As persecution during the early Edo period increased, the Christian community turned away from venerating martyrdom. Instead, they went further underground, hiding behind Buddhist and Shinto practices to avoid complete extermination. Unlike persecutions during the Roman Empire, Japanese Christians had nowhere to go. They couldn’t escape the islands of Japan or the reach of the…
Category: History
The Shogunate Crackdown on Christianity
Under Ieyasu’s early government–the start of the Edo period– the Christian population doubled from about 150,000 to 300,000. It was also the only period (from about 1598-1614) when a Roman Catholic bishop was allowed to reside in Japan. But scandals and various events I covered in this article shifted policy toward deportation and eventually execution…
The Start of Christianity in Japan
The people whom we have met so far, are the best who have as yet been discovered, and it seems to me that we shall never find among heathens another race to equal the Japanese. They are a people of very good manners, good in general, and not malicious. –Francis Xavier c. 1551 Note: This…
What is Iki?
Iki was an ideal that dated to the Edo period of Japan. It’s a bit hard to define with any precision. Generally, it was defined as refinement and sophistication. Although it could also be considered as urban and plucky stylishness (Graham, 2014). In this famous work, “‘Iki no Kozo,” Kuki Shuzo attempted to define iki…
How to Savor Winter Haiku
Winter haiku intend to make you feel the cold, the quiet, and the loneliness associated with the season. Literature can resonate different meanings for the writer and for the reader. There’s no right way to read, although some may argue that. In fact, Basho, one of Japan’s most famous haiku writers, warns us to “prefer…
Misora Hibari, the First Japanese Pop Idol
Misora Hibari is the first modern Japanese idol. In her day, she was as big as Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Shirley Temple. She rivaled AKB48 in popularity. Misora Hibari became a symbol of pre-WWII Japanese values and the changes Japan went through during the Occupation years. Teen girl characters in films and media became a…