Religious Hazard

What is a Japanese religion? This question is very controversial because constitutionally the nation of Japan officially shall refrain from religious activities. So it’s necessary to change the question. What religion the Japanese people generally pry for? Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Shintoism, Confucianism, Hinduism or Judaism. There seem to be no outstanding religions. There are many religions the Japanese have prayed for.

Historically saying, Japan officially adapted Buddhism around in the sixth century. Since then, Buddhism had been highly appreciated. Outstandingly in Kamakura era (1192-1333), some schools deriving from Buddhism were born. In accompaniment of the religious movements, a lot of temples were built for the period. If you go to the Kamakura City, which is one of the most popular sightseeing spots, you will find how Buddhism became popular.

During the long-run regime of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868), the government let the people appreciate Confucianism. It was ideologically convenient because the idea put values on loyalties, the respect of the elder and family. When Christianity had begun spreading in Japan shortly before the start of the Tokugawa Sogunate in the early 17^th century, the worldwide religion was banned since the ideology was completely against that of the federal government. Under the strong suppression of Christianity, however, there were Christians who secretly prayed for it.

Entering the modern societies, at the turning point of the Meiji Revolution in the late 19^th, the Meiji government with the center of the emperor, not shoguns tried to create a society on Shintoism's bases. Building the Meiji and Yasukuni shrines was one of the efforts. The Shintoism is the earliest and most original religion. The primitive form of Shinto centers on the worship of natural things such as the sun, mountains, rivers, trees, soils and so on. At the attempt to recover its religious majesty, the religion didn't fit the Meiji era which started adapting Western systems. And then experiencing social turmoils mostly by some big wars, the people have been able to pray in principle for any religion.

Seeing the brief and rough explanations of the Japanese history about religion, despite Buddhism had been long believed, there seem to have been no core religions in Japan. Particularly in recent years, we can even say that many of the Japanese are atheists. To prove that, the Japanese kids are cerebrated for their growth in Shinto style at the ages of 3,5,7(3 years for girls, 5 years for boys, 7 years for the both). When it comes to wedding, many of the newly wed couples are cerebrated in churches. Furthermore, the people mainly go to shrines on New Year Day. When they die, the funerals are conducted in Buddhist rites. During the long life period, the Japanese people are involved in various religions. It seems to be very rare that people contact such different religious rites in life's important occasions in the world. Of course, there are people who have strong faith in one religion. However, it's no exaggeration that Japan is a superficial multi-religious country. If one country or one nationality has one religion, it will be easier to take care of behaviors. For example, when we invite a Islamic person, we can't serve pokes for dinner. The religious situation like Japan, contrarily, makes it difficult to judge how to behave toward the people.