Hidden Christians - Japan

February 2008
Since Japan's rulers outlawed Christianity in the sixteenth century, believers have hidden their faith. But what began as Christianity has evolved into something quite different.

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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• christians
• faith
• forbidden
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[SeanShannohan]

@CSTCFL ......*Could be accepted potentially or possibly.

[SeanShannohan]

@CSTCFL Ah thank you for your input. It is good to hear back. There are many other cultural events that take place in Japan and many of them I think would possibly be accepted by the Catholic Church.There are even ceremonial traditions that are seen as or similar to Hebrew/Jewish stories and rituals.Catholicism claims to be "Fulfilled Hebrews/Jews",which means that Catholics trace all faith back to the Judaism.With both of these in mind, many more Japanese traditions could be accepted

[CSTCFL]

@SeanShannohan

In Mexico people celebrate a holiday called "Dia de los Muertos" a day in which food is offered to the ancestors. Music and various are also offered and their is big celebrations throughout the country. The Church has approved of this practice for centuries . If Japanese Catholics would continue to offer food for the dead I see no problem in it since we Mexican do the same.

[CSTCFL]

@SeanShannohan

I watch anime from time to time and I have noticed that there is an abundance of crucifixes and other Catholic symbols in some of these shows. In my opinion the Catholic Church and Japan would be able to coexist quite well. Catholics teach that one should honor their ancestors and their elders. These things are also common in the Japanese culture.

[SeanShannohan]

@CSTCFL Oh That's okay. I was really trying to theorize with you on the subject of both Christianity and Japanese culture being able to coexist with one another.

I was just trying to see what you think.

[CSTCFL]

@SeanShannohan

I'm sorry, but I do not know that . I just know how many catholics there is. .

[SeanShannohan]

@KpopManiacSFL I see, I see Now I would argue that Christianity and Japanese culture can coexist My theory or question I should say is that just because people are christian or Catholic doesn't mean that they can't take part in festivals or traditions that uphold a cultural awareness or honoring the ancestors Traditions like these in other places are in union with the Church Cannot some traditions of man fall within truth or acceptance of God's truthfulTradition? Elders I will see

[KpopManiacSFL]

@SeanShannohan Well, Samurais who were very powerful in the past really hated Christians. I think it was because they wanted to preserve their culture and heritage and they have heard about other nations losing theirs. But I would have expected more to convert after WW2, but I guess Japan's pride is something hard to destory. You can still see their pride in Hidden Christians. They don't have white Jesus, Mary pictures like other cultures and they still have traditions in their beliefs.

[SeanShannohan]

@CSTCFL Thank you for your reply. Would you mind telling me how Christianity, as a whole, is looked upon by most Japanese?

[CSTCFL]

@SeanShannohan

The Catholic Church in Japan is made up of pproximately 509,000 Catholics—just under 0.5% of the total population.