Inculturation and the Roman Catholic Church in Japan

Alec R. LeMay, null

doi:10.13169/decohori.3.0091

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Decolonial Horizons

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Inculturation and the Roman Catholic Church in Japan

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Author(s): Alec R. LeMay

Publication date (Print): 2017

Journal: Decolonial Horizons

Publisher: Pluto Journals

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Abstract

The Roman Catholic Church is perhaps one of the most ethnically diverse group in Japan. With nearly half of its members being foreign-born, practicing multiculturalism has become a religious imperative for this church. Through four sections, this article provides a brief sketch of Japanese history, an analysis of two theological concepts of the trinity and inculturation, and how these apply to contemporary issues of multiculturalism in Japan. Tracing inculturation throughout Japan's Roman Catholic history reveals the changing relationship God holds with this ethnically diverse church.

Keywords: Inculturation, Roman Catholic Church of Japan, Multiculturalism, Immigration.

La Iglesia Católica Romana es quizás uno de los grupos étnicamente más diversos en Japón. Con casi la mitad de sus miembros nacidos en el extranjero, practicar el multiculturalismo se ha convertido en un imperativo religioso para esta iglesia. A través de cuatro secciones, este artículo ofrece un breve bosquejo de la historia japonesa, un análisis de dos conceptos teológicos de la trinidad y la inculturación, y cómo éstos se aplican a los temas contemporáneos del multiculturalismo en Japón. El rastreo de la inculturación a lo largo de la historia católica romana de Japón revela la relación cambiante que Dios mantiene con esta iglesia étnicamente diversa.

Palabras clave: Inculturación, Iglesia Católica Romana de Japón, Multiculturalismo, Inmigración.

A Igreja Católica Romana é talvez um dos grupos mais etnicamente diversificados no Japão. Com quase metade de seus membros nascidos no estrangeiro, praticar o multiculturalismo tornou-se um imperativo religioso para esta igreja. Através de quatro seções, este artigo fornece um breve esboço da história japonesa, uma análise de dois conceitos teológicos da trindade e da inculturação, e como estes se aplicam a questões contemporâneas do multiculturalismo no Japão. O rastreamento da inculturação em toda a história católica romana do Japão revela o relacionamento mutável que Deus detém com esta igreja etnicamente diversificada.

Palavras-chave: Inculturação, Igreja Católica Romana do Japão, Multiculturalismo, Imigração.

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Alec R. LeMay

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.13169

Journal ID (publisher-id): decohori

Title: Decolonial Horizons

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN (Electronic): 24226343

Publication date (Print): 2017

Volume: 3

Pages: 91-123

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Bunkyo University

Article

Publisher ID: decohori.3.0091

DOI: 10.13169/decohori.3.0091

SO-VID: 4de5bd90-8392-460a-8240-80c19ff773d2

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History

Bibliographic References

Brazal, Agnes M. (2008). «Cultural Rights of Migrants: A Philosophical and Theological Exploration.» In: Faith on the Move: Toward a Theology of Migration in Asia , edited by Fabio Baggio and Agnes Brazal. Quezon City, Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press, pp. 68–92.
Bosch, David J. (1993). Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shift in Theology of Mission . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Catholic Archdiocese of Osaka (1998). Putting New Life into the Osaka Diocese of Tomorrow: A Friendly, Open Church, a Witness to Everything the Gospel Stands for . Osaka: Catholic Archdiocese of Osaka.
Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan (CBCJ) (1990). Fukuin o Nobetsutaeru [Proclaiming the Gospel]. Tokyo: CBCJ.
Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan (2006). Statistics of the Catholic Church of Japan, 2006 . Tokyo: CBCJ. Available at: <http://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/jpn/data/st05/statistics2005.pdf> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Cary, Otis (1976). A History of Christianity in Japan: Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox, and Protestant Missions , Vol. 1. Rutland: Charles E. Tuttle Company.
Clammer, John (2001). Japan and Its Others: Globalization, Difference, and the Critique of Modernity . Melbourne: Trans Pacific Press.
Earhart, Byron H. (1982). Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Encyclopædia Britannica (2017). «Shichi-go-san festival, Japan.» Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shichi-go-san> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Endō, Shūsaku (1966). Chinmoku [silence]. Tokyo: Shinchosha.
Endō, Shūsaku (1969). Silence , translated by William Johnston. London: Peter Owen Publishers.
Fernandez, Eleazar (2002). «From Babel to Pentecost: Finding a Home in the Belly of the Empire.» Semeia 90–91: pp. 29–50.
Flannery, Austin (1996). Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, Vol. 1 . New York, NY: Costello Publishing Company.
Gallagher, Michael P. (1998). Clashing Symbols . New York, NY: Paulist Press.
Gaillardetz, Richard R. (2008). Ecclesiology for a Global Church: A People Called and Sent . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Gatpatan, Agnes V. (2006). «Kyōkai dewa Mishiranu Kyaku wa Inai» [There are no invisible guests in the church]. CTIC Nyuusu 54 (December): pp. 2–3.
González Iñárritu, Alejandro, dir. (2006). Babel , 143 minutes, Paramount Vantage, DVD.
Hara, Makoto (1990). «A Study of the Position of Christianity in Indonesian History.» Waseda University Institute of Social Sciences 25: pp. 55–86.
Hardy, Arther Sherburne (1980). Life and Letters of Joseph Hardy Neesima . Kyoto: Doshisha University Press.
Hinze, Bradford E. (1998). «Ethnic and Racial Diversity and the Catholicity of the Church.» In: Theology: Expanding the Borders , edited by María Pilar Aquino and Roberto S. Goizueta. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, pp. 162–199.
Iwai, Shuma (2008). «Japanese Christianity in the Meiji Era: An Analysis of Ebina Danjo's Perspective on Shintoistic Christianity.» Transformation: An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies 25, No. 4: pp. 195–204.
Kitagawa, Joseph M. (1966). Religion in Japanese History . New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
Komuro, Naoko (2003). «Christianity and Ancestor Worship in Japan.» Studies in World Christianity 9, No. 1: pp. 60–68.
Lande, Aasulv (1993). «Christianity's ‘Three Waves’.» In: Japanese Religions: Past and Present , edited by Ian Reader, Esben Andreasen, and Finn Stefánsson. Honolulu, HI: Hawai'i University Press, pp. 155–160.
«Martyres» Editorial Committee, ed. (2008). Full Sail With the Wind of Grace: Peter Kibe and 187 Martyrs , translated by Sakura Izumi and Margaret Peate. Tokyo: Don Bosco Sha (Salesian Press).
Mateo, Ibarra Crisostomo (1995). «Collapsible Community: A Catholic Church and its Multiple Roles in the Lives of Ethnic Filipino Catholic Migrants in Central Tokyo.» Master's of Arts Thesis. Tokyo: Graduate Program in Comparative Cultures, Sophia University.
McGrath, Alister E. (2001). Christian Theology: An Introduction . Victoria, Australia: Blackwell Publishing.
McJilton, Charles (1999). «Japanese Christian Identity: Personal Portraits of Faith.» Japan Christian Activity News (JCAN) 723–724 (Summer). Available at: <http://www.ucanews.com/html/fabc-papers/fabc-86.htm> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Michael, Sherrill (2003). «Christian Churches in the Postwar Period.» In: Handbook of Christianity in Japan , edited by Mark R. Mullins. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, pp. 163–180.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2007). «Vital Statistics for Japan.» Tokyo: Statistics and Information Department, Minister's Secretariat, Health and Welfare Statistics Association. Available at: <http://winet.nwec.jp/cgi-bin/toukei/load/bin/tk_sql.cgi?syocho=52&hno=0&rto=0&fopt=1> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Moltmann. Jürgen (1993). The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God . Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
Mr. Akita (2009). Interview with the author conducted in Tokyo on April 10.
Mullins, Mark R. (1998). Christianity Made in Japan: A Study of Indigenous Movements . Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.
Mullins, Mark R. (1987). «The Life-Cycle of Ethnic Churches in Sociological Perspective.» Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 14, no. 4 (Fall): pp. 321–334.
Nicolas, Adolfo (2004). Gaikoku to Tomo ni Tsukuru Kyoukai [a church built with foreigners]. Tokyo: Katorikku Ishikawa Kyōkai Fukuin Senkyōbu.
Nicolas, Adolfo (2008). «Interview Record 1: Building a Church with Foreigners.» The Journal of Sophia Asian Studies 26: pp. 97–112.
Phan, Peter C. (2008). Being Religious Interreligiously: Asian Perspectives on Interfaith Dialogue . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (2005). Ijusha he no Kirisuto no Ai [The love of Christ towards the immigrants]. Tokyo: Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan.
Pope Paul VI (1964). «Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium.» Vatican City, November 21. Available at: <http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Pope Paul VI (1965). «Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes.» Vatican City, December 7. Available at: <http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Pope Paul VII (1975). « Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi.» Vatican City, December 8. Available at: <http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Ramachandra, Vinoth (2008). Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping our World . London: Ashford Colour Press.
Sasoyama, Haruo, Nobu Sato, Ayahiko Gomi and Toshihiko Takamoku (2017). Nihon Shi: Shōsetsu [Japanese history: Recitation]. Tokyo: Yamagawa Shuppansha.
Sobrino, Jon (2004). Jesus the Liberator: A Historical-Theological View . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Statistics Bureau (2015). Japan Statistical Yearbook 2017: Chapter 2 - Population and Households . Tokyo: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Available at: <http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/nenkan/66nenkan/1431-02.htm> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].
Suzuki, Ryu (2004). «Evangelization in Japan Today: An Interview with Frs. Kasuya Koichi, Okumura Ichiro and Inoue Yoji.» Japan Mission Journal 58, no. 2 (Summer): pp. 79–85.
Terada, Takefumi (2003). «Christianity and the Japanese Occupation.» In: Philippines-Japan Relations , edited by Ikehata Setsuho and Lydia N. Yu Jose. Quezon City, Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press, pp. 223–260.
Thelle, Notto R. (1987). Buddhism and Christianity in Japan: From Conflict to Dialogue 1854–1899 . Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2000). Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity . Washington, D.C.: USCCB Publishing.

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Brazal, Agnes M. (2008). «Cultural Rights of Migrants: A Philosophical and Theological Exploration.» In: Faith on the Move: Toward a Theology of Migration in Asia , edited by Fabio Baggio and Agnes Brazal. Quezon City, Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press, pp. 68–92.

[2] Bosch, David J. (1993). Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shift in Theology of Mission . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

[3] Catholic Archdiocese of Osaka (1998). Putting New Life into the Osaka Diocese of Tomorrow: A Friendly, Open Church, a Witness to Everything the Gospel Stands for . Osaka: Catholic Archdiocese of Osaka.

[4] Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan (CBCJ) (1990). Fukuin o Nobetsutaeru [Proclaiming the Gospel]. Tokyo: CBCJ.

[5] Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan (2006). Statistics of the Catholic Church of Japan, 2006 . Tokyo: CBCJ. Available at: <http://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/jpn/data/st05/statistics2005.pdf> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[6] Cary, Otis (1976). A History of Christianity in Japan: Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox, and Protestant Missions , Vol. 1. Rutland: Charles E. Tuttle Company.

[7] Clammer, John (2001). Japan and Its Others: Globalization, Difference, and the Critique of Modernity . Melbourne: Trans Pacific Press.

[8] Earhart, Byron H. (1982). Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

[9] Encyclopædia Britannica (2017). «Shichi-go-san festival, Japan.» Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shichi-go-san> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[10] Endō, Shūsaku (1966). Chinmoku [silence]. Tokyo: Shinchosha.

[11] Endō, Shūsaku (1969). Silence , translated by William Johnston. London: Peter Owen Publishers.

[12] Fernandez, Eleazar (2002). «From Babel to Pentecost: Finding a Home in the Belly of the Empire.» Semeia 90–91: pp. 29–50.

[13] Flannery, Austin (1996). Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, Vol. 1 . New York, NY: Costello Publishing Company.

[14] Gallagher, Michael P. (1998). Clashing Symbols . New York, NY: Paulist Press.

[15] Gaillardetz, Richard R. (2008). Ecclesiology for a Global Church: A People Called and Sent . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

[16] Gatpatan, Agnes V. (2006). «Kyōkai dewa Mishiranu Kyaku wa Inai» [There are no invisible guests in the church]. CTIC Nyuusu 54 (December): pp. 2–3.

[17] González Iñárritu, Alejandro, dir. (2006). Babel , 143 minutes, Paramount Vantage, DVD.

[18] Hara, Makoto (1990). «A Study of the Position of Christianity in Indonesian History.» Waseda University Institute of Social Sciences 25: pp. 55–86.

[19] Hardy, Arther Sherburne (1980). Life and Letters of Joseph Hardy Neesima . Kyoto: Doshisha University Press.

[20] Hinze, Bradford E. (1998). «Ethnic and Racial Diversity and the Catholicity of the Church.» In: Theology: Expanding the Borders , edited by María Pilar Aquino and Roberto S. Goizueta. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, pp. 162–199.

[21] Iwai, Shuma (2008). «Japanese Christianity in the Meiji Era: An Analysis of Ebina Danjo's Perspective on Shintoistic Christianity.» Transformation: An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies 25, No. 4: pp. 195–204.

[22] Kitagawa, Joseph M. (1966). Religion in Japanese History . New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

[23] Komuro, Naoko (2003). «Christianity and Ancestor Worship in Japan.» Studies in World Christianity 9, No. 1: pp. 60–68.

[24] Lande, Aasulv (1993). «Christianity's ‘Three Waves’.» In: Japanese Religions: Past and Present , edited by Ian Reader, Esben Andreasen, and Finn Stefánsson. Honolulu, HI: Hawai'i University Press, pp. 155–160.

[25] «Martyres» Editorial Committee, ed. (2008). Full Sail With the Wind of Grace: Peter Kibe and 187 Martyrs , translated by Sakura Izumi and Margaret Peate. Tokyo: Don Bosco Sha (Salesian Press).

[26] Mateo, Ibarra Crisostomo (1995). «Collapsible Community: A Catholic Church and its Multiple Roles in the Lives of Ethnic Filipino Catholic Migrants in Central Tokyo.» Master's of Arts Thesis. Tokyo: Graduate Program in Comparative Cultures, Sophia University.

[27] McGrath, Alister E. (2001). Christian Theology: An Introduction . Victoria, Australia: Blackwell Publishing.

[28] McJilton, Charles (1999). «Japanese Christian Identity: Personal Portraits of Faith.» Japan Christian Activity News (JCAN) 723–724 (Summer). Available at: <http://www.ucanews.com/html/fabc-papers/fabc-86.htm> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[29] Michael, Sherrill (2003). «Christian Churches in the Postwar Period.» In: Handbook of Christianity in Japan , edited by Mark R. Mullins. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, pp. 163–180.

[30] Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2007). «Vital Statistics for Japan.» Tokyo: Statistics and Information Department, Minister's Secretariat, Health and Welfare Statistics Association. Available at: <http://winet.nwec.jp/cgi-bin/toukei/load/bin/tk_sql.cgi?syocho=52&hno=0&rto=0&fopt=1> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[31] Moltmann. Jürgen (1993). The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God . Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

[32] Mr. Akita (2009). Interview with the author conducted in Tokyo on April 10.

[33] Mullins, Mark R. (1998). Christianity Made in Japan: A Study of Indigenous Movements . Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.

[34] Mullins, Mark R. (1987). «The Life-Cycle of Ethnic Churches in Sociological Perspective.» Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 14, no. 4 (Fall): pp. 321–334.

[35] Nicolas, Adolfo (2004). Gaikoku to Tomo ni Tsukuru Kyoukai [a church built with foreigners]. Tokyo: Katorikku Ishikawa Kyōkai Fukuin Senkyōbu.

[36] Nicolas, Adolfo (2008). «Interview Record 1: Building a Church with Foreigners.» The Journal of Sophia Asian Studies 26: pp. 97–112.

[37] Phan, Peter C. (2008). Being Religious Interreligiously: Asian Perspectives on Interfaith Dialogue . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

[38] Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (2005). Ijusha he no Kirisuto no Ai [The love of Christ towards the immigrants]. Tokyo: Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan.

[39] Pope Paul VI (1964). «Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium.» Vatican City, November 21. Available at: <http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[40] Pope Paul VI (1965). «Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes.» Vatican City, December 7. Available at: <http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[41] Pope Paul VII (1975). « Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi.» Vatican City, December 8. Available at: <http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[42] Ramachandra, Vinoth (2008). Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping our World . London: Ashford Colour Press.

[43] Sasoyama, Haruo, Nobu Sato, Ayahiko Gomi and Toshihiko Takamoku (2017). Nihon Shi: Shōsetsu [Japanese history: Recitation]. Tokyo: Yamagawa Shuppansha.

[44] Sobrino, Jon (2004). Jesus the Liberator: A Historical-Theological View . Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

[45] Statistics Bureau (2015). Japan Statistical Yearbook 2017: Chapter 2 - Population and Households . Tokyo: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Available at: <http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/nenkan/66nenkan/1431-02.htm> [Accessed on August 25, 2017].

[46] Suzuki, Ryu (2004). «Evangelization in Japan Today: An Interview with Frs. Kasuya Koichi, Okumura Ichiro and Inoue Yoji.» Japan Mission Journal 58, no. 2 (Summer): pp. 79–85.

[47] Terada, Takefumi (2003). «Christianity and the Japanese Occupation.» In: Philippines-Japan Relations , edited by Ikehata Setsuho and Lydia N. Yu Jose. Quezon City, Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press, pp. 223–260.

[48] Thelle, Notto R. (1987). Buddhism and Christianity in Japan: From Conflict to Dialogue 1854–1899 . Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.

[49] United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2000). Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity . Washington, D.C.: USCCB Publishing.

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