Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

How religious do you think Japanese people are?

Have Your Say Dec. 08, 2011 - 06:47AM JST ( 19 )

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19 Comments

2

zidane_headDec. 08, 2011 - 09:53AM JST

A whole lot less than most countries.
-1

FoxieDec. 08, 2011 - 10:06AM JST

They keep religion to themselves without showing it in the open. So, on the inside they might even be more sincerely religious than others.
1

tkoind2Dec. 08, 2011 - 10:07AM JST

Thankfully, I have never felt any pressure or influence in daily life from religion here. On the contrary, I have found the local general religion to simply add a family and cultural element to life in Japan. One that is respectful of the right of people to choose or not to choose to believe.

The only exceptions I can think of in over 11 years in Tokyo are 1. Mormons (not Japanese) who bother us sometimes. 2. A hand fully of very nutty cults who pop up on streets now and then. 3. Tenri which was one of the creepiest places I have ever visited in any country. But they did not bother us.
0

smartacusDec. 08, 2011 - 10:13AM JST

Actually, in their own way, I think Japanese are very religious. Look how often a Buddhist priest is called in to offer prayers -- when work starts on a new building, when a long-serving machine is discontinued or decommissioned, before a baseball team starts spring training and so on.
2

borschtDec. 08, 2011 - 10:25AM JST

Smartacus,

A Buddhist priest is often called in at the start of a new project, so true. I agree the traditions are followed. But how often are the tenets of Buddhism followed? Tenets including:

no lies or insults. (Nihongo wa jozu desu ne! Baka!)

no harm to others. (Ham in every sandwich in the country; bullying.)
7

SquidBertDec. 08, 2011 - 10:36AM JST

Not trying to be rude, but I tend to think that most Japanese people are more superstitious(if anything) than they are religious.
-2

iceshoecreamDec. 08, 2011 - 10:44AM JST

Not religious but spiritual.
1

MaboDofuIsSpicyDec. 08, 2011 - 12:00PM JST

I think they are one of the lost tribes.

Shinto rocks, and the people get into it. Religion here means party time.
0

ExportExpertDec. 08, 2011 - 05:27PM JST

Keeping getting Japanese christians coming to my door, man do they get a surprise when this gaijin opens the door and unpolitely tells them to go forth and multiply, hate christian door knockers more than anything else.

Anyway religion plays a big part in most japanese peoples lives for many things, not sure if they really belive in it that much to be honest but i think society deems they must atleast aknowledge it for fair of being different
2

kaminarioyajiDec. 08, 2011 - 10:19PM JST

Speaking (very) generally of course, Japanese are religious when it suits them or they think it will be to their advantage; ditto for them following rules/laws and being polite.
2

MeLuvULongTimesDec. 09, 2011 - 05:38AM JST

Most Japanese are very religious about being Japanese.
-2

NetNinjaDec. 09, 2011 - 08:40AM JST

Not religious at all. More importantly, they recognize no one's religion. They apply their beliefs to other people unfairly, violating their civil rights in the process. All one needs to know about Japan's attitude toward religion can be found in Shusaku Endo's story Silence.
1

VirtuosoDec. 09, 2011 - 10:17AM JST

smartacus@I am pretty certain those are Shinto priests you are referring to at 起工式 (kikoshiki) ground breaking ceremonies, etc. Just look for the white paper ("kami" is a homonym for god) that they hang on the stake over which they pile up soil. That's nothing to do with Buddhism.

Personally I find the Japanese approach to religion to be one of their most endearing qualities. The exception would be when they join cults of any type, be they Buddhist, Christian or new-age varieties.
1

SquidBertDec. 09, 2011 - 12:00PM JST

We had a ground breaking ceremony when we built our house. And it was most certainly a Shinto one. As it was explained to me. It is about asking the spirits that live there to leave and allowing the humans to take over. The spirits seems to prefer to be bribed into leaving with sake
0

illsayitDec. 09, 2011 - 01:25PM JST

Define religion. Japanese are. Superstitious, yes. Religiously 和,yes. Rituals/traditions, yes. Word bound, yes. A God, no.
-2

It"S MEDec. 09, 2011 - 01:34PM JST

illsayit.

Define god. I Shiva, Kali, etc a god?

ex.: Buddha is not a god, never claimed to be as such and people that elevate him to god-hood ... Yet, I would say most buddhists, Hindu, etc are very religious and follow their doctrines strictly.

Not so sure about the younger generation of japanese but the older ones do have shrines at home, daily offer food and talk with their ancestors(same can be seen overseas).

I would define religion as a "belief system".
0

ukguyjpDec. 09, 2011 - 06:08PM JST

Superstitious ratherer than religious, I'd say.
0

illsayitDec. 09, 2011 - 06:50PM JST

Idols, yes. Sectorized, yes. A God, no. Religion and it's definition, is THE contraversial word being thrown around at the moment. It is too broad, ambivalent really. Hope your belief system can stand up to it. I guess you could corner Buddhism into a religion to make it substantiate itself. That might be fun.
-1

cracaphatDec. 10, 2011 - 12:09AM JST

I call them "part timers". Visiting at the start of a New Year or when they need something: Like to pass a test or to meet Mr Right, they flock to the temples and shrines in droves.