

do japanese ppl take christianity seriously? i mean as in going to church on sunday, belief in jesus is "The One" , salvation through faith...etc...?
When you say 'Japanese People' do you mean Japanese people from Japan, or the many Japanese people around the world? Or maybe you mean people who are relativly Japanese. :whoops: Lets not go into statistics, shall we? I know one Japanese person who is a devout Catholic, and another who is a devout Buddhist. To be honest, whats wrong with NOT going to church? I'm an agnostic thiest and I NEVER went to church. Ever, ever ever. Why should Japanese people take Christianity seriously? If they wear a cross as a pendant, good for them. Maybe they think angels will protect them while they sing or something. Who are you to judge? Lots of people don't take some religions seriously. World'd be a better place if they did, but they don't. :bored: Seeing as 1% of Japan is Christian, I wouldn't say that the 99% percent takes it seriously. Does that answer your question?

[Crowley]

Nurse, my magnifying glass please.

[Vi.Vi]

Ha. Very funny. I'll edit my post then.

[Civilization Phrase III]

When you say 'Japanese People' do you mean Japanese people from Japan, or the many Japanese people around the world? Or maybe you mean people who are relativly Japanese. :whoops: Lets not go into statistics, shall we? I know one Japanese person who is a devout Catholic, and another who is a devout Buddhist. To be honest, whats wrong with NOT going to church? I'm an agnostic thiest and I NEVER went to church. Ever, ever ever. Why should Japanese people take Christianity seriously? If they wear a cross as a pendant, good for them. Maybe they think angels will protect them while they sing or something. Who are you to judge? Lots of people don't take some religions seriously. World'd be a better place if they did, but they don't. :bored: Seeing as 1% of Japan is Christian, I wouldn't say that the 99% percent takes it seriously. Does that answer your question?
I know a Christian Japanese woman. She believed in Jesus.

On the flipside, "Amazing Grace" was the theme song for a shampoo on TV today.

[atomiton]

do japanese ppl take christianity seriously? i mean as in going to church on sunday, belief in jesus is "The One" , salvation through faith...etc...?
Depends I would assume. Can't speak for other groups, but the 100,000+ Jehovah's Witnesses that are in Japan take it just as seriously as the other 6.4 million practicing members do, in the ~230 countries (http://www.jw-media.org/people/who.htm)that Jehovah's Witnesses exist in. I speak first hand. My wife is Japanese and we both learned the same stuff in English and Japanese. JW come from all racial and ethnic groups, and believe the Bible's teaching that all races are equal.

Actually, every week, the same information is studied from the bible worldwide in each language. Biweekly in about 140 languages (http://www.jw-media.org/people/statistics.htm), online in 270 languages. (http://watchtower.org/languages.htm) and in print in 410 languages (http://www.jw-media.org/people/statistics.htm) It's an international magazine, printed simultaneously in more languages than any other publication I believe...

As Amani said, the artwork used in the Watchtower and Awake reflects many different cultures and backgrounds. This is because the same magazine is simultaneously printed for many different countries, in everything from Haitian Creole to Vietnamese to Chichewa...

As for Japanese being attracted to a church because it's perceived as Western, that may be true... but we believe the Bible's teachings are universal for all races.

[Saitou Hajime]

In Japanese class yesterday, our teacher was speaking about adding "お" before a word to show respect, like おさけ, おなまえ, etc. This moved on to her talking about religion in Japan, and how those who follow Shintoism have no reason to argue with people of other religions, since the spirit and gods are everywhere, including with those people. She said, "Japan is a very tolerant country. No problems with other religions." I asked her if she meant now, because it hadn't always been like that. She then said it was, and I said, "What about Shimabara?"

Her reaction was great. She just stared blankly at me for about five seconds, held up her hand, and then slowly said, "There was a reason for that." Everyone started to crack up, and then she explained that the Christian missionaries showed no respect to the Japanese culture, so that's the excuse for Shimabara. I didn't voice my opinion that she was rationalizing the execution of 37,000 Japanese because of Christian missionaries lack of respect, haha.

I don't think she expected an elementary Japanese student to know anything about Japanese history. Yay guaranteeing myself an F!

I just wanted to know if that was the mindset in Japan, that the country is very tolerant of other religions.

[Civilization Phrase III]

Heh.

My Japanese teacher was wearing a cross necklace. He wears it because it reminds him of the girl that gave it to him. Along with a little bit more of a perverted reason.

XD

[Vi.Vi]

Perverted reason...?
I won't ask. *shivers*

[stsparky]

In Japanese class yesterday, our teacher was speaking about adding "お" before a word to show respect, like おさけ, おなまえ, etc. This moved on to her talking about religion in Japan, and how those who follow Shintoism have no reason to argue with people of other religions, since the spirit and gods are everywhere, including with those people. She said, "Japan is a very tolerant country. No problems with other religions." I asked her if she meant now, because it hadn't always been like that. She then said it was, and I said, "What about the Shimabara Rebellion (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shimabara_Rebellion&redirect=no)?" ...
“The Shimabara Rebellion (島原の乱, Shimabara no ran) was an uprising (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion) of Japanese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan) peasants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants), most of them Christians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity), during the Tokugawa Shogunate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Shogunate) in 1637 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1637)–1638 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1638). Rebellion broke out on December 17 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_17), 1637 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1637) when peasants rose against their daimyo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimyo) Matsukura Shigeharu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsukura_Shigeharu). Most rebels were Japanese converted to Christianity, but the other prominent reason for the revolt was the very heavy tax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation) burden; many rebels took the mantle of Christianity later. ...”

Did you understand who was doing the disrespecting to whom? Let me remind you of the Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inquisition&redirect=no) (that killed more than 37,000 people) which was at its peak in 1638. I - for one - am happy Christianity means very little in Japan.

[Akagaminosteven]

Perverted reason...?
I won't ask. *shivers*

Missionary position!

Oh man, I need to get myself a brick wall and spotlight.

[Lan]

Addressing the Inquistion remark, like most people (I'd say all, but I wouldnt' want to offend anyone), believers are just as imperfect as anyone else. That's one of the main tenets of the Christian and Catholic and etc. beliefs. I'd like to say that originally, Christianity encompassed all beliefs stating that God was one of a Holy Trinity, etc, but now, the Catholic church is definitely separate, just looking at the way it's run.

Anyways, just because certain believers took advantage of people and killed in God's name, doesn't mean that all believers will do that, nor does it mean God really told them to do it, they may just think that God is telling them, or they are not true believers and are just normal people that want to take advantage of people.

Is it so hard to believe that even believers are imperfect, or that they are imposters? I'm a Christian, but I highly doubt you'll see me go out and try to persecute people, but you will notice that I'm very imperfect.

[gentlemanandscholar]

“The Shimabara Rebellion (島原の乱, Shimabara no ran) was an uprising (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion) of Japanese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan) peasants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants), most of them Christians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity), during the Tokugawa Shogunate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Shogunate) in 1637 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1637)–1638 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1638). Rebellion broke out on December 17 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_17), 1637 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1637) when peasants rose against their daimyo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimyo) Matsukura Shigeharu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsukura_Shigeharu). Most rebels were Japanese converted to Christianity, but the other prominent reason for the revolt was the very heavy tax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation) burden; many rebels took the mantle of Christianity later. ...”

Did you understand who was doing the disrespecting to whom? Let me remind you of the Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inquisition&redirect=no) (that killed more than 37,000 people) which was at its peak in 1638. I - for one - am happy Christianity means very little in Japan.

What is your purpose of identifying the Inquisition? That neither happened in Japan, nor was it related to anyone who was Japanese. It seems to me that this is an anti-Christian post with no other point than defamation (I am an atheist for the record). Do you mean to say that if Christianity did exist in Japan now at a significant percentage that they would attempt another Inquisition? That's a silly notion. Every horrible action done by any religion is a reflection of the people, not the actual doctrine.

[stsparky]

The Holy Roman Empire disrespected Japan and its existing religious faiths in the 1600s. As to the massacre - you could say Japan learnt from Christiandom and drew its own conclusions as “... the Portuguese Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portuguese_Inquisition&redirect=no) expanded its scope of operations from Portugal to Portugal's colonial (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony) possessions, including Brazil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil), Cape Verde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verde) and Goa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa), continued as a religious court, investigating and trying cases of breaches of the tenets of orthodox Roman Catholicism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic) until 1821. ...”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Nanbansen2.jpg/380px-Nanbansen2.jpg
Nanban trade (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nanban_trade&redirect=no): “... From the time of the acquisition of Macao (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macao) in 1557 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1557), and their formal recognition as trade partners by the Chinese, the Portuguese Crown started to regulate trade to Japan, by selling to the highest bidder the annual "Capitaincy" to Japan, in effect confering exclusive trading rights for a single carrack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrack) bound for Japan every year. The carracks were very large ships, usually between 1000 and 1500 tons, about double or triple the size of a regular galleon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleon) or a large junk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_%28sailing%29). That trade continued with few interruptions until 1638 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1638), when it was prohibited on the ground that the ships were smuggling priests into Japan.
Portuguese trade was progressively more and more challenged by Chinese smugglers on junks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_%28sailing%29), Japanese Red Seal Ships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Seal_Ships) from around 1592 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1592) (about ten ships every year), Spanish ships from Manila (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila) from around 1600 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1600) (about one ship a year), the Dutch from 1609 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1609), the English from 1613 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1613) (about one ship per year). ...”

Kirishitan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirishitan): “With the arrival of the leading Jesuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuit) Francis Xavier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavier) in 1549 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1549), Catholicism progressively developed as a major religious force in Japan. Although the tolerance of Western "padres" was initially linked to trade, Catholics could claim around 200,000 converts by the end of the 16th century, mainly located in the southern island of Kyūshū (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABsh%C5%AB). The Jesuit managed to obtain jurisdiction on the trading city of Nagasaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki).
The first reaction from the kampaku (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampaku) Hideyoshi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi) came in 1587 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1587), when he promulgated the interdiction of Christianity, and ordered the departure of all "padres". This resolution was not followed upon however (only 3 out of 130 Jesuits left Japan), and the Jesuits were essentially able to pursue their activities. Hideyoshi had written that:

Japan is a country of the Gods, and for the padres to come hither and preach a devilish law, is a reprehensible and devilish thing...
For the padres to come to Japan and convert people to their creed, destroying Shinto and Buddhist temples to this end, is a hitherto unseen and unheard-of thing... to stir the canaille to commit outrages of this sort is something deserving of severe punishment. (From Boxer, "The Christian century in Japan")Hideyoshi's reaction to Christianity proved stronger when a shipwrecked Spanish galleon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleon) brought Franciscans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciscans) to Japan in 1597. Twenty-six Christians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdom_of_the_26_Saints_of_Japan) (6 Franciscans, 17 of their Japanese neophytes, and 3 Japanese Jesuit lay brothers - included by mistake-) were crucified in Nagasaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki) on February 5, 1597. It seems Hideyoshi's decision was taken following encouragements by the Jesuit to eliminate the rival order, the Spanish's bragging that military conquest usually followed Catholic proselytism, and by his own desire to take over the cargoe of the ship. Although close to a hundred churches were destroyed, most of the Jesuits remained in Japan.
The final blow came with Tokugawa Ieyasu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu)'s firm interdiction of Christianity in 1614, which led to underground activities by the Jesuits, and to their participation to Hideyori (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyori)'s revolt in the Siege of Osaka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Osaka). Repression of Catholicism became virulent after Tokugawa's death in 1616, leading to the torturing and killing of around 2,000 Christians (70 westerners, and the rest Japanese), and the apostasy of the remaining 200-300,000. The last major reaction of the Christians in Japan was the Shimabara rebellion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimabara_rebellion) in 1637 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1637).”

[gentlemanandscholar]

The Holy Roman Empire disrespected Japan and its existing religious faiths in the 1600s. As to the massacre - you could say Japan learnt from Christiandom and drew its own conclusions as “... the Portuguese Inquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portuguese_Inquisition&redirect=no) expanded its scope of operations from Portugal to Portugal's colonial (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony) possessions, including Brazil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil), Cape Verde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verde) and Goa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa), continued as a religious court, investigating and trying cases of breaches of the tenets of orthodox Roman Catholicism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic) until 1821. ...”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Nanbansen2.jpg/380px-Nanbansen2.jpg
Nanban trade (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nanban_trade&redirect=no): “... From the time of the acquisition of Macao (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macao) in 1557 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1557), and their formal recognition as trade partners by the Chinese, the Portuguese Crown started to regulate trade to Japan, by selling to the highest bidder the annual "Capitaincy" to Japan, in effect confering exclusive trading rights for a single carrack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrack) bound for Japan every year. The carracks were very large ships, usually between 1000 and 1500 tons, about double or triple the size of a regular galleon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleon) or a large junk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_%28sailing%29). That trade continued with few interruptions until 1638 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1638), when it was prohibited on the ground that the ships were smuggling priests into Japan.
Portuguese trade was progressively more and more challenged by Chinese smugglers on junks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_%28sailing%29), Japanese Red Seal Ships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Seal_Ships) from around 1592 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1592) (about ten ships every year), Spanish ships from Manila (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila) from around 1600 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1600) (about one ship a year), the Dutch from 1609 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1609), the English from 1613 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1613) (about one ship per year). ...”

Kirishitan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirishitan): “With the arrival of the leading Jesuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuit) Francis Xavier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavier) in 1549 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1549), Catholicism progressively developed as a major religious force in Japan. Although the tolerance of Western "padres" was initially linked to trade, Catholics could claim around 200,000 converts by the end of the 16th century, mainly located in the southern island of Kyūshū (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABsh%C5%AB). The Jesuit managed to obtain jurisdiction on the trading city of Nagasaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki).
The first reaction from the kampaku (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampaku) Hideyoshi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi) came in 1587 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1587), when he promulgated the interdiction of Christianity, and ordered the departure of all "padres". This resolution was not followed upon however (only 3 out of 130 Jesuits left Japan), and the Jesuits were essentially able to pursue their activities. Hideyoshi had written that:

Japan is a country of the Gods, and for the padres to come hither and preach a devilish law, is a reprehensible and devilish thing...
For the padres to come to Japan and convert people to their creed, destroying Shinto and Buddhist temples to this end, is a hitherto unseen and unheard-of thing... to stir the canaille to commit outrages of this sort is something deserving of severe punishment. (From Boxer, "The Christian century in Japan")Hideyoshi's reaction to Christianity proved stronger when a shipwrecked Spanish galleon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleon) brought Franciscans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciscans) to Japan in 1597. Twenty-six Christians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdom_of_the_26_Saints_of_Japan) (6 Franciscans, 17 of their Japanese neophytes, and 3 Japanese Jesuit lay brothers - included by mistake-) were crucified in Nagasaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki) on February 5, 1597. It seems Hideyoshi's decision was taken following encouragements by the Jesuit to eliminate the rival order, the Spanish's bragging that military conquest usually followed Catholic proselytism, and by his own desire to take over the cargoe of the ship. Although close to a hundred churches were destroyed, most of the Jesuits remained in Japan.
The final blow came with Tokugawa Ieyasu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu)'s firm interdiction of Christianity in 1614, which led to underground activities by the Jesuits, and to their participation to Hideyori (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyori)'s revolt in the Siege of Osaka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Osaka). Repression of Catholicism became virulent after Tokugawa's death in 1616, leading to the torturing and killing of around 2,000 Christians (70 westerners, and the rest Japanese), and the apostasy of the remaining 200-300,000. The last major reaction of the Christians in Japan was the Shimabara rebellion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimabara_rebellion) in 1637 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1637).”

I was referring to modern day Japan in terms of a new Inquisition as you said you are happy "Christianity means very little in Japan". I would prefer you answer my questions with your own words.
Saitou neither listed Christianity as being free from criticism, nor did he say that Christians were supremely tolerant. His Japanese professor essentially made these claims by saying that "Japan is a very tolerant country. No problems with other religions." Which is utterly false, and he proved her wrong.

Who disrespected whom doesn't matter. All that matters is that both sides disrespected each other and that there was bloodshed, proving Saitou's point, and disproving his professor's.
Now before you copy and paste from wikipedia again, can I make a request that you mark all quotations using the forum tag marks so I don't have to wade through everything to see what is your opinion and what is copied?

[stsparky]

I was referring to modern day Japan in terms of a new Inquisition as you said you are happy "Christianity means very little in Japan". I would prefer you answer my questions with your own words.
Saitou neither listed Christianity as being free from criticism, nor did he say that Christians were supremely tolerant. His Japanese professor essentially made these claims by saying that "Japan is a very tolerant country. No problems with other religions." Which is utterly false, and he proved her wrong.

Who disrespected whom doesn't matter. All that matters is that both sides disrespected each other and that there was bloodshed, proving Saitou's point, and disproving his professor's.
Now before you copy and paste from wikipedia again, can I make a request that you mark all quotations using the forum tag marks so I don't have to wade through everything to see what is your opinion and what is copied?

Sorry - we must have posted at the same time. My point was most of the 37,000 (who died at the time Inquisition was at its peak) were not really Christians but participating in a Tax Revolt. And that the Portuguese would have expanded the Inquisition to Japan as they had control of the European end of the trade at the time.

They would have felt bound to by their take on Christianity.