Job Discussion Forums

[coraminta]

I'm just wondering what the religion scene is like in Japan for Christians. I'm aware that the mainstream religions are Shinto and Buddisum - neither of which I'm any great expert on. I'm just wondering if there are Christian churches in most semi urbanized areas. I'm a Roman Catholic, but failing that simply any Christian denomination would do. Its about the community really, not the small symbolic differences that different Christain sects seem to hold so dear.

Any advice on the subject would be much appreciated.

[Gordon]

There are churches everywhere. Where will you be living? Most of the churches are Protestant, but some Catholic too. If you see a large building with a steeple and cross, that isn't a church, it is a commercilaized wedding chapel.
The average church in Japan is held in a house and has 8 members. Of course in larger cities, there will be much larger ones.

[wintersweet]

Here are a couple of links:
http://jguide.stanford.edu/site/churches_missions_439.html
http://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/eng/ehistory/jphis.htm

[JimDunlop2]

There are all sorts of Christian churches in Japan. Problem is, 99% of them are entirely in Japanese. Now, the hymns you can figure out already (if you can read kana) but the sermon -- not likely.

I attend an international, inter-denominational Protestant church. We actually have a couple of Catholics attend regularly too... We have a regular Sat. evening service. The pastor (and his family) is from Texas but everything is bilingual. When the sermon is given, a translator repeats every line in Japanese. Our music is bilingual too. We have songs in Japanese, English and both.

The local Catholic church in town is Japanese,but once a month they have English mass, and on a different day once a month they have Spanish mass. I've never actually gone, but I'd like to. I believe they meet Sunday am.

Anyway, I'm probably treading on thin ice here as religious discussions are technically not allowed on Dave's. So with that, let me just say, if someone ever want to visit our church, I can e-mail/PM you the details of what city (prefecture) we live in and directions on how to get to the church. The church also has an official website but again, I will only distribute it upon request by PM...

I'm easy enough to find -- I'm the keyboard player in the band. Would love to have ya... It's a super-friendly bunch and everyone is welcome. We even some Buddhists who attend on a regular basis. Go figure!

[Gordon]

Jim is right in that almost all the services will be in Japanese. We are the only non-Japanese people in our church and the songs are bilingual only if I play, otherwise no English. Great way to learn Japanese though.

[Sage]

[JimDunlop2]

Sage: Just because someone is Christian and goes to church (of any religion, for that matter) doesn't automatically mean they actively proselytize others and hand out religious pamphlets on the street. Nor does it make them zealots or extremists. I'm sorry if that's been your perception... That's exactly why I'm not providing any more information unless someone requests it via PM.

But, having said that, I really wouldn't let people handing out stuff at the train station bother me too much. Japanese people tend to be quite resilient. They will happily take any political, religious, or otherwise activist literature, nod their heads in agreement when spoken to, and even say thank you, but completely disagree with you 100% and not let it influence them or their lives. Whereas N. Americans tend to be very vocal when presented with something they don't agree with.

I've also had (Japanese) Jehovah's Witnesses knock on my door and the local Mormon missionary kids try to chat me up downtown. My response is usually just to tell them what I believe and politely tell them that I'm not interested in what they have to offer me.

/just sayin'
//threadjack

[Sage]

[Vince]

Religion in Japan is a fascinating topic. The guidebooks tell you that Japan is a harmonious blend of Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and a bit of Christianity. Many Japanese customs and beliefs are rooted mainly in Shinto and Buddhism, but most Japanese don't consider themselves religious. They go to shrines on New Year and attend traditional Japanese weddings, but that's more about observance of tradition than spiritual exercise. Most Japanese hone their spirit at work or by carrying out other group-based tasks.

Many Japanese told me they distrusted religion. They felt that most religions in Japan were only about money, and they mentioned a stereotype about monks wearing Rolexes. They also cited the Middle East as an example of religion leading to war. Because of these feelings, there are many closeted religious people in Japan. I've had students whisper to me that they were Christian. One student said it to me in front of the class, looked at her classmates, then downward in shame. When visiting a friend at his Russian Orthodox church in Tokyo, I noticed a young woman walking down an empty side street next to the church. She looked to make sure nobody was watching, then crossed herself and rattled off a quick prayer. Since religion is an under-the-table topic that most Japanese don't want to discuss, it's mostly on occasions like this that you catch a rare candid glimpse.

St. Ignatius RC Church has noon mass in English. I got married at that Church, and the priest did a beautiful bilingual service. I went to another Church in Kanagawa that had mass English mass twice a month. When I get back to Japan, I'll probably just go to Japanese mass on ordinary Sundays and make the trip to a church with English mass on major holidays.

[PAULH]

[JimDunlop2]

Thanks for the clarification on that, Paul.

[coraminta]

Sorry for stirring up possible controversy I suppose I didn't really think before asking about religion. That aside thanks everyone for their input. I'll be living in Komastu, in the Ishikawa prefecture - pretty out of the way of everything I think I don't think that Japanese Sermons would bother me, it will be another chance to improve my Japanese skills. It's good to know that churches do exist. But Commericalized Wedding Chapels? Weird. Brings to mind the drive through chapel in LA that Brittney Spears got married in....

[sandinista445]

Aren't most Japanese Christians Catholic? After all, it was the Portuguese who introduced Christianity to Japan...

[Celeste]

I know there is a catholic church in Fukuoka with services in English (friends of mine attend), and I was VERY surprised to see nuns and monks in full robes at the bus station one day. Where I am fromthere are only preists, no monks, and the nuns are more practical and while they do wear a short veil, most of the time they wear civilian clothes - jeans etc. (Fishing town in Northern British Columbia, Canada). I have also seen people on the street looking somewhat uncomfortable holding copies of Wtachtower magazine. I have had some LDS people com to my door, but they were very polite, and didn't press the issue after I declined their offer.

[Reisender]