XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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Do you think Japanese people are religious?

Religion in Japan: Coexistence and Influence


When foreigners ask Japanese people about their religious beliefs, they may receive unclear answers or find that many Japanese individuals have little interest in religion. While most Japanese people don't identify with a specific religion, they still practice various religious customs. For example, they celebrate the New Year in the traditional Shintō way. They also attend seasonal festivals at Shintō shrines, visit cemeteries on spring and autumn equinoxes, and pray for their ancestors during the midsummer festival called "obon," which has Buddhist origins. Additionally, it is common for Japanese people to obtain amulets from Shintō shrines or Buddhist temples for various purposes, such as passing school exams or preventing accidents. Weddings are often conducted in either the Shintō or Christian style, while funerals follow Buddhist traditions.



One may wonder how the Japanese can embrace Shintō, Christianity, and Buddhism without feeling conflicts. In terms of Christianity, it is primarily associated with wedding ceremonies, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. Japanese wedding ceremonies can be conducted in Shintō or Christian style, often followed by a banquet. In recent years, Christian traditions have gained popularity in Japan, with Christmas being more of a celebration of happiness rather than a religious event. Christmas Eve, in particular, is seen as a romantic day when couples spend time together and exchange gifts. Valentine's Day, although not a national holiday, is a time when women show affection to men by giving them chocolates. However, it is important to note that Christians make up less than 1% of the population in Japan, and Christianity has not been widely recognised as a dominant religion with significant influence over the people.


Regarding the relationship between Shintō and Buddhism, there was a historical conflict between the two religions, but that conflict no longer exists. The Japanese now consider both religions as part of a unified belief system. According to a survey conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2018, there were 87,219,808 Shintō believers and 84,336,539 Buddhists in Japan, resulting in a total of 181,329,376 individuals who identified with either Shintō or Buddhism. This number surpasses Japan's total population of 124,218,000 in 2018, indicating that a significant portion of the Japanese population adheres to these two religions.



The coexistence of Shintō and Buddhism without conflicts can be attributed to two factors. Firstly, Buddhism demonstrated flexibility when it reached Japan, absorbing and accommodating many aspects of local religions in East Asia. Secondly, the concept of “Honji-suijaku”, originating from Chinese Buddhism, influenced the understanding of deities or kami in Shintō. This concept interprets Japanese gods as manifestations of the original substance of buddhas or bodhisattvas. Buddhism's adaptability and the belief in the interconnectedness of Japanese gods with Buddhist deities contributed to the harmonious coexistence of these two religions.


It is worth noting that the majority of Japanese people may not be consciously aware of their religious beliefs until prompted by questions or research. Nonetheless, religious customs and traditions continue to play a significant role in Japanese culture and society.


Reference

  • Agency for Cultural Affairs. (2019). the annual statistical research on religion in 2018. Retrieved from https://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/tokeichosa/shumu/
  • Ōsumi, K. (1992). Religion in Japan (Richard Foster Trans ). Public Relations Dept. Corporate Secretariat Div, Nippon Steel Corporation (Eds.) Essays on Japan from Japan I (pp. 20-21). Tokyo, Maruzen Co. Ltd..  
  • Honji-suijaku. (2016, March 6). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/honji-suijaku
  • Shintō. (n.d.). In Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/Shintō
  • Statistics Bureau of Japan. (2019). Demographics of Japan. Retrieved from https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/2018np/index.html


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Location: Japan

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