Some questions to ask about Japanese Religions.

Hello everybody.
I壇 like to ask some question about religion in Japan.
Yesterday I met 1 guy, he said that he used to live in Japan. This is something he said about religion in Japan:
- Japanese culture is under the influence of Roman Catholic.
- In Japan there are only 1% of popular are Catholic Faithful but almost Japanese accept Catholic Culture as a 哲ational Tradition・
- Shinto is not a religion, Shinto is a faith.
- He痴 never seen a Japanese house with a Buddhist Altar.
- He痴 never seen a Japanese person who went to a Buddhist temple.
- In Christmas Eve, almost Japanese can sing Catholic Hymn although they are not Catholic Faithful.
- When he ask some Japanese guy 展hat is your religion・ The answer is one of two 哲o religion・or 鼎atholic・
- The phrase "Itadakimasu" is a Catholic Phrase.
I don稚 agree with him. My opinions are:
- Influent of Catholic on Japanese is not remarkable.
- Japanese people said 展e born Shinto, marry Christianity and die Buddhist.・
- Japanese people go to Buddhist temple on New Year Eve or some other holiday, festival.
- Some old japanese people has Buddhist altar at home.
- Almost Japanese people are register at Buddhist or Shinto Temples as a member of that Temple. Some register at two or more.
- Kominto is a Party which has guidline to turn Nichiren Buddhism into a 哲ational Religion・ Kominto is one of strong parties.
- When being asked 展hat is your religion・ Japanese say: 的 don稚 know・(Except Catholic Faithful).
I believe that the above said guy lie (his opinion is different from what I致e been read). But I am never in Japan. Can Japanese here tell me that I am right or not.
Thank you very much!

Sounds like he was a Catholic, and you're a Nichiren adherent.

nice gaijin said:

Sounds like he was a Catholic, and you're a Nichiren adherent.

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Agreed. Furthermore, I don't really see a true "question" here either.

Shintoism and and introduction of Buddhism in the 8th century has deeply influenced the japanese culture. Since both of these religions share similarties on the importance and respect of nature which is the core of their main beleifs there's. However, Buddhism has strong philosophical and practical elements than shinto. Perhaps, shinto were influenced by buddhist teachings over the course of years. Also, shinto gods(which symbolizes positive forces of nature) were incorporated in buddhist japanese literatures. So, we could see that Buddhism is like an ocean which values tolerance which harmonizes all systems of religious thought. It is also important to note that Shinto was forced as national religion during the world war II. My own conjectures, the japanese people tends to believe and follow what others or their leaders say. This has been the characteristics of japanese culture. It has never been a catholic culture although catholicism tends to be inclusive than exclusive.

However, there is one person in the History of japan that opposed and uncompromised his religious conviction against the corrutption to both religious and poltical authorities during the Kamakura period. He is Nichiren who founded the new teaching which is now one of the major Buddhist schools and the new emergence group of the Soka Gakkai is the largest lay buddhist group which follows Nichiren Buddhism.Like Nichiren, Makiguchi an Toda were both reformist educators and were the founding presidents of the SoKa Gakkai never compromised their beleifs with the authorities on forcing shinto and opposing Japanese militarism. Thus, they were imprisoned during the world war II. Makiguchi died in prison as a martyr and Toda realeased from prison after the war and rebuild the organization which is now the driving major peace movement in japan today. More so, the New komeito party(who were gakkai members) was built to bring buddhist compassion in the politics which is backed by the Soka Gakkai. These two enties are seprate and independent to one another. Neither the Soka Gakkai was given special previlege nor the party promotes a certain religion. Komeito party protects democracy and the freedom of religion which the early days of Soka Gakkai were never given freedom to them. I hope this enlightened u about the Komeito and also Soka Gakkai.