Cultural Borrowing

Purpose built wedding chapels in Japan are commonly bedecked with 'authentic' church furnishings. Stained glass, pulpits, and ministers in robes. A crucifix decorates the wall and a large Bible sets the scene on a table in the centre. In regard to such attention to detail, the Japanese are faultless. Great energy has clearly been expended to make wedding celebration venues as genuine as possible.

For Christians, the ‘cultural borrowing’ of things sacred is deeply saddening. The traditions of Christian culture which made the white wedding possible have largely been adopted without the substance which supports them and grafted into Japan. The church doesn’t lay the blame squarely with the Japanese people per se; they simply haven’t been afforded the opportunity to understand Christianity.

Seven in ten among adults, and half of teens, say they do not know enough about Christianity to express a favorable or unfavorable opinion about this religion.
Gallup 2006

The full and free preaching of the Gospel has been limited in Japan to a fraction of time compared to that of many western countries. The result has been pseudo-religious consumerism peculiar to this part of the world and Japan has become subject to mockery by certain voices from the West.

However moronic anyone thinks it is though for these people to get married in a chapel, remember that it is a very special day for them (Anonymous poster on an internet forum).

The shallow regard for things which are considered holy by the Church: the Bible, the cross, hymns and the priesthood are thought to be most regrettable. It is seen by some as an industry which is taking advantage of ignorant people and showing contempt for the very institution which made the venture possible. There are others who have no religious interest but find the whole fake priest phenomenon is in bad taste.

----------------

On the matter of cultural borrowing a Hindu follower wrote:

"It is extremely depressing to find that although the swastika is a symbol of life, and symbol of joy, it has been made a symbol of evil, something the people of the ancient world never intended it to be."

[Please note that Godwin's Law is not in effect as no actual correlation between the actions of the Nazi's and the Wedding Industry in Japan is being invoked.]

Is it really OK to 'steal' a symbol which has a long established, profoundly positive meaning in one culture, and while ignoring its original meaning apply it to a different purpose in another culture?

Now, whereas it is impossible to undo the offense toward Hindus in regard to their ancient symbol; it is within people's power today to prevent the further degradation of the Christian symbol of the cross. In real terms, a suggestion is that the people who are conducting 'Christian style' Wedding Celebrations (and who are by and large) atheist or irreligious think seriously about this matter.

-------------------------

It has been observed that the Japanese have a general tendency to prefer form over content. Yet the reality is that in many situations the subjects simply don't know what the content is and are appalled when they find out.

One such example is the author's own conversation with a young Japanese woman about the large lop-eared logo on her sweater. It was the distinctive trademark of the Playboy bunny. When the woman was asked if she knew what kind of publication it represented she said innocently that she did not. The woman was discreetly informed and reacted with alarm that the amiable character had such a connotation.

Another case was with a well-to-do middle-aged woman whose pencil case sported a large green marijuana leaf. When asked if she knew what type of plant it was she replied in the negative. Needless to say, she was mortified after being politely told.

English slogans are regarded as fashionable in Japan and can often be seen on printed clothing. The author remembers taking a young Japanese man to a church service in the UK on one occasion. He noticed that the man's black sweatshirt was emblazoned with a vulgar swear word which would be banned from pre-watershed broadcasting. The man was of course surprised and embarrassed and because he didn't want to offend anyone's sensibility he blacked out the word with a marker pen.

Of course these things are apparent in every culture; but perhaps all the more common in Japan? The assertion made here is that Japanese people ought to know the significance of Christian weddings. They should be informed by enlightened people. Many Japanese people lack the most rudimentary understanding of the contents of the Bible. The writer recalls a situation where he asked a woman if she knew about Easter. She confidently told him that Easter falls on October 31st and children often dress up as ghosts and goblins.

The Bible (often jumbo sized) adorns the altar at Wedding Chapels. If only the participants knew the uncompromising, hard-hitting and commonly shocking contents of the Book --- they might well reconsider having a Christian-style wedding altogether. On the other hand; if only the participants knew the love of Jesus and the salvation He offers, which is explained in the contents of the Book --- they might well consider a Christian-style wedding being an event that introduces them to this wonderful Good News. Either way, the Bible is a unique book which once received, demands a verdict. It is impossible to remain passive or indifferent and treat it like a fashion accessory or merely a prop on their 'special day'.

----------------

It seems that Christian-style weddings are regarded as nothing more than a fashion or a fad. It is regrettable that Christianity is seen merely in terms of an optional add-on in the pick-and-mix experience of Japanese life. As with all fashions there is a flux and a wane. Should the wedding chapels go out of favour, or lose their custom (as is quite possible simply due to the demographic situation), then would Christianity be seen, at least to some, as yesterday's fad? If the high profile of the wedding chapels in Japan is all that people see as the expression of Christianity then it is rather sad.

---------------

Cleanliness is next to Godliness?

In an article published by the Guardian newspaper (UK), it is stated that consumer goods are being marketed in the West as having inherent religious significance by being juxtaposed with commonly recognized elements from spiritual traditions.

It is a traditional complaint of the churches that consumerism has become a substitute for faith, that instead of thinking about things of ultimate significance, people have become immersed in material- ism, buying more and more half-needed goods. Now the implicit message is that the half-needed things are themselves the religious symbols that will give meaning to life.

It should be noted however that Japan is not at all a post-Christian society. The television commercial which follows draws on the themes of the ideal wedding to help promote the sales of a brand of shampoo.



The video belongs to Pantene and is posted here for educational purposes only.
---------------------

Does consumerism in Japan have religious significance?
Why is it said that Japanese prefer form over content and rarely question things?
Will people in years to come be embarrassed they had a Christian-style wedding without knowing the substance of Christianity?