While couples still get married in traditional Shinto ceremonies, it’s the majority of Japanese weddings are done in the Christian tradition, complete with the chapel, the white dress, a priest; the whole nine yards.

This growth in Christian weddings isn’t because there are a lot more Christians in Japan; the country’s Christians have been pretty steady at a tiny 1% of the total population for years now.

The parts of Western-style weddings that appeal to the Japanese are purely aesthetic; the religious aspects are more or less non-existent.

It’s not surprising that the Japanese celebrate Christian-style weddings without any actual Christianity; Japanese adaptation of Western traditions usually completely misses the point. That’s why Christmas is widely celebrated in Japan on a non-religious basis with Kentucky Fried Chicken and strawberry shortcake.

What’s particularly interesting about Christian-style Western weddings is that it’s generated a market for fake priests.

Fake Priests At Real Weddings

Japanese Western-style wedding ceremonies need something to lend an air of authenticity, but hiring a real, bonafide priest is tricky. Since there are so few Christians in Japan, priests are in already short supply. Not only that, but they can be expensive to hire, and might frown upon a Christian-style wedding without any actual Christianity involved.

So the companies that arrange wedding ceremonies resort to hiring people who look foreign enough to actually be Christian. You don’t need to be certified as a priest or anything, and you don’t even need to be a Christian.

For all intents and purposes, being a priest in Japan is an acting gig for Westerners, a way to earn a few extra bucks on the weekend. There’s even a script!

If you’re hired on as a fake priest, you dress the part, recite some lines from the Bible and a few other ceremonial words and tell the couple to kiss. That’s about it. You can earn hundreds of dollars for half an hour of work.

Admittedly, being a fake priest can be a lot more work than it sounds like. Your Japanese has to be decent enough to read through the ceremony, and you have to be able to stand the immense pressures of officiating somebody’s wedding, one of the most important days of a person’s life.

To top it all off, there are event spaces all over Japan designed to look like chapels, churches, or cathedrals that are only built and used for these types of weddings.

It might seem a little sacrilegious to have a fake priest marrying couples in a fake chapel, but it all seems pretty harmless to me.

Have you ever been to a Western-style wedding in Japan? Have you ever been hired as a fake priest? Let me know in the comments!

What is Shinto?

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The customs and values of Shinto are inseparable from those of Japanese culture. Many Japanese activities have their roots in Shinto. Elements of Shinto can be found in ikebana, traditional architecture, and even sumo wrestling. Also, a lot of Japanese pop culture, especially anime and manga, draws from Shinto for inspiration.

Shinto doesn’t really have a founder or sacred scriptures or anything like that though. Religious propaganda and preaching are not common here either. This is one of the things that sets Shinto apart from most of the popular religions today. Shinto is deeply rooted in the Japanese people and their traditions, so practices like conversion don’t exactly go along with what Shinto is.

Since Shinto is very Japanese by nature and does not try to press others to join them, the percentage of Shintos living in this world is very small, with pretty much all of them residing in Japan. I think that’s nice though. Shinto is inherently Japanese, and its just another one of those things that you can really only get the full experience and understand while in Japan.

Instead of sacred texts, Shinto bases most of its beliefs on four ancient books. These books are the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) which is the foundation to written Shinto history, the Shoku Nihongi and its Nihon Shoki (Continuing Chronicles of Japan), the Rikkokushi (Six National Histories), and the Jinnō Shōtōki (a study of Shinto and Japanese politics and history).

Shinto Beliefs

Shinto is all about the kami. Kami (sacred spirits) are the “gods” in Shinto. They take the form of many things such as animals, plants, lakes, and rivers. As such, Shinto is a form of animism. Humans become kami after they die and are honored as ancestral kami with some families actually having little shrines in their homes. The Goddess Amaterasu is widely considered to be Shinto’s most famous kami and she was even the star of her very own video game, Ōkami (see above).

There are no real absolutes in Shinto – everything is kind of grey. They don’t believe in absolute right or wrong and they acknowledge that nobody is perfect. They view humans as fundamentally good, with the evils in the world being caused by troublesome and devilish kami. As such, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits. This is achieved by purification, prayers, and offerings. It sounds like a pretty laid back religion to me. I like that.

Shinto teaches that people should want their sins cleansed for one’s own peace, not because sinning is inherently wrong. It’s natural. Shinto does have some freaky beliefs too though. Those who die holding a grudge strong enough to keep them attached to the physical world will become evil, revenge seeking kami, as seen in The Grudge and many other Japanese horror movies. So, Shinto has its easygoing ups as well as its terrifying downs.

Shinto Rituals

Purification rituals are an essential part of Shinto. New buildings constructed in Japan are frequently blessed by a Shinto priest during the groundbreaking ceremony, and many Japanese cars are blessed at some point in their assembly. I wonder if they get a little sticker or certificate saying they were blessed. Hmm… Anyway, many Japanese businesses built outside Japan often get Shinto rites performed on them as well.

Both men and women can become Shinto priests, and they’re even allowed to marry and have children. Some even live on site with the shrine they’re in charge of. Priests are aided by young women known as miko during Shinto rituals and performances. Miko wear white kimono, must be unmarried, and are often daughters of the Shinto priests.

Followers of Shinto can seek support from kami in many different ways. They can pray at the shrines in their homes or visit a local public shrine. There are also millions upon millions of little charms and talismans available to give people good health, good grades, good business, and more.

A large number of Japanese wedding ceremonies today Shinto ceremonies. I think Christian weddings are up there too though. Death on the other hand is considered a source of impurity, so Japan lets the Buddhists deal with all that. If you want to learn more about it, you can check out my post on What Happens After You Die in Japan. Because of this there really aren’t any Shinto cemeteries, just shrines.

While I don’t really ascribe to the beliefs of Shinto myself, I still think it’s pretty cool and a unique aspect of Japanese culture. While we were over there, we got to see a lot of Shinto shrines and they were really cool. They felt very calm and usually had a lot of nature going on around them. Shinto’s okay in my book.

So what are your thoughts on the Shinto religion and their practices? How do their religious views compare to your own? Share your thoughts and ideas down in the comments!

Sites Referenced:
Wikipedia

After being on the lam for almost 20 years, Naoko Kikuchi was finally arrested for her part in the killing of more than a dozen people. Part of the notorious Aum Shinrikyo cult, Kikuchi’s arrest is the latest chapter in a long-running, deadly story.

Japan’s Most Dangerous Cult

Arguably the most dangerous religious cult in Japanese history, Aum Shinrikyo had humble beginnings as a yoga club, but quickly grew into one of the most menacing forces in the country.

Like almost every cult, Aum was a mishmash of appropriated religious ideas with a charismatic leader who claimed to be the next coming of Christ.

You know, the usual stuff.

Aum’s leader – who wouldn’t follow this guy?

The doctrine of the cult wasn’t always completely clear, but it was apparent that Aum Shinsikyo was absolutely bonkers. Initiation rituals reportedly involved mild torture, and members attempted to reach enlightenment by eating dog poo.

And, like most cults, Aum Shinsikyo became intensely paranoid. The cult kidnapped and attacked people who it thought was trying to undermine Aum.

The cult’s paranoia grew and grew until it culminated in its most infamous act: the attack on Tokyo subways.

Deadly Attacks On Tokyo

The main reason people know of Aum is because of its widespread attacks on the Tokyo subway system. The group took packs of sarin, a chemical weapon, and released them in subway stations across the city.

As the sarin gas was released into the subway system, commuters began to lose their vision and chaos quickly ensued. Ultimately, 5,000+ people were hospitalized, and 13 died.

Once it became clear that Aum was behind the attacks, the Japanese government brought down the hammer.

Police raided Aum and found more than they could have ever imagined: stockpiles of weapons, conventional and chemical; drugs, including LSD and meth; and prison cells with captives inside. Not exactly what you would expect to find in a religious organization.

While Aum was obviously an extremely dangerous force, for legal reasons, it couldn’t be completely dismantled and outlawed. But the Japanese government did the best it could to maim it in any way it could.

Most of the group’s assets were seized, and it was forced to declare bankruptcy. Aum’s leader and some of his disciples were tried for the subway attacks and eventually sentenced to death. The group changed its name “Aleph” to erase the stigma associated with the Aum name. And since the attacks, Aum has been under close surveillance by the Japanese government.

Even with all the might of the Japanese government, a few suspects in the subway attacks fell through the cracks. Though Kikuchi is the second person this year to be arrested for the 1995 attacks, there’s still one more Aum cultist at large.

Two down, one to go.

Once he is captured then maybe, after nearly twenty years, this chapter of Japanese history will come to a close.

Read more: Aum fugitive Kikuchi arrested in Kanagawa, Photos: Suspect Arrested for 1995 Subway Gas Attack

And it’s not just Japan-specific site where people ask these questions; you can find them on general question sites like Yahoo! Answers too.

A lot of people, when they see a swastika, immediately think of Nazis. I don’t really blame them; World War 2 and Nazi Germany tend to get a ton attention in popular media (I’m looking at you, History Channel).

But in Japan (and a lot of Asia), the swastika doesn’t stand for the Nazis or anti-Semitism or any of that awful history.

Where Does The Swastika Come From?

The swastika has been used in tons of different cultures all over the world for tens of thousands of years. It just seems to be one of those simple, geometric symbols that developed independently in different cultures throughout history.

The swastika was usually used in a religious or cultural way. Native American tribes (like the Navajo) used the swastika in healing rituals; in European history, the symbol was associated with Norse gods like Thor or Odin; and in Asia, the symbol had strong ties to Hinduism and Buddhism.

photo by Peter L Barker

The name “swastika” itself is from the Sanskrit word “स्वस्तिक,” which basically translates to “lucky charm” (not to be confused with the breakfast cereal).

For most of human history, the swastika stood as a holy, positive symbol. Then, the Nazis came along.

Nazis And The Swastika

During their time, the Nazis plundered and appropriated lots of imagery from different cultures for their own purposes. This included not only the swastika (which they thought stood for Aryan pride), but they also stole symbols from Norse, German, Celtic, and other European cultures.

And, with all the horrific things that the Nazis did, it became hard not to associate the swastika with the Nazi’s brand of terror and hate. After all, the Nazis adopted the swastika on their flag and plastered it over anything you can think of – cars, banners, uniforms, arm bands, and so on.

It’s kind of amazing, really – in less than 30 years, the Nazis transformed a symbol that had been around for thousands of years from something positive to something negative.

What Does The Swastika Mean In Japan?

In Japan, the swastika is called manji; when you type out the word on your computer, chances are the swastika symbol will come up (卍). The manji doesn’t have the kind of stigma in Japan as it does in the West, and is used pretty frequently in Buddhist tradition.

In fact, if you look at a city in Japan on Google Maps – especially older cities like Kyoto or Nara – you’ll see lots of manji markings where Buddhist temples are located.

No, Kyoto isn’t a hotbed of Nazi activity.

The swastika, in the Japanese sense, can mean a number of positive things from strength to compassion.

The bottom line is that when you see a swastika in Japan, it’s not some anti-Semitic symbol; it’s usually used as a positive symbol of Buddhism. I definitely understand why the swastika has such an incredibly negative connotation in the West, but the thousands of years of history that Japan has with the swastika overrides the awful associations that much of the Western world has with it.

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Briefly analyzing the situation, you think to yourself, how cute and creepy these statues are. What is the purpose of them? Why are there so many of them? WHY ARE THEY STARING SOULLESSLY INTO MY EYES.

Oh, Hello… Didn’t see you there. Do you like my hat?

What you have stumbled upon is the ever-so-popular Mizuko Kuyō (水子供養), or better known as the memorial service for dead children, specifically the miscarriaged, aborted, and still-birthed kind. Paints a pretty picture, doesn’t it?

Mizuko Kuyō has been around for centuries and is unique to Japan, however the participation and displays of the statues have become more prominent in the last three decades. The popularity of the service has brought it into the spotlight of controversial conversation, not because it deals with dead children, but because of the claim that temples are taking advantage of grieving parents by charging services to ensure their dead child is taken care of when they go through their journey into hell. More on that later.

The purpose of the practice varies. Some of the reasons are to ensure the child’s soul is comforted in the afterlife and/or to ward off vengeful spirits. The little statues themselves are representations of Mizuko Jizō, the Buddhist monk guardian of aborted and prematurely dead children. Mizuko Jizō is often depicted as a staff-welding monk with children in arm or under his robe. I’m sure you all have sleepless nights wondering, “why the statues?” How exactly do they protect and comfort the dead children? Glad you asked.

Lack of good karma? Off to the sandy beaches of hell with you!

Mizuko Kuyō is tied with Buddhism and its reincarnation system. Leaving out a lot of the details, when one dies and is reborn, where and what they are reborn as is based on their past behavior or karma. For all living beings, there are six different realms of possible rebirth, aptly named the “Six Paths” by Japanese Buddhists. The cycle of death and rebirth into one of these realms is an endless cycle, unless one obtains bodhi or enlightenment. The paths and their very brief explanations are as follows (in ascending order of appeal):

1. Jigokudō 地獄道 (Realm of Hell) – Let’s just say you don’t want to be a part of this realm, unless you are into torture/BDSM.
2. Gakidō 餓鬼道 (Realm of Hungry Spirits) – You might want to give this realm a try if the Atkins or Paleo diet isn’t working out for you. This realm blesses you with non-stop cravings and eternal starvation.
3. Chikushōdō 畜生道 (Realm of Animals) – If you ever wondered what living the life of your favorite animal might be like, this is the realm for you. The realm is characterized by stupidity and servitude. Although considered a downgrade from the  the next two realms, there is a possibility you might hit the jackpot and and be born as Tajima cattle.
4. Ashuradō 阿修羅道 (Realm of Constant War) – I hope your Call of Duty or Battlefield skills are up to snuff. This realm is filled with anger and jealousy.
5. Nindō 人道 (Realm of Humans) - The realm we all belong to! Greed and desire is what characterizes this realm.
6. Tendō 天道 (Realm of  the “Gods”) -  Opposite of the Hell, this realm is filled with pleasure. The beings in this realm hold godlike powers and live long lives. However, just like any other living being in the six paths, they have faults, consisting of pride and obliviousness to the sufferings of those around them.

With the knowledge of the Six Paths in mind, which realm do you think the dead children end up in? With not a single bit of good karma built up in their very short lives (babies don’t really do much, do they?), they are sent to the Hell realm to receive their judgement from the Juo (Ten Kings of Hell). The sad part is that not only have they not built up any good karma, but chances are they’ve built up bad karma by bringing grief to their parents and relatives! How selfish of them.

In order to get out, the children must travel to each king and receive their judgements. That, as you can probably imagine, isn’t all that easy to do.

Judging Babies In Hell

Between the first and second judgement kings lies a river called the Sanzu River. You can think of it as the Eastern equivalent of the Styx River of Western mythology. Beings judged by the first King as innocent are given access to the bridge that crosses the river. However, those deemed guilty must swim across the river. This is unfortunate for the guilty children, since they don’t have the strength and endurance to overcome the river.

It seems as though these poor kids are destined to stay in the Hell realm forever :(

These children resort to moping around the riverbed building stone towers as a sign of penance. However, their attempt at penance is often interrupted by club wielding demons.

Jizo, “Friend Of Children”…and Gamera.

It is believed that if the living parents and relatives had faith in Mizuko Jizō, such as displaying and maintaining a shrine, he’d come to the aid of the children, shooing off demons and assisting those that needed help crossing the river.

Although the Japanese aren’t super strong practitioners of Buddhism, the image of the possibility of having your children stuck and suffering in Hell is just something you can’t leave to chance.

So, just know that wherever you go in Japan you’ll be surrounded by shrines and statues dedicated to getting children out of Hell. I for one think that Jizo is there to get just enough children out so that there can never be too many in one place. If there’s enough of them, they’ll surely have the numbers to break out and take over the Realm Of Humans. Babies are terrifying, especially Hell Babies. I’m glad Jizo’s doing what he can to keep the Hell Baby population in check.

Oh, and if you liked this, be sure to check out the other posts during our “Scary Week” leading up to Halloween! WOooOoooOoo, spooky!

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But there are definitely some really cool parts about Japanese religion as well. Take, for instance the mountain ascetics of Japan: the yamabushi. What, you’ve never heard of the mountain-wandering warrior monks?

What’s a Yamabushi?

Probably the best representation of Japanese religion are the yamabushi. Like lots of Japanese people, yamabushi take bits and pieces from different religions and beliefs and put it all together. A dash of Shinto here, a pinch of Buddhism there, and little bit of Taoism for good measure.

This mix of religions is called Shugendou, and it’s been around for hundreds of years. The big difference between the yamabushi and your average, everyday Japanese person is just how far they take their beliefs. The yamabushi believe that to become spiritually enlightened, you have to commune with nature over a long period of time. (Read: hanging out in the mountains, not bathing much, and hangin’ with some kami.)

Not only that, but yamabushi believe that communing with nature will give you mystical powers, and often trained in the martial arts to protect themselves in their journeys.

So what the yamabushi have been doing for hundreds of years have been doing just that. The yamabushi traditionally do four things:

1. Make pilgrimages to temples and shrines.
2. Pray and study at those temples/shrines.
3. Perform rituals.
4. Help villagers understand religion.

But, as you might imagine, things have changed a little in modern times.

Modern Yamabushi

In her book/documentary/Japanese version of Eat, Pray, Love Japanland, Karin Muller visits these mountain mystics to see what all the fuss is about.

Apparently, things have changed since the days of yore. Being a yamabushi no longer means being some badass mountain hermit who communes with nature 24/7/365, but it’s now more of a part-time gig.

Lots of salarymen in Japan don’t really know what to do with themselves after retirement, as they aren’t really used to being around the house. (“What do you mean we’re not going out drinking tonight?”) They try to find different ways to fill up time in their retired life.

“Let us play you the song of our people.”

Some salarymen turn to religious pursuits in their later years, including trying their hand at becoming a yamabushi. The yamabushi that Muller follows are just that, some older dudes who  become a yamabushi for a week to get out of the house, but to also find a deeper meaning in their lives.

They might not believe that wandering around the mountains for a week will give them mystical powers like yamabushi used to, but their journey can definitely be a really important part of their lives.

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So what do you think about these modern-day yamabushi? Is it weird that they only do it part time, or is it cool that they’re still keeping the tradition alive? Let me know in the comments!

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