Japanese Church Concept

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Maximilian75

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What do you think of this? This church in Japan has traditional Japanese-style mats rather than pews…
  • Yes, I like this concept
  • No, I do not like this concept for (x) reason (comment below)
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Personally, I really like it

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Beautiful church. It makes sense to have what works for the culture.
 
I’ve not got a problem with that, I think it’s really cool.
 
Look at how The Stations of the Cross are tipped at a downwards angle! That way people on the mats can still see them! 💖:hugs:😊
 
From my understanding pews are a Protestant addition to churches anyway…so I have no issues with this.
 
Very beautiful. I have bad joints (even though I’m only 20) so the mats wouldn’t work too well for me, but it’s beautiful nonetheless.
 
As another person too young to have joint issues but do…it can actually be way more comfortable to sit and kneel correctly than on a wood pew and slightly cushioned kneeler.

That said if you go to one of those parishes with cushy seats…
 
ughhh… Its just me, but I honestly could sleep in some of those pews…

A small amout of uncomfortability is good in Mass, I would say… It keeps us alert and attentive, IMO.
 
yes as long as they celebrate the mass and Eucharist I have no problem, as another poster mentioned its a cultural preference
 
I think that sanctuary is breathtakingly beautiful.

I am already accustomed to hanging out on my yoga mat from time to time, so attending that church would be easy for me.

I am not sure why but, it somehow reminded me of the “Christ in the Desert” monastery here in New Mexico where there is a group of Benedictine Monks:
 
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Maximilian75 said:
ughhh… Its just me, but I honestly could sleep in some of those pews…
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With my back, and having travelled to Asia and eaten while sitting on the floor, sitting on those mats would be plenty uncomfortable for me.

But otherwise I do like the concept and it’s a brilliant example of how we can marry Catholicism with local culture, which just IMHO underscores the “universal” nature of the Church.

For the traditionalists, I see it also has a communion rail and tabernacle on the high altar. If you removed the table altar you could celebrate ad orientem either form of the Mass (although this begs: would it be ad occidental as we expect Jesus to come from the Middle East, which is West of Japan? LOL!)
 
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Maximilian75 said:
This church in Japan has traditional Japanese-style prayer mats rather than pews…
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Nit-picking correction – they aren’t “prayer mats”; they are tatami mats, and they make up the floor of every traditional Japanese home.

During my second USAF tour in Japan, my wife was a practicing Catholic, but I was a Pentecostal. Nevertheless, I went with her to Mass a few times at the downtown Catholic church (i.e., not at the chapel on the base). That church had pews, for which blessing I was grateful 😃

Edit to add: I like it, too, especially the altar rail ❤️ I’m in my early 70s, but I think I’m still flexible enough to attend Mass at that church.

D
 
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If you are not Japanese, you don’t have a dog in this fight.

Its like asking an American, what are your thoughts of eating cold soba noodles, or raw fish, or yakitori baby sparrows…whether the American likes it or not is neither here nor there.

What would be the Japanese reaction to the American use of pews matter?
 
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I think its an interesting whatif… for an Adoration chapel or something similar, I would really like being able to do this.
 
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