I was looking for religion when I was on a trip to Japan in 2001 (I was baptized Catholic as an infant but not raised in the Faith). I was considering Buddhism and was checking out temples there. While looking for the Daibutsu statue in Kamakura I accidentally wondered into Yukinoshita Catholic Church. On the way home I got stranded in Canada for four days because I was flying on 9/11. I had a rosary (my mother had packed it in my bag for good luck) so I asked Jesus to help us get home (I had no idea what to do with the rosary or how to pray it). I started going to Mass and fell in love. I realized that while I was literally looking for Buddha I found Christ's Church. I got confirmed in 2003 and I've been Catholic since. I am now very devoted to Blessed Justus Takayama Ukon, the Catholic samurai warlord who was beatified in 2017. A friend of mine, another devotee to Bl. Takayama, said Japan is fertile ground, but it needs someone to sow the seeds. Thanks for the video.
I could bet after the Catholic Church have it’s first Japanese Pope is going to be the beginning of falling from grace of the USA, to say that Nostradamus predictions will be revealed, as in a way that America will no longer becomes a superpower after a pope from Japan. That is also a good video about Japanese Pope and America’s falling from grace as the USA will no longer becomes a superpower.
I was stationed in Japan while an Army nurse from November 1971 to Nov 1974. The hospital was in Sagamiono and I was able to live in a Japanese home that we rented. I left a piece of my heart in Japan and fell in love with the people. How I would love to visit the land of the rising sun again. I became a Catholic in 2018 as the Holy Spirit led me away from Protestantism and into arms of Jesus and our Holy Mother. I will pray for the conversion of the Japanese. I will continue to follow you on you tube.
On a personal note, the Japanese Culture meshes incredibly well with the tenets of the Catholic Faith. My mother is from Hiroshima and shortly after the bombing, she and her immediate family moved to Hawaii where she ultimately met my Father who converted her to Catholicism. Shortly thereafter one after the other every relative of hers converted to Catholicism, to include her Father and eventually Step Mother (her mother perished in the bombing). Each and every one of them said that while it was very different from the Buddhist Religion that they came from, it made complete sense to them. She even named me Francis Xavier 😂. And, if you ask her, she’ll tell you that she’s certain that even my biological grandmother was baptized before her death, as there were Catholic Missionaries going around baptizing people right after the bombing.
I read “Silence” years before I converted to Catholicism (I had no idea of Christianity whatsoever at the time). Japan was compared to a muddy ground for Christianity and it seems like that to me now. Let’s pray for Japan.
I used to go to a Catholic church in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture. The local priest was a very elderly, wise French priest who passed away during my stay there. RIP Father Charles-André.
I'm from the Philippines, and my paternal Chinese ancestor adopted the surname "Javier" after San Francisco Xavier on his conversion into Christianity. Been discerning to fully live up to it by doing missionary work there in the future ever since I met a Filipino Jesuit priest who had lived in Hiroshima between the mid 1950s until the 1990s. Definitely keeping Japan in my prayers more, for how beautiful it would be if the seeds of the Faith San Xavier had planted centuries before were to bloom into a Catholic renaissance.
I have a lot of hope for catholicism in japan since it did start growing there in the past and i find the japanese martyrs and the japanese who kept catholicism alive after the persecution when there were almost no priests there very inspirational.
My wife and I were in Japan last year for a total of about 3 months and while it was difficult to find Catholic churches in some places, we were able to go to mass multiple times in multiple cities. Our favorite experience was in Yurihonjo in the Akita province. The church was so small and of course we couldn’t understand the exact words (we don’t speak Japanese) but it brought us so much joy to see the reverence and respect the small amount of worshipers displayed. After mass they were overjoyed to have visitors come join them for mass (especially being so soon after Covid) and were very exuberant in their attempt at communication with us. My wife and I love the Japanese people so much and we can totally see how they would make such good Catholics if only it could be spread and allowed to grow there! We will be praying for Japan and cannot wait for the opportunity to visit again!
I'm not catholic, im just a Christian, but if you are Japanese or in an area that is very heavy with nonbelievers, then hear me out. I decided i would pray every single day at least once, for an amazing testimony to share with people. In my heart, i believed i would have kept praying for the rest of my life, if i had too. So after 8 months or so, God gave an AMAZING testimony that is very real... Then, that event strengthened my faith to the point that i started getting amazing prayers answered very often because i quit doubting... and was alinged with the Bibles instructions. Then, i started copying and pasting my testimony all over these RU-vid comment sections and sharing it with people id meet... Im telling you, it adds up and sharing your testimony gets easy to do... Especially if its online. THIS way of reaching the masses is so effective and easy...
I have lovely memories of living in Japan for two years in the mid-70s. My parish church was at Katase near Enoshima but I would sometimes go to Mass at the Catholic church in Fujisawa as well. The priests at both churches were Irish Columban Father missionaries, and both churches were always very well attended for Sunday Mass. I was so impressed by all the Japanese Catholics I met at these churches. They were always kind and patient with me as I tried to learn to speak Japanese. My Japanese was never quite good enough to join in the responses at Mass. But now, as a little project in my old age, I am re-learning my prayers in Japanese, and can confidently recite the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be in Japanese, so the next step is to start saying the rosary in Japanese. I am also working my way through the text of the Mass in Japanese and hope soon to be able to follow Sunday Mass from a Japanese church on the Internet. May God bless Japan and its wonderful people.
When the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, the Nagatsuka Jesuit novitiate remained standing. Roughly 4.5 km from the epicenter of the blast, These Jesuits went down in history as the Hiroshima Eight. They survived the explosion that had instantly killed 86% of the people in an eight block radius. The Franciscan Convent built by St. Maximilian Kolbe also remained standing. The Polish saint, martyred in the concentration camp at Auschwitz during that same war, had decided to build the convent in a location that many thought was poorly chosen because it was not near the center of the city. Despite this criticism, Maximilian insisted on a plot of land located behind a mountain. It was that mountain, in fact, that protected the convent when the atomic bomb destroyed the city
Just wanted to add that the 8 Jesuits were walking miracles because they did not suffer any radiation poisoning even years after surviving the blast with doctors unable to explain it
The Jesuits also survived the radiation of the Bomb even when the people who were further away from the epicenter suffered from radiation I have seen that the non Catholics or close minded people tend to say that the priests survived because the mountain blocked the blast without considering the big picture 😅😂😂🙏🙏
Like Daniel, I too converted to Christianity while living in Japan way back in 1999. I then came into the Catholic Church in 2002, praise Jesus. Thank you for this channel, Daniel, and for asking that we pray our rosaries for Japan. Bl. Takayama, pray for us! 我々にお祈り下さい
Christmas actually means Christ’s mass idk if many Catholics know this but I love to do research on the topic since my reversion in 2020. I will pray rosaries for you guys in Japan 🇯🇵❤️🕊️✝️🙏🏼 there are alot of true saints in the East some in Japan (that I know of) but there are alot in Korea too. The stories are all so beautiful they still make me cry today and I don’t like crying 🥹😅🥰
I think you are right, japanese have a culture that is very emphasizing of honor and obedience which are also catholic values. May God bless Japan with the catholic Faith! Japanese martyrs, pray for the conversion of your earthly country. Amen
Very informative. Thank you. I always thought that Catholicism would thrive in Japan due to their great discipline and devotion to duty. I agree with your thoughts about God having great plans for Japan that will be brought about by the blood of their martyrs.
I lived in Japan for 15 months can can relate to everything you said. I attended mass almost weekly and met Japanese Catholics and others from all over the world. The most beautiful church experience was Easter Vigil where 20 people got baptized and confirmed. But you right that for most of the public, religion seems to be cultural and not spiritual. One of the reason I was learning Japanese there was so I could better relay my faith. 日本に祈りましょう
Thanks for such refreshing video. I'm a fan and lover of the Japanese culture since I was very young. So, their Catholic history is one of the things I want to know more about. However, I've encountered very sad and pessimistic videos talking about Christianity, and in particular about Catholicism, in Japan in current times. I am happy to hear your story and your point of view about Japan; you remind me of hope for such a beautiful nation. I'll keep praying to the Lord for the conversion of Japan. My favorite saint is Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki. May the Lord bless you. Welcome Home and count on my prayers for you and your family as well.
I didn't know you live in Japan, I've always been drawn to the country from my childhood; even was studying japanese for a while. And I'm also a recent Catholic (been batised and confirmed this easter), and curiously I also felt a draw to Maximillian Kolbe, only to find out he was also active in Japan!
Thank you Daniel, for the presentation you made, referring to Japan and the place where you live your faith/Catholicism. Don't forget that you, in your own way, are part of HaMashiach's evangelists, and there you have work to do, no joke. To the glory of the LORD, I wish you full graces and prosperity in this line. Chazak u'varuch!
The Virgin Mother must have really wanted you ... ;-) ... probably because ... ... So glad to have another voice speaking for the Faith in Japan. God bless you and yours.
Firstly, I praise the Lord for your conversion to catholicism, the one true religion. Secondly, I cannot say how happy I am to have come across this video, the only one of yours I have ever seen, speaking about the Church in Japan. I am catholic, by the grace of God, and I am currently studying Japanese. I have always had a strong attraction for the Japanese people and their culture, even though I have never been there. I also speak Polish, so I was excited to learn that St. Maximilian Kolbe, one of my favourite saints, went to Japan on mission. I will certainly pray for Japan. Thank you again for your video. God bless +++
I always include Japan (along with India, China, Korea) in my prayers. I know it will be almost impossible all people convert, but I hope Our Lord give them a new opportunity to find Him and love Him 🙏
Crazy story about when Nagasaki was bombed. The Jesuit Church there was the only building left and it was at ground zero. A miracle. The Jesuits who survived ascribed the miracle to their community praying the rosary daily. Edit: None of the Jesuit priests at Ground Zero died or had complications from radiation after.
This is a miracle that I think should be more widely known. Catholicism has a number miracles that are either unknown or taken for granted but I think are very powerful.
I might be wrong but I think it was the Jesuit community in Hiroshima rather than Nagasaki that you are referring to. I only remember that because Nagasaki is the city with the most Catholics so I was surprised to learn that this had occurred in Hiroshima rather than Nagasaki. I think the community was made up mostly of German Jesuits who, being German, could move about relatively freely in wartime Japan.
Pray for the sanctification of Blessed Dom Justo Takayama Ukon, the Catholic Samurai. I believe his cause will be of great fruit for Japanese conversion to the faith!
I'm so glad that you made this video. I have been very curious about Catholicism in Japan. I will begin including the conversion of our Japanese brothers and sisters in our daily rosary.
Ave🌹Maria Read "Victories of the martyrs by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri doctor of the church. The second half of the book speaks of the Japanese martyrs. Viva 👑 Cristo, Rey! Viva La Virgen 🌹de Guadalupe!
Watched a lot of videos on the history of Catholicism in Nagasaki. Makes me wonder if there were nefarious purposes for choosing it as a target for the atomic bomb.
The reason was that the two cities were undamaged. The firebombing of Tokyo, with enormous destruction, was not having the effect of pushing elements in the Japanese govt to sue for peace. The Tokyo destruction was drawn out over endless raids involving many planes. This enabled the pro-war party to get used to the de destruction. The thought in the uS govt was that having a Japanese city wiped out in one hour with one bomb from one plane would finally break the pro-war faction's hold on the Japanese govt. The second atom bomb drop was to demonstrate that every part of Japan could easily be wiped out. The US govt, seeing the resistance of the Japanese troops on the islands remote from Japan, feared that an infantry invasion of the mainland would be a massacre for the US side as well the Japanese. Plus US troops were beginning to mutiny over the possibility that they would sent to the Japanese mainland and the slaughter that would result. The troops wanted quick end to the war,.At any rate that is the official story and it makessense.
Thank you for this. I spent a year in South Korea and observed similar, cultural traits. It's interesting how secularism has gripped us all globally but there still remains natural virtues that are unique to each culture. This is the opening that God has given us to evangelize.
Thank you for another great video, Catholicism in Japan has always been a great interest to me ever since I heard about Saint Xavier. It has also been good to learn about how Catholicism currently stands in Japan ans a 1st hand account of someone catholic that lives in Japan.
Saint Maximilian Kolbe, i knew him as the victim of Auswitchz (that nazist camp). Oh Man, i never knew he made such mission at Japan. May he pray for us.
Hello. Your video made an impression on me because I am an ex-RC who originally converted when I was 19. I'm nearly 71 now. I have lived in Japan most of my adult life and got here the first time in 1978. I won't go into any detail here about the how and why I ultimately left the church, but for some reason, I am feeling led to share this with you. If you are interested to talk more about my experience and perhaps even meet in person, let me know here in the comment and I will supply you with contact information. Bye for now, and Shalom.
The persistence of hidden Christians and the potential saints have seen in Japan make me want to live in Japan and provide an example. I met a Pakistani that simply got interested in the Church because I said prayers before meals.
I have watched a few videos about religion in Japan in general and I think the main problem is that japanese people often associate Christianity and Religion in general as dangerous cults, due to the 1995 Massacer.
Read this newly published brilliant book, it is the best book I have ever read. "The Martyr and the Red Kimono: A Fearless Priest’s Sacrifice and A New Generation of Hope in Japan" By Naoko Abe
May the Lord give birth to many saints in Japan! I just heard they want to make Islam their faith.. I did not find many Japanese can converse in English back 2016.. Since i did not see any catholic church as well, i did not want to go back there.. I entered too many shrines and temples, and followed what the tour guide said how to behave there.. i got a buddha keychain from there and a sounding charm with me which i carried for some time..i must have opened a door for the devil.. feel guilty now I understood it as a sin as Catholic..
They dropped the Nagasaki bomb on the biggest Catholic Church in Asia during High Mass. It was the Catholic center of Japan. Most of the parish was incinerated. FYI. Truman was a Freemason.
I think Japan, China, Philippines and Russia will have some great things happening to them. I think almost every big movement in the Church has sent missionaries there. Philippines is the christian gate to Asia. Rusia will convert eventually, and with it, China and all the communist countries. Japan is a very special place because of the huge influence it has and the spell it casts upon the western world. I know that Opus Dei has already started in Japan for 50 years or so now. They are also in Hong Kong, trying and waiting to enter China. I think they are in Rusia just in Moscow. And I said, they started in Philippines first of all to be able to send people to all of Asia. Anyone else knows if other movements, missions, etc, have done something similar? I know that Japan has had already 3 catholic ministers in the government, also one bishop is from Opus Dei and they have also opened a school or university.
mexican here, I was raised catholic, distance myself from religion, later on regained my faith in Christ, I thought the Japaneses would have lots of Catholics because the moral values I saw on the content they give to the world with good values.
Good work bro. Always take courage ann be strong(jusua1:9). Try to collaborate wd catholic social media influencers and build an empire of catholic. Also study on not to be deceived by muslims teachings like of dr.zakir naik. We can learn from sam shamoun, david wood, christian prince etc. Keep going
Catholic here. Some additions. ➕ 1 St. Lorenzo Ruiz and companions were martyred in Nagasaki. St. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino who was canonized. Pope St. John Paul 2 canonized him in 1987. 2 St Paul Miki and many of his companions are the first Japanese martyrs. They were martyred in Nagasaki. 3 Speaking of which, Nagasaki was the main place where Catholics were martyred. The persecution s and martyrdom stopped shortly after Commodore Perry visited Japan 🇯🇵. 4 At the end of World War 2, Japanese officials asked the late General Douglas MacArthur which branch of Christianity to follow. He, a Protestant, lived in the Catholic Philippines 🇵🇭 for more than 1 decade. But, he said that the Japanese can choice any. He permitted missionaries of all branches if Christianity ✝️ to enter Japan 🇯🇵. Thus, the Protestant denominations gained followers which the Catholic Church lost.
I plan to go this March to Japan 3/7/24 - 3/28/24 and Seoul Korea and I’m trying to find a Traditional Latin Mass to attend is there somewhere that you could recommend to me? I really don’t want to go to Novus Ordo. I feel that taking communion in the hands is offensive also do not agree with the way the Pope is leading. Pray that he will be enlightened. Praying I find a good traditional Latin Mass on vacation.
A few things before the recommendations: 1) communion in the hands is permitted by the Church, this is not an invention of Pope Francis. (Though I get it, I only receive on the tongue while kneeling). 2) Pray for the leadership of the Church, of course, put remember to concern yourself with primarily yourself being an example of holiness. As for the recommendations, there are only random Latin Masses here in Tokyo when we have visiting priests that can do it. Check out Una Voce Japan, it may help. As for how to receive, instead of making a scene, I always advice speaking to the priests before Mass to let them know how you receive and if that’s ok (they have never refused me).
Communion in the hand was practiced in the early church until at least the 8th century. St Cyril of Jerusalem gave detailed instructions about cupping the hands like a throne. to receive the blessed sacrament
Hi Daniel. I have a question for you. Do you know any Japanese historians (Catholic or otherwise) that know much about the history of Catholicism in Japan? I ask because I was browsing Twitter and saw some tweets of a person who disdains Christianity and the other Abrahamic faiths. Basically that person said that the Shogun persecuted (he uses "persecuted" with quotation marks around it) Catholics because they were committing iconoclasm toward Buddhist and Shinto shrines and also believed that the Portuguese planned to invade Japan. Do you or any Japanese colleagues or historians you may be acquainted with know much about this?
I don’t know any. As for the Shogun and leaders, they were all friendly at first…. But because of the military advantages, the cultural insights and other benefits that came with the Portuguese. Later, when they saw how Christianity was taking the hearts of the people, they felt threatened and outlawed it. Many Martyrs came from that time. Later it began to grow again when it was legal once more. Then the war came and it went down again… and now it is growing but slowly.
I do believe will happen after Pope Francis passes away, and Cardinal Manyo Maeda becomes the next Pope to say Manyo Maeda is from Japan, and yet Manyo Maeda will do more than St. Francis Xavier yet my confirmation saint is from Japan; I am very in love with Japan it is a love affair that I have as to say I live in Miami, Florida. As to say well Korea have more Christians than Japan their probably are some Korean Catholics; but in a way the drastic move of the first Asian Pope that within in my heart if he comes from Japan then Japan will drastically change and yet the moral battle within America is just to say a challenge. This could change the course of what I believe if Japan where to have more converts after the first Pope from Japan then this could also be of truth to what Nostradamus says about East over taking the West, to say a Japanese Pope will be to what I believe that one of Nostradamus predictions will be revealed. As everyone says about the fuzz about China but a Catholic Japan will take the USA in its knees or the fall from grace of the USA no longer being a world superpower after Catholicism skyrockets in Japan.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be ACCURSED.
Wow, fertile ground, Japan. That's an interesting way to look at. I live in Japan too! The first time I saw you was when you interviewed Roy Shoeman, and wanted to drop you a line then. Good to see you active and on fire. Well, have you heard of the interesting fact that the Japanese DNA is most closely related - not to Koreans or Chinese or any Asians but - surprise - the Jews!!! So indeed we must be on fertile ground here. And one thing we should do , united with Roy, is to pray for the conversion of the Jews which includes the conversion of the Japanese! By the way, we go to Kawagoe church now - after I was denied entry without a mask to a church closer to our house in January. Saturday 6pm, Sunday 8am and 10am Mass. First Friday Mass coming up at 10am.
"Se o mundo os odeia, lembrem-se: o mundo me odiou antes de odiar a vocês. O mundo amaria a vocês, se pertencessem a ele; todavia vocês não são do mundo, pois eu escolhi vocês, tirando-os do mundo; por isso é que são odiados pelo mundo. Lembrem-se do que eu lhes disse: ‘Nenhum escravo é maior do que o seu senhor!’ Portanto, já que eles me perseguiram, naturalmente perseguirão vocês. E se eles me tivessem ouvido, ouviriam a vocês! O povo do mundo os perseguirá, por causa de mim, pois eles não conhecem aquele que me enviou. "Jesus"
Amen. What Christianity can do is to syncretize or harmonize with Japanese culture without losing its core doctrines. That’s what the Japanese Muslim community is doing. Given the growing number of Muslims in Japan, people are exploring ways on how to harmonize Islam with Japanese culture.
@@meteora8145 I expand my sentence : Lets hope that Christianity and Islam will never habe the chance to destroy the wonderful buddhistic and shintoistic culture of this unique land Japan. Why should also those people follow two man-made invented abrahamic religions with a god that was invented 5000-3500 years ago? What if one day you notice your religion is wrong? Wont you be happy that there are people following something else?
@@seekerhonest In the end, that’s up to Japan and the Japanese people to decide. In fact, Japan’s declining population has led to the influx of MORE migrant workers, Muslim or Christian, going into the country. Their practice of their respective religions will alter Japanese culture in many ways. If you are that worried, be PROACTIVE. I strongly suggest that you go as far as to support the native, nationalistic Japanese via social media or other means (even learning their language is the first step) and spread your messages that Japan must stay Japanese, Shinto and Buddhist. 👍
@@meteora8145 According to the video it seems that Japanese people didnt accept very well Christianity and Islam so far. The intentions of Christians in the USA, to create a Nationalistic christian state there, dont work very well; Chrsitianity is shrinking dramatically there. What they leave behind is not a unique beautiful culture. I just repead: lets hope that Christianity and Islam will never be able to destroy the beautiful buddhistic and shintoistic culture in Japan.
@@seekerhonest Again, if you want that hope to be realized, spread awareness to more Japanese people establish contact with like-minded Japanese organizations so that they will take action to keep Japan Shinto and Buddhist. Who knows? If Japan stays Japanese, you have already achieved something noble. :)
@@tombickel7954 Do you honestly believe that the fullness of truth and tradition found in the Sacred Fold can be surpassed by fallible man-made institutions created centuries later? x) Quick reminder, we're discussing "Catholicism in Japan" here, not "Protestantism in Japan." -- My Brother here seems to have a good handle on the Good Shepherd and Faith already, so I think he's in good hands. But hey, feel free to keep watching those videos; who knows, maybe one day you'll learn something about the beautiful depth of the One True Church and reconsider your offer!🕊
one of my best friends maried a japanese student in New Zealand. Wow! What a marriage - she naturally loves God and very drawn to holy eucharist... praying rosary daily and beautiful fruit-- 4 children ++ cute half italian kiwi/ japanese children
I have an opinion I don't know is valid or not and I want your thoughts. I think dropping nukes Hiroshima was a net negative and dare I say evil. Even though japan was on the axes powers the damage it caused I don't think was well justified. The countless deaths, the societal damage the occupation had and the attitude our side has to it seems very Un Christian to me What's your thoughts?
In my opinion, there could have been better strategies to handle the war. Sure it stopped the military forces but it caused more damage than was necessary.
