Happy Holidays! メリークリスマス
In Japan even though they are not Christian, they say, “Merry Christmas!” If you go to Japan and somebody say that, please do not feel happy or sad. Angry or offended. They can’t think that religion is important for non Japanese people . Japanese people do not practice their religion daily, they follow some manners, ceremonies, rituals. In ancient time there are many gods in Japan so it may be easy for them to think there are many gods and everybody has their god, not only god.
So they haven’t had a sense of political correctness like here in the States. It seems to be rude or unacceptable to you but I would like you to know that Japanese respect all religions and all gods so they accept the events and phrases as long as they don’t disturb them.No religion like Aum Shinrikyo.
| Aum Shinrikyo; Japanese religious group responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway |
In Christmas there a Christian church in Japan and non Christian people go to church and sing hymns. Strange?
Among japanese people Shinto and Buddhism is mixed and live along together in their life style. Sinto in new year. They go o to Shinto Shrine. Buddhism in funeral and on December 31st. Most of people have a Buddhist funeral, even though they have never visited a Buddhist temple. On December 31st, they hear the gongs of the temple. 108 gongs means human selfish desires which anybody has . The gongs clear them and they can get ready for a new year and new self.
In modern Japan religion live along together except strange ones which harm society and hurt people. I use “THEY” because I tried to see Japanese from outside, though I am Japanese.
Happy Holidays!
#Japanese #culture #Christmas #Happy Holiday # Japan # visit