"Please, do NOT pray for Japan.."

[AsahinaKimi]

99. Two years ago

Last edited Tue Mar 12, 2013, 01:23 AM - Edit history (1)

Buddhist Priest writes the word "Kizuna" .

"Lets Pray for Japan" almost became a slogan on Facebook and around the internet. We have seen disasters in Haiti, in China, and even here in the United States and during those events, no one ever made a huge slogan out of "Lets pray for this place." Why Japan? I have
a theory about it..

In Japan less than 1% of the population are Christians. Missionaries have been trying for years to convert the Japanese to Christianity, and yet they have not been able to do so. A lot might have to do with the History of Japan, and how the Shogun threw out many of the visitors to Japan, and had demanded that the converted Christians go with them. Those that didn't leave were slaughtered. The lords of Japan didn't want this "new" Religion there. Japan started out as Shinto ... and many years later the first Chinese Buddhist priests came to Japan, trying to spread their teachings of the Buddha.

Shintoists and Buddhist fought each other to maintain control, but eventually because of very smart Buddhist Priest, the two religions merged and became apart of each other. Buddhism for the dying... Shinto for the living. They worked hand in hand in this concept.

Now suddenly you had Portuguese Catholic priest showing up on the shores of Japan.. trying to convert the people to Christianity. You can imagine how well that went, especially after the fighting about which religion would be apart of Japan.. Buddhism or Shinto.

Japanese are very superstitious people. To become Christian was almost like inviting bad luck. Mormon Missionaries have tried to go to Japan to convert the Japanese, but have always come back disappointed. Other Christian groups have tried to go to Japan and convert them as well..only to be turned back. While Christianity has done well in South Korea and even China... Japan was a nut that could not be cracked, only because of its history.

This slogan of "Pray for Japan" was put forth probably because it made sense to Christians.. but probably made no real sense to the people of Japan.

Some of you may remember this badge:


The kanji reads: Kizuna (bonds, ties, fetters) This badge represented something that makes sense to the Japanese people. We will never give up.. We are bond together.. We have the fighting spirit to go on no matter what. What I like to call the "ganbatte" spirit... or do your best. Kids going to school are often told "ganbatte kudasai.. Ganbariyo!" do your best. This is ingrained in Japanese culture.

This makes more sense than to sit and pray for something, hoping it will happen. Get out there and endure.. we are bond together.. do your best.