This week, Saint Patrick’s Day is being celebrated worldwide, including
in Japan, where fifteen parades and Irish festivals occur this time every year.
The paraders are all Japanese: step dancers, harp players, and céilidh
bands. While Japan is typically associated with Shintoism, the
Catholic Church has a long history in that country, including their own
Catholic saints.
Indeed, Nagasaki was founded in the mid 16h century by
Portuguese Catholics with the hope that it the city would become a significant
Christian center for the Far East. The Japanese government first supported the
missionaries because the potential for trade with Spain and Portugal, but by
the end of the century, that same government became threatened by foreign
influence and possible colonialism. Part of the way that the government
responded was to ban Christianity and persecute Catholics. As a result, in
Catholic history, Nagasaki became known for the 26 Catholics martyrs crucified
there in 1597. One of the martyrs was the Jesuit priest Paul Miki, who was
sainted; the day of the crucifixion became his feast day: February 6. Since
then Catholicism has faced challenges in Japan, and finally experienced acceptance
with about half a million practitioners. Nevertheless, in some Japanese
circles, Catholicism is still viewed as a foreign religion.
As for Tomoko, she served as an organist for the nearby Catholic
cathedral while in college, and she converted to Catholicism just before she
graduated. Tomoko’s experience at the cathedral was deeply artistic
and visceral. “Both the Dominicans there and the whole Catholic mindset
reflected international values of care and service,” she recalled. Catholics
are worldwide and have universal values – as does music.
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