Christian influence over Japan's pop Culture

[Retro_Ace]

There are a few pieces of pop culture in Japan that seem to show Christian values

Rainbowman: Warrior of Love-This man used to be a violent thug, but traveling to India he met a wise monk who taught him the ways of peace and love. With his new power (ability to change between 7 different forms each with a different ability), he fights an evil organization that is obsessed with starting another world war. Teaches ideas of forgiveness.

Space Sheriff Shaider: the 3rd Metal Hero and last installment of the Space Sheriff Saga, Shaider’s codename is named after an ancient warrior(kinda like King Arthur) whose teachings are the Galatic Union Police founded off of, the teachings in the warrior’s time taught others to change their wicked ways, rebelling against a tyrannical cult(think an evil space pagan cult) who returns back in the late 80’s to take over earth by brainwashing the minds of children, animals, and students into obedience while the older ones are attack with monsters and henchmen. There are alot of good christian morals in this. Also alot of G.K. Chesterton qoutes can fit this series

 

[kantus12]

Maybe, but be careful about attributing specifically Christian influences to themes found in a show made by a culture with little exposure to our faith. The “monk tells a violent man to reform his ways”, for instance, is probably the result of Buddhism more than Christianity, especially since the monk was Indian. Now, I’d love to see an anime really consider things from a Christian perspective, because it would be interesting to see someone reflect upon our Lord and the mysteries of the Faith in a specifically Japanese way. It’d be interesting to see how they’d reconcile (or not) the truths of the Faith with the things that Japanese culture traditionally values (loyalty to one’s lord/superior even if he tells you to do something immoral, etc). I mean, it happened at least once before (the Germanic pagans learned to accept Jesus despite their culture and religion’s glorification of physical power and strength).

In other words, it might be Christian, but, in Japan, you should probably assume that such things are the result of Buddhist or perhaps Confucian influence, unless something particularly Christian is mentioned.

 

[Retro_Ace]

Maybe, but be careful about attributing specifically Christian influences to themes found in a show made by a culture with little exposure to our faith. The “monk tells a violent man to reform his ways”, for instance, is probably the result of Buddhism more than Christianity, especially since the monk was Indian. Now, I’d love to see an anime really consider things from a Christian perspective, because it would be interesting to see someone reflect upon our Lord and the mysteries of the Faith in a specifically Japanese way. It’d be interesting to see how they’d reconcile (or not) the truths of the Faith with the things that Japanese culture traditionally values (loyalty to one’s lord/superior even if he tells you to do something immoral, etc). I mean, it happened at least once before (the Germanic pagans learned to accept Jesus despite their culture and religion’s glorification of physical power and strength).

In other words, it might be Christian, but, in Japan, you should probably assume that such things are the result of Buddhist or perhaps Confucian influence, unless something particularly Christian is mentioned.

I think Digimon has more of that influence, the heroes have virtues and sacraments of Christian origin while the 7 deadly sins represent the villains

 

[kantus12]

I think Digimon has more of that influence, the heroes have virtues and sacraments of Christian origin while the 7 deadly sins represent the villains

IIRC, Digimon has “crests” which represent various virtues, one of which (Honesty, translated as Reliability in the English version) is represented with a cross (!). They do also feature Hope and Love, so I suppose that you might be able to make that argument. However, I’m not aware that any of the villains were based off of the Deadly Sins (although Etemon was exceptionally vain), and I know that one season (Tamers) had villains based upon the Zodiac (the Devas, if I recall their names correctly) and Chinese paganism (the four animal “gods”). So I’m not exactly sure how applicable the “Christian influences” of Digimon are.

 

[Retro_Ace]

IIRC, Digimon has “crests” which represent various virtues, one of which (Honesty, translated as Reliability in the English version) is represented with a cross (!). They do also feature Hope and Love, so I suppose that you might be able to make that argument. However, I’m not aware that any of the villains were based off of the Deadly Sins (although Etemon was exceptionally vain), and I know that one season (Tamers) had villains based upon the Zodiac (the Devas, if I recall their names correctly) and Chinese paganism (the four animal “gods”). So I’m not exactly sure how applicable the “Christian influences” of Digimon are.

Well I believe Angemon or Magna Angemon were based of Gabriel, the pagan stuff was just to paint a picture, and in Degimon Frontier Ranamon was Lust and Vanity and Mercurymon was of Pride, and Lucimon we all know who he is based off of.

 

[Tenofovir]

Interesting info here in a Pew poll done in 2011 in Japan.

Is belief in God necessary for someone to be a moral person?

pewglobal.org/2014/03/13/worldwide-many-see-belief-in-god-as-essential-to-morality/

In 2011, 42% of the Japanese said YES. This of course underplays the influence of religion, because not all religious people maintain that God belief is essential for morality in a person, many religious people also say it’s not necessary.

So reflection of quasi Christian and Christian values in anime is not so unheard of.

 

[Tenofovir]

Maybe, but be careful about attributing specifically Christian influences to themes found in a show made by a culture with little exposure to our faith.

Depends on the context. But remember that many of Japanese influential people are Christian/Catholic. Most PMs have been Catholic so far, for example. Catholic schools also enjoy a great reputation in Japan.

 

[BigShelf]

I’ve actually seen it portrayed ( neutrally or positively, too!) much more frequently in S. Korean works than Japanese ones, and I’ve read/watched more Japanese works than Korean ones.

 

[Pat_Payne]

Depends on the context. But remember that many of Japanese influential people are Christian/Catholic. Most PMs have been Catholic so far, for example. Catholic schools also enjoy a great reputation in Japan.

Maybe it’s the last vestiges of Missouri in me, but I’d like a “show me” on that assertion.

 

[Tenofovir]

Maybe it’s the last vestiges of Missouri in me, but I’d like a “show me” on that assertion.

From Wiki, on Christianity in Japan:

( I was a little off, most are not Catholic but Christian which includes us, still a good number are Catholic ) and maybe not most but surprisingly many for a country of 1% Christians:

Christian Prime Ministers

While Christians account only for less than 1% of the population, there have been eight Christian Prime Ministers in Japan.
Roman Catholic

Hara Takashi – leader of the 19th government and the 10th Prime Minister.
Shigeru Yoshida – leader of the 45th, 48th, 49th, 50th, and 51st governments and the 32nd Prime Minister.
Taro Aso – leader of the 92nd government and the 59th Prime Minister.

Protestant

Viscount Takahashi Korekiyo – leader of the 20th government and the 11th Prime Minister.
Tetsu Katayama – leader of the 46th government and the 33rd Prime Minister.
Ichirō Hatoyama – leader the 52nd, 53rd, and 54th governments and the 35th Prime Minister.
Masayoshi Ōhira – leader of the 68th and 69th governments and the 43rd Prime Minister.
Yukio Hatoyama – leader of the 94th government and the 61st Prime Minister.