02 November 2008
Did you know our PM is Catholic?
Suprised to know our prime minister, Taro Aso is Catholic. I just recently learned that. He was elected on 25 of September this year.
But none of Japanese media reported his religious faith. He's been known as potential candidate for PM long time before. It has never become the issue.
I learned that by reading articles in BBC, CNN, FOX and Roman Catholic website.
Maybe you wonder why. Only a few percent of the population is Chrisitian in Japan. They are minority and experienced oppression during 16 to 19th century. But the thing is we really don't care. Are we atheist? No, actually Japan is known to be Budhist society and has many many Budhist temples. But native religion of Japan is Shinto. Shinto is polytheist. We welcome any kind of religion and personal religious faith doesn't matter to politics or so on. We rarely talk about religion in our daily life.
In recent politics, PM's visiting Shrines that memorize A-class war criminals has been controversial. He visited there, too although he is a follower of monotheist religion. Shiton has been considered kind of festivity or national symbolic spirit, not as religion you should be dedicated to.
In Western society, religious faith seemed to be a very big deal in politics and social issues such as abortion, homosexuality.
To tell you the truth I am Christian, too. I do not support him nor his party. Strangely I just feel intimate to him although I think he is most unqualified PM in history. Iraq war has been regarded as "Wholly war" by crusaders. Scary!
As far as I've checked his action and speech, I cannot find him practicing Christian. He caused tensions with neighboring nations by making provocative statements. He insulted the victims of the disastors, altzheimer patients and many others. He called opposition party as Nazis. His prime mister status wouldn't last so long because he is very, very unpopular so is his party. Soon enough, the parliament would be dissolved and new election will be coming up.
The nation would judge him and his administration and choose who to rule Japan. He will learn true meaning of the wholly bible words "Judge not others lest ye be judged."
Then he will shout "Jesus Christ!"
13:05 Posted in Japan News, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | Tags: religion