Figure 1.--Here we see a Catholic bishiop arriving in Los Angeles on his way to Japan in 1928. He is being greeted by dinitaries and two Japanese-American Boy Scouts. The press service caption read, "Bishop Januarius Hayasaka, only Japanese Catholic bishop in the world, was welcomed by church dignitaries as well as represenatives of virtually of every Japanese organization in Los Angeles upon his arrival. The visting churchmen, shown here with two Japanese boy scouts at the Southern Pacific Stationis enroute to the diocese at Nagasaki from Rome where he was consecrated as a bishopby the Pope last October." The photograph was dated March 5, 1928..

The European voyages of discovery led by the Portuguese sought to open trade with the East. The Portuguese were the first to reach Japan (1542). The Portuguese landed on Kyushu in Western Japan. The Portuguese brought modern weapons including muskets and cannons. The Japanese barons on Kyushu saw the advantages of foreogn trade, both the profits and the advantages to be gained with improved weapons. Along with the Portuguese and subsequently Spanish merchants came priests and spread the faith was an important part of the Spanish and Spainish outreach. The profits and weapons caused the Japanese barons to tolerate the Jesuit missionaries who aggressively promoted conversions. The Jesuits at the time had a monopoly and were successful in converting large numbers of Japanese, mostly in Western Japan. Tge conversions included not only peasants, but members of the ruling class. Father Francis Xavier launched a mission to the capital at the time of Kyoto (1550). Franciscan missionaries began arriving in Japan and competing with the Jesuits. Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued the first banning order (late-16th century). The Shogun as he expanded his control over Japan was concerned by what he saw as the disruptive foreign influence and Christian challenge to traditional values. He also saw the Christian barons as achallenge in his absolute authority. Hideyoshi issued a more definitive banning order (1597). He had 26 Franciscan missionaries executed in Nagasaki, an important port, as a vivid warning. The next Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, intensified the persecution of Christianity, issusing additional edicts. The Shogun brutallyh supressed the Shogun. He launched a major military campaign against the Christian barons, decisively defeating them (1638). Large numbers of Christians were killed and the faith was extinguished in Japan for several centuries as the Shogun closed Japan off from foreigners. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was determined to reign as an absolute ruler and to maintain traditional Japan as it existed. The Christian barons presented a challenge to his authority. And Christianity and foreigners presented a challenge to traditional values. Even an absolute ruler can n0t hold time still. Gradually Japanese society did change. Many of the changes already in process were brought to a head when Commodores Perry's Black Fleet forced the opening of Japan (1853). This lead to the Meiji Restoration (1867). The Emperor proclaimed freedom of religion (1873). Christianity appeared again with the opening to the west. The American World War II occupation both strengthened existing and introduced new Western influences, including Christianity. There are now about 1-2 million Japanese Christians. This is about 1 percent of the population. Japanese Christians live primarily in Western Japan. This was where the missionary activities were the strongest (16th century). This was not because of any lingering Christian belief, but because this was where the ports and the Western connections more pronounced. While only a very small number of Japanese are Christians. Some outwardly Christian customs have, however, become popular in Japan. Japanese brides like white dresses. St.Valentine's Day has become popular. We also see Christmas figures, most secular images like Santa Clause and Christmas trees.

European Opening of Japan (1542)

The European voyages of discovery led by the Portuguese sought to open trade with the East. The Portuguese were the first to reach Japan (1542). The Portuguese landed on Kyushu in Western Japan. The Portuguese brought modern weapons including muskets and cannons. The Japanese barons on Kyushu saw the advantages of foreogn trade, both the profits and the advantages to be gained with improved weapons. Along with the Portuguese and subsequently Spanish merchants came priests and spread the faith was an important part of the Spanish and Spainish outreach. The profits and weapons caused the Japanese barons to tolerate the Jesuit missionaries who aggressively promoted conversions. The Jesuits at the time had a monopoly and were successful in converting large numbers of Japanese, mostly in Western Japan. Tge conversions included not only peasants, but members of the ruling class. Father Francis Xavier launched a mission to the capital at the time of Kyoto (1550). Franciscan missionaries began arriving in Japan and competing with the Jesuits.

Supression of Christianity

Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued the first banning order (late-16th century). The Shogun as he expanded his control over Japan was concerned by what he saw as the disruptive foreign influence and Christian challenge to traditional values. He also saw the Christian barons as achallenge in his absolute authority. Hideyoshi issued a more definitive banning order (1597). He had 26 Franciscan missionaries executed in Nagasaki, an important port, as a vivid warning. The foreign priests departed. The next Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, intensified the persecution of Christianity, issusing additional edicts. The Shogun brutallyh supressed the Shogun. He launched a major military campaign against the Christian barons, decisively defeating them (1638). Large numbers of Christians were killed and the faith was extinguished in Japan for several centuries as the Shogun closed Japan off from foreigners. There were an estimated 300,000 Japanese Christians. Most renounced Christianity under duress. Estimates on the number killed vary. We have seen estimates of 3,000. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was determined to reign as an absolute ruler and to maintain traditional Japan as it existed. The Christian barons presented a challenge to his authority. And Christianity and foreigners presented a challenge to traditional values.

Closing Japan

Even an absolute ruler can n0t hold time still. Gradually Japanese society did change.

Opening of Japan (1853)

Many of the changes already in process were brought to a head when Commodores Perry's Black Fleet forced the opening of Japan (1853). This lead to the Meiji Restoration (1867). The Emperor proclaimed freedom of religion (1873). Christianity appeared again with the opening to the west. Both Catholic and Protestant missionaries were active in Japan, but their success in terms of the number of converts was limited. Christians did have important influences, especially education and the trade union movement.

World War II

Japan began to change after World War I when many nationalists began to feel that Americans and Europeans were denying Japan its right to expnd, especially into China. This feeling intensified with the Depression and the expanding ibnfluence of the military. The military strongly promoted Shintoism with its nationalist outlook and seeking unity under the symbolic figure of the emperor. Even before this Shintoism received governmrnt support, but the military increased the support and radicalized it to promote patriotic and nationalistic emotions. The military suppoerted Shino elements which desired to cleanse the religion of Buddhist elements and empghasize emperor-worship and the divine origins of the Japanes people. The rising nationalism and criticism of foreign influences were a difficult time for Japanese Christians. Ir became almost a patriotic duty to attend Shinto shrines. And like the Christians of ancient Rome, it was dangerous to deny the divinity of the Emperor. The relatively small number of Christians probably prevented any major attack on them. The Japanese military government enacted the Religious Bodies Law recognized Christianity as an official Japanese religion along with Shinto and Buddhism (1940). The law, however, prohibited Japanese clerics from receiving funds from foreigners. Only Japanese subjects could serve as church executives. American missionary groups were permitted to pay the salaries of U.S. citizens working in Japan and to aid the Japanese churches. About half of the 900 U.S. missionaries in Japan returned home. They were reacting not onlt to Government actions, but to U.S. State Department efforts to evacuate Americans living in Japan. Japanese Protestants responded to the Government actuons by merging. There were 42 Protestant denominations that merged into one church organization. The Roman Catholics, Russian Orthodox, Episcopalians, and and the Seventh-Day Adventists retained that separate organization. Japanese Christians agreed to the government demands that they take part in Shinto shrine ceremonies, The Government assured them that the observance was a patriotic act and had no religious significance. Japaese Christians did not resist the military during the War nor could they have done so. It is likely that many had serious reservations about the War, but any overt expression would have meant arrest by the Thought Police. The Government controlled media outlets and publication houses. There were by the end of the War no active Christian writers in Japan. [Shusaku]

Modern Japan

The American World War II occupation both strengthened existing and introduced new Western influences, including Christianity. There are now about 1-2 million Japanese Christians. This is about 1 percent of the population. Japanese Christians live primarily in Western Japan. This was where the missionary activities were the strongest (16th century). This was not because of any lingering Christian belief, but because this was where the ports and the Western connections more pronounced. While only a very small number of Japanese are Christians. Some outwardly Christian customs have, however, become popular in Japan. Japanese brides like white dresses. St.Valentine's Day has become popular. We also see Christmas figures, most secular images like Santa Clause and Christmas trees.

Sources

Shusaku Endo, The Anguish of an Alien: Confessions of a Japanese Christian.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Japanese pages:
[Return to the Main Japanese specific religion page]
[Return to the Main Japanese religion page]
[Return to the Main Japanese activities page]
[Return to the Main country religion page]
[Choirs] [Department store catalogs] [Monarchy] [Music recitals] [Scouts] [School uniforms]

Created: 9:44 PM 5/20/2009
Last updated: 9:44 PM 5/20/2009