What Christians need to know about living in Japan

Hello, this is Kano from JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources).

It is said that about 1% of the population in Japan believes in Christianity.
Because the number is so small, some people may feel uneasy about living in Japan as a Christian.

This time, we will introduce what Christians need to know about living in Japan.
We will also explain the Christian way of thinking in Japan.

How many people in Japan are Christians?

Christianity is a religion that believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Messiah and follows his teachings.

It is said that there are approximately 2.4 billion Christians in the world.
This represents approximately one-third of the world's total population.

On the other hand, the number of Christians in Japan is estimated to be around 1.25 million.
This is approximately 1% of Japan's total population.

Although the percentage is small, people who believe in Christianity place great importance on worship services and events such as Christmas.

There are also many Christian schools and hospitals in Japan, so there are many opportunities to become involved with Christianity regardless of faith.

There are many churches that accept non-Christian weddings, and many people also have Christian weddings.
Especially the pure white wedding dress.バージンロード（Wedding aisle／Wedding road） Romantic traditions such as walking along the river and singing in choirs have been embraced and appreciated in Japan.

For this reason, Christianity can be said to be a religion that feels relatively familiar to Japanese people.

Things Christians need to know about living in Japan

For Christians living in Japan, there are a few things to keep in mind in your daily life.
It's a good idea to know this information in advance, especially when it comes to food choices and places of worship.

Good to know about food

Some Christian sects have food restrictions.
However, few Japanese people know this.

Therefore, please pay attention to the following points:

If you have any restrictions, such as fasting, please let us know in advance.

Catholics traditionally abstain from meat during Lent and Good Friday.
This is not well known in Japan, so be sure to tell Japanese people if you are dining with them.

Also, if your sect has customs of abstaining from alcohol or caffeine, it is a good idea to let them know in advance.
This is because in Japan, tea and coffee are often offered to customers.

Find restaurants that cater to vegetarians and vegans

Some Christian denominations encourage vegetarianism.
However, there are very few restaurants in Japan that serve vegetarian and vegan meals.

It's a good idea to find a restaurant that supports it.

What you need to know about worship

There are Christian churches in Japan too.
There are both Catholic and Protestant churches, and Sunday services and mass are held here.

There are small churches scattered all over the country, so it's a good idea to find out in advance what kind of churches are available in your area.

In urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, there are churches that hold services in English, Spanish, French, Korean, and other languages.

Are there any Christian events held in Japan?

Although Christians are a minority in Japan, Christian-related events are widely known and enjoyed as part of celebratory customs.
We will introduce Christian events that are familiar in Japan.

Christmas

In Japan, Christmas is enjoyed as an event involving the exchange of gifts and parties rather than for its religious significance.
The custom of eating fried chicken and cake especially at Christmas is unique to Japan.

Halloween

Halloween became established in Japan in the late 1990s.
It is a popular event, especially among young people, where people enjoy dressing up in costumes.

During Halloween, costume parties are held all over Japan.

Among them, Shibuya in Tokyo is a place where the most people gather.
On Halloween day, Shibuya will be crowded with people in costumes.
For safety reasons, alcohol restrictions and traffic regulations will be implemented.

valentine's day

In Japan, it has become a well-established day for women to give chocolates to men to express their feelings.
In recent years, the culture of exchanging chocolate with friends or treating yourself to chocolate has become widespread.


In this way, events originating from Christianity are becoming widespread in Japan.
However, what makes it unique is that it is accepted as a commercial and cultural event rather than a religious one.

History of Christianity in Japan

Christianity was introduced to Japan in 1549.
In this year, Christian missionary Francis Xavier came to Japan to spread Christianity.

His missionary work was successful and many Japanese people became interested in Christianity, but eventually the faith came to be strictly prohibited.
In 1612, the "Prohibition of Christianity" was issued, and Christians were persecuted.

In Japan today, freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution.
Through these changes, diverse religions coexist in Japan and individual religious freedom is respected.

Summary: Many Japanese people have an affinity for Christianity

Christians in Japan make up only about 1% of the population.
However, there are also many Christian schools and hospitals, so for Japanese people it is a religion that feels relatively familiar.

When living in Japan, be sure to let people know in advance if there are any food rules.
Few Japanese people know that there are food restrictions depending on their sect.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, it is a good idea to find a restaurant that can accommodate you.

In Japan, there are Christian churches all over the country, so there is little need to worry about worship services.
In urban areas, there are churches that can speak foreign languages.

Christian events such as Christmas and Valentine's Day are also held in Japan.
However, it has little religious significance.
Many of them are held for the purpose of being enjoyed as "events," and are characterized by a uniquely Japanese format.

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