Kevin Cooney on Christianity in Japan
Date: October 8th, 2012

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Japan is not known for being an overly religious country.  Indeed, compared to its neighbors in Korea and even the People’s Republic of China, the Japanese look downright secular.  Prof. Kevin Cooney of Northwest University joins us to talk about the interesting religious landscape in Japan.  Having lived there for five years as a Christian, Kevin offers some unique insights on Shintoism, Buddhism, and Christianity.  We start with a general survey of what Japan would look like spiritually to a person who just stepped off an airplane in Tokyo today.  This leads to a bit of a discussion on Shintoism and Buddhism.  However, Tony asks Kevin what it was like to live as a practicing Christian in Japan where only 1% of the population identifies as such.  This sets off a discussion about the “secret history” of Christianity that dates back to the “Church of the East” (sometimes referred to as the Nestorian Church).  This history pre-dates the arrival of the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier who arrived on the shores of Japan in the early 1549.  We then map out what happens to Christianity in the subsequent centuries, particularly when Christians are forced underground in the midst of religious persecution.  Kevin tells interesting stories of how underground mining museums still present representations of Christians being married by priests, and we also cover how these Christians were forgotten by the Vatican yet remained rather orthodox (small “o”) in their theological outlook.  Our journey continues through the Meiji and Toisho eras and through World War II where, ironically, the largest concentration of Christians in Japan was destroyed in the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki.  What happens after this event, particularly the disillusionment following Emperor Hirohito’s surrender and announcement that he was not of divine character, sets up our conversation to again examine the contemporary religious landscape of Japan.  Kevin shares his thoughts on why Christianity has taken firmer hold in South Korea and China as compared to Japan.  We leave off with an intersting discussion of fertility rates, how this relates to religion, and the future of the Japanese nation.  Recorded: September 29, 2012  in Match Coffee & Wine Bar (Duvall, WA).

 

RELATED LINKS

Kevin Cooney’s website at Northwest University.

RELATED PODCASTS

Kevin Cooney on Religion and the Rule of Law in China.

 


7 Responses to “Kevin Cooney on Christianity in Japan”

  1. Craig Ott says:

    For an interesting (though a bit dated) analysis of why Christianity has grown slowly in Japan see:

    Dale, Kenneth J. “Why the Slow Growth of the Church in Japan?” Missiology 26:3 (July 1998):275-288

  2. Phil Cantrell says:

    I’m a professor of Asian and world history at a university in Virginia. I want to thank the above author of this piece. Years ago I heard a pastor claim that somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% of the Japanese Christian population was wiped out by the bombing of Nagasaki. I had always been suspect of that claim as I had seen the reference no where else until the above piece. I am thankful for confirmation of that number at last. I always suspected that if it was true, it must have been downplayed by Truman’s administration in 1945. Any other thoughts by anyone of this topic?

  3. tonygill says:

    Craig,

    Some of us don’t consider 1998 to be “dated.” That’s like yesterday to me! It is an interesting article though and I may use it in class.

    Tony Gill
    Host of RoR

  4. Kevin Cooney says:

    Craig,
    Thanks for the interesting article. Covering almost 2000 years of history in an hour is quite a challenge.
    Kevin Cooney

    Podcast host note: No excuses, just results!

  5. […] However, he then talks about living as a practicing Christian in Japan where only 1% of the population identifies as such. This sets off a discussion about the “secret history” of Christianity that dates back to the “Church of the East” (sometimes referred to as the Nestorian Church). This history pre-dates the arrival of the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier who arrived on the shores of Japan in the early 1549. He then maps out what happened to Christianity in the subsequent centuries, particularly when Christians were forced underground in the midst of religious persecution…. Listen to this podcast in full at http://www.researchonreligion.org/christianity/kevin-cooney-on-christianity-in-japan […]

  6. Samuel Lee says:

    Very interesting. Greetings from Holland. My name is Samuel Lee, I am a sociologist and have written two books on Japan, my latest book is called Rediscovering Japan Reintroducing Christendom : 2000 years of Christian History (University Press of America, 2009). I am glad you speak about the Church of the East in Japan. At the moment I am doing a PhD research at Free University Amsterdam. In my research I am searching the main factors that caused Christianity not to succeed in Japan, (number wise). Any suggestions, any idea or communication is very welcome. You can email me at sam.lee@me.com Blessings. Samuel Lee

  7. Michael Snow says:

    Does the modern history of Japan and American Christian idolatry have anything to do with resistance to the message of Christ?
    http://spurgeonwarquotes.wordpress.com/

Leave a Reply to Samuel Lee

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