Fake or real?

Writing in the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies Michael Fisch understands the Christian-style wedding ritual as simulation rather than pretending or imitating. It is apparent that Michael Fisch worked for a company which operated with no religious motive. Yet he candidly writes about how his employer was insistent that if he took the job he would not be a ‘fake’.

Of Jewish extraction and neither a Christian nor ordained Priest, he draws on his own experience as a ‘priest’ and Baudrillard’s theory of Simulacra and Simulation which renders it inaccurate to state that the ritual is ‘fake’ as it produces symptoms of the ‘real’ in the participants. (pp67-68)

The element of persuasion involves also the participant’s voluntary suspension of belief as a means for suppressing the realization of the constructed nature of the event or any inherent contradictions (Myerhoff 1977, pp 199-200), such as the fact that the priest is only acting and the participant’s are not Christian (p 65).

However, suspension of belief requires that the participants are actually aware that the priest is merely acting. The reality is that some Japanese people are surprised to learn that there are in fact fake priests.

Omi Junko was surprised to find out that some of the Western priests were not genuine. "I thought the priests were all real and I think everyone in Japan think that," she said. [BBC News]

Although the author does not ascribe that level of ignorance to the Japanese people en masse, there is a natural assumption among many that the celebrants are not only practicing Christians, but are real ordained ministers of religion. (The author has personally discovered through causal conversations with educated Japanese people that some are surprised to learn that there actually are non-ordained ministers presiding at weddings in Japan). However, most wedding agencies do little in terms of informing their clients that the “priest” is an actor. Although there are companies which do ask the client if they would prefer an actual ordained minister, many do nothing of the sort.

I was introduced to the bride and groom and respective families as “the priest who will perform today’s service.” My “authenticity” was never questioned. This was not because I succeeded in deceiving the guests and families by projecting such unequivocal sacred authority in my performance. Rather, I was able to learn later through interviews with informants, most likely neither the bride or groom, nor the guests or the hotel staff, and certainly not my employers, were concerned with whether or not I was an ordained priest. (p 59)

Thus, as the manager of H-company, K-san, stressed repeatedly during my job interview, I would not be a “fake” priest, but rather a performer, something like an actor. (p 60)

Supporters of the industry commonly cite that Japanese people don’t care if the priest is real or not. But this runs contrary to the practice of the agencies which request ‘licenses’ of the celebrants. These licenses are not required by law, but give weight to the claim that the priests are the genuine article. At times, clients are informed that the celebrants are ‘in training’ with the suggestion that they are actually training for the Priesthood. The estimated number of un-ordained, fake priests is said to be between 80 and 90%.

All I lacked was a license, a theological background and a religious belief. Landing the job was easy. I expressed an interest in the position, they faxed me the dates of my first seven weddings, and then I went for an interview. They showed me examples of wedding licenses and asked if I could bring them something similar. It seemed clear that I was being asked to create a fake document.

(Former Wedding Celebrant).

Many agencies prefer to employ Christians as celebrants or at very least those with a Christian background. This is, in part, because the agencies know that there are people who do care whether the priest is real or not.

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

In the script above (credit to the next link) you can see the words Christian Wedding Celebration. The priest introduces himself as a senkyo-shi 宣教師 (Missionary).It is believed that this script belonged to a real Christian missionary; yet if this standard one-size-fit-all script was delivered by someone who was not in fact a Christian missionary then it would be completely inappropriate.

----------

This is a certificate issued to a Wedding Minister after three hours of training. It is taken from a blog which can be reached here.

The celebrant even has 'Rev' embroidered on his robes. The reader is left to assess the level of this person's Christian commitment.

This blog entry was dubbed 'Cosplay Confessional' yet it is very clear that the employer sees the work as more than Cosplay evidenced by the extent which they are going to to provide certification for the celebrants. It is also very unlikely that the happy couple see their participation as mere Cosplay on what amounts to one of the most significant moments of their lives.

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

Why do some agencies run Theology courses for their employees if 'nobody cares if they are real or not'?

If the event is merely a simulation then why is not clearly advertised as such? And why is a Religious Activites Visa required if it is nothing more than acting?