Have you ever wondered what the predominant religion in Japan is? What religions exist in Japan? Do the Japanese believe in the Bible? In this article, we will talk about Japanese religions and some curiosities.
Talking about religions in Japan is a bit confusing. At the same time that half of the population claims to have no religion, almost 100 million inhabitants claim to be Buddhists and Shintoists. Those who deny still participate in their practices and customs.
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What is the official and predominant religion of Japan?
There are divergences in knowing what the predominant religion of Japan is. Some say it is Buddhism, others say it is Shintoism, but it is a complicated answer as about 80% of Japanese people practice Shinto rituals linked to the precepts of Buddhism.
The traditional religion of Japan is Shintoism (Shintō – 神道), which literally means “Way of the gods.” Shintoism incorporates spiritual practices derived from various prehistoric Japanese traditions, local and regional, characterized by the worship of deities that represent the forces of nature. There are more than 88,591 Shinto shrines spread throughout Japan.
The history of Buddhism in Japan was spread over several different periods until it became dominant in Japan. Buddhism encompasses various traditions, beliefs, and practices generally based on the teachings of Buddha. There are more than 85,439 Buddhist temples spread throughout Japan.
Coexistence of religions in Japan
Shintoism and Buddhism coexist peacefully; most Japanese claim to belong to both beliefs, and Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are often found together in the same locations.
It is common for Japanese people to marry in a Shinto ceremony and have a Buddhist funeral. Japanese people do not usually regularly attend these places for worship. Both religions greatly influence the lifestyle of the Japanese.
A good number visit temples and shrines most often during events, tourism, rituals, and needs. About 100 million Japanese claim to be Shintoists and 80 million Buddhists. Both religions are full of superstitions and traditions.
Shintoism in Japan
Shintoism is the term for the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of Japan. Shintoism has no founder, no official sacred scriptures, nor fixed creeds, but it has preserved its main beliefs and rituals over time.
The word Shintoism came into use to distinguish indigenous Japanese beliefs from Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan in the 6th century AD. Shintoism (along with Buddhism) is closely linked to Japanese society and culture.
Shintoism is the ethnic religion of Japan that focuses on the belief that spiritual powers manifest in natural places, such as mountains, rivers, and other aspects of nature, including people and animals.
What does Shintoism preach? – Shintoism preaches the harmonious relationship between man and nature.
What is the origin of Shintoism? – Originally, Shintoism had no name, doctrine, or dogmas. As mentioned, it was created to distinguish itself from Buddhism. The tradition of Shintoism explains the origin of the world, of Japan, and of the Japanese imperial family.
We recommend reading: Shintoism in Japan – Japanese Religions
Buddhism in Japan
Buddhism is a religion that originated in India between the 4th and 6th centuries BC, centered on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known posthumously as The Buddha, whose purpose is to help any living being to cease the cycle of suffering (samsara) and achieve the extinction of suffering (nirvana) by becoming a bodhisattva (one who attains nirvana).
The religion migrated out of India and spread throughout Asia. Buddhism had a significant influence on the development of Japanese society. In modern times, the most popular schools of Buddhism in Japan are Pure Land, Nichiren, Shingon, and Zen.
Even though only 35% of Japanese claim to be Buddhists, 90% practice Buddhism in some form, whether by visiting temples or having some related object. About 60% of Japanese have a Butsudan (Buddhist altar) in their homes.
We recommend reading: Buddhism in Japan – Japanese Religions
Christianity in Japan
Are there Christians in Japan? Many wonder if there are Christians in Japan. Yes, but only 1% of the 126 million inhabitants are Christians, most of whom are from the Nagasaki region, the largest Christian community in Japan.
The history of Christianity in Japan began in 1549 when a Jesuit missionary, Francis Xavier, arrived in Kagoshima accompanied by a samurai, Ansei Yajiro. Despite strong opposition from the leaders and Buddhists of Japan, the Christianity brought by the Jesuits received full support from the rulers, Oda Nobunaga and Hieyoshi Toyotomi.
But in July 1587, the supreme general Hideyoshi, plagued by a sickly rage, determined that missionaries could not remain in the country. There were persecutions, expulsions, and destruction of churches.
And in 1612, Christianity was made illegal. An inquisition was instituted in 1640 by Shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa, initiating a persecution of Christians. Only in 1792 did this inquisition end, and in 1873 Christianity was recognized in Japan.
Currently, there are approximately 3 million Christians in Japan, and nearly 10,000 churches and temples. Christianity in Japan is still considered by many Japanese as a religion of foreigners.
One of the difficulties in the growth of Christianity in Japan is the commitment to renounce the polytheism of Shintoism and Japanese Buddhism. There are 32,036 Christian priests and pastors in Japan.
It is interesting to analyze that the fact that Japan does not have a commitment to spirituality does not mean that people are not good. A survey conducted worldwide indicated that 57% of Japanese claim to have no religion, while in Brazil, 92% claim to belong to a religion. And we notice a controversy in the attitude and lifestyle of people.
Other religions in Japan
Below we will see some other religions present in Japan, along with some curiosities about them:
Shinshukyō (新宗教)
New religions such as shinshukyō and shinkō-shukyō have emerged and have been rapidly expanding in Japan, skillfully using mass media, marketing techniques, and propaganda, establishing their own educational institutions, promising miracles and material and spiritual benefits in this life, and presenting a more active proselytism.
Jehovah’s Witnesses (Ehoba no shonin エホバの証人)
Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians, and there are currently 215,703 of them in Japan, with 18 groups being Portuguese-speaking. The New World Translation in Japanese, the Bible used by them, is one of the only ones that has readings with furigana.
Japan is known for a busy and hectic lifestyle, in addition to the population not believing in the Bible. Still, Japan is the most dedicated country in the preaching work, where 1 in 3 does volunteer work dedicating at least 50 hours every month in house-to-house service (in Brazil, it is 1 in 10).
SGI – Soka Gakkai International
As another religion influenced by foreign countries on Japanese customs, we have Soka Gakkai International. The SGI is a non-governmental organization (NGO) affiliated with the United Nations since 1983 and present in 190 countries and territories.
Its fundamental goal is to promote peace and respect for human dignity. Its members engage in extensive activities in the fields of Peace, Culture, and Education, which include exhibitions, cultural and educational exchanges, as well as humanitarian aid on a global level.
Ryukyuan (琉球神道)
The Ryukyuan is a system of indigenous beliefs of the people of Okinawa and the other Ryukyu islands. While specific legends and traditions may vary slightly from place to place, the Ryukyuan religion is generally characterized by ancestor worship.
Unlike Shintoism, where men are seen as the personification of purity, there is a group of superior women coming from the goddess Amamikyo.
Ainu is another system of indigenous beliefs of the Ainu people of Hokkaido and parts of the Far East of Russia. They believe that spirits or gods live in everything.
Judaism (Yudayakyō ユダヤ教)
In Japan, there are approximately 2,000 Jews. With the opening of Japan to the outside world in 1853, some Jews migrated to Japan. Surprisingly, some Jews found refuge during World War II in Japan.
Islam (Isuramukyō イスラム教)
There is a good number of Muslims in Japan. In Japan, most Muslims were immigrants; it is estimated that 70,000 to 100,000 Muslims migrated to Japan.
Confucianism (Jukyo 儒教)
Confucianism is a doctrine (or philosophical system) created by the Chinese thinker Confucius. Confucianism is considered a philosophy, social ethics, political ideology, literary tradition, and a way of life.
There are many other religions and groups in Japan, but for today we will leave it at that. If you have any data to add, feel free to comment below. Thank you for the comments and shares.
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