Monir Hossain MONI,
Dept.
of International and Asia-Pacific Studies,
Hitotsubashi University,
Tokyo, JAPAN
E-mail:
mhmoni@luck.ocn.ne.jp
Abstract
Christianity’s Failure to Thrive in Today’s Japan
The paper is, basically, an endeavor to identify and examine
the major factors of Christianity’s failure to thrive in contemporary Japan. In
recent times, Christianity has not flourished in Japan as it has in some of its
Asian neighbors, particularly China, South Korea, and the Philippines. In Japan,
where most people are Shintoist or Buddhist, Christianity is, perhaps, still
considered a "foreign" creed, but not suitable for ordinary Japanese. Practicing
Christianity in Japan has not always been easy, and sometimes it is quite
frustrating.
For most Japanese, there is the idea that if you have become a Christian, you
have given up part of your Japaneseness. ‘Going Christian’ is often viewed as a
betrayal of Japanese culture. Christians are often perceived as ‘anti-social’ or
‘selfish’ for "breaking the harmony of the family unit" by not observing many
traditional Shinto and Buddhist rituals, specially that of praying to spirits to
recognize the dead. It is the consensus that Christian faith means the West, and
that does not best fit into Japanese culture. However, while the Christian
church is tolerated, the Christian faith does not belong in Japan. Currently, a
mere 0.22 percent of Japan's population attends Christian services, and total
church attendance was up by only 1.5 percent recently. Such trends are prompting
serious concern about the future of the Christian church in Japan. Rumor has it
that in 20 years nearly half of the churches will be vacant and for sale, since
Japan’s elderly membership will have passed away with no young people to
replenish the churches. Furthermore, attracting new members is like trying "to
draw water with a bamboo basket” (an old Japanese proverb).
The future is now as far as the 9,000-member Reformed Church in Japan (RCJ) is
concerned. If the 53-year old denomination is to survive, it must instill the
Gospel in young members whose leadership can take the foundation of Japan’s
reformed faith, overcome the weaknesses, and go forward into the new century.