The article describes the activities of Christian organizations in Japan during the WWII and the aftermath of these activities in the postwar period. In the war period Christians in Japan had to survive in the atmosphere of rising mili- tarist and nationalist tendencies in the Japanese government. The authorities suppressed all possible manifestations of non-obedience to the general police of the state, and inculcated the idea of the divine character of the Japanese emperor and the Japanese people as having a special mission in Asia. As a result, most established Christian organi- zations had to accept and support this general course.Collaborationist actions of such organizations as the Japanese Catholic Church and the United Church of Christ were continuously criticized in the postwar period. However, official apologies made by Christian organizations, have been considered as tardy and incomplete. At present this understatement practiced by the leading Japanese Christian organizations results in the internal tension among their members and the split inside the churches.
Translated title of the contributionChristian organizations in Japan during the WWII and the problem of recognition of the responsibility for their activities in the war period
Original languageRussian
Pages (from-to)29-33
Number of pages5
JournalActa eruditorum
Issue number20
StatePublished - 2016

    Research areas

  • Christianity in Japan, militarism, collaboration, state Shinto

ID: 36852804