The Church in Japan

[The_Augustinian]

Since I’m currently studying economics in Japan until January, I go to Mass regularly here. The masses here are much more reverent than the ones back home (Honolulu).

Now, I can only base my assessment on the three parishes I attended: Kanda, Yotsuya, and Kichijouji.

Kanda: Under the patronage of St. Francis Xavier, who first evangelized Japan, Kanda Church is the most conservative parish: most of the women wear veils, the hymns are beautiful, the priest chants the Eucharistic Prayer, and the architecture is beautiful. However, there were three things which made it less than ideal. First is the practice of intinction in receiving communion (the communicant dips the Host into the Cup before communicating). Second is clapping during the Mass, although it is restricted to baptisms. Finally, there is a lack of regular confession hours.

Yotsuya: On the campus of Sophia University, St. Ignatius Church is well-served by the Jesuits. There is never a shortage of priests, and there are many foreign parishioners. Confession is two hours every week-day, four hours on Saturday, and during all the Sunday Masses. Most of the women wear veils. However, I don’t like the “church in the round” architecture as well as the lack of icons, and there’s a Folk Mass every month. However, these are very minor gripes.

Kichijouji: This parish has no kneelers, and there is no regular confession. There are also very few icons. Other than that, the Masses themselves have no huge abuses as I have seen them.

Another note about Masses in Japan: for the Sign of Peace, the Japanese bow instead of shake hands, which is something I personally prefer.

Overall, Japanese Catholics seem slightly more devout, and they’re better singers, too!

Shu wa, mina-san to tomo ni (The Lord be with you),

The Augustinian

 

[Minerva]

what kind of music do they sing? Traditional Latin, traditional Japanese music, European hymns translated into Japanese?

I also once read an article about a new Catholic church built in Kobe or Kyoto made entirely of paper. It was supposed to be safer for earthquakes (the city had just been devastated by a quake). Have you seen it?

 

[The_Augustinian]

Minerva:

what kind of music do they sing? Traditional Latin, traditional Japanese music, European hymns translated into Japanese?

I also once read an article about a new Catholic church built in Kobe or Kyoto made entirely of paper. It was supposed to be safer for earthquakes (the city had just been devastated by a quake). Have you seen it?

I haven’t been outside the Tokyo area, so I have heard of such a church, though it sounds interesting. Perhaps I will make a visit. As for the music, it is usually translated European hymns, or Japanese hymns which sound European. I have never heard any Latin hymns, though quite a few (Tantum Ergo, etc.) are in the hymnals. There are no Indult masses here, either.

In Christ,

The Augustinian

 

[yinekka]

Re self intinction, maybe you could show the priest a copy of Redemptionis Sacramentum (if he reads English), it is available on the iInternet.

 

[The_Augustinian]

Another thing which impresses me is the fact that in the Catholic bookstores here, the GIRM (General Intructions on the Roman Missal) is prominently displayed here in a Japanese translation.

 

[cestusdei]

Omoshiroi desu neh. I went to Mass in Japan. Swiss priests, but I wasn’t yet aware of how Mass is supposed to be said to comment. But the Japanese did seem very devout.