Church union movement and the establishment of the “United Church of Christ in Japan / Ziming Wang

Religions 15 (2024)

Local access dig.pdf[Wang-Church union movement.pdf]

Abstract: The establishment of the United Church of Christ in Japan (nihon kirisuto kyōdan 日本基督 教団) marked the culmination of the Church Union Movement in Imperial Japan. Although the Church Union Movement can be traced back to the Meiji era, no significant breakthroughs were made until 1939 due to the refusal of some denominations. In this article, I aim to clarify the pro‑ cess and causes behind the formation of the united church, while also attempting to understand the interaction pattern between the State and Christianity under an increasing wartime totalitarian regime. In April 1939, the Diet passed the Religious Organizations Law (syūkyō dantai hō 宗教団体法), a bill aimed at strengthening state control over religions, which required Christian denominations to establish religious organizations. With the war intensifying Japan’s antagonism toward Western countries, Christianity as a foreign religion faced progressive attacks from the nationalist sects. Some denominations, like the Salvation Army, were accused of espionage due to their international con‑ nections and were monitored by gendarmerie (kenpeitai 憲兵隊). Facing harsh pressure, Christians sought to project a patriotic image, ultimately leading to the formation of the United Church as a survival strategy amidst a hostile social‑political environment.

Kirishitan kyōrisho キリシタン教理書 / Ebisawa, Arimichi 海老沢有道 ; Kishino, Hisashi 岸野久; Ide Katsumi 井出勝美

キリシタン文学叢書

キリシタン研究　第三十輯

Nanban no bateren 南蛮のバテレン / Matsuda Kiichi 松田毅一

Includes bibliographical references p269-272.

Supiritsuaru shugyō スピリツアル修行 / Ebisawa, Arimichi 海老沢有道

キリシタン文学叢書

キリシタン研究　第三十一輯

Translating Catholic heritage through local environment: materiality of Japan’s world heritage / Yamada Toru

Published in the International Journal of Asian Christianity: Vol. 8 (2025): Iss. 2 :
Special Issue: Asian Catholic Materials and Space

Abstract:
For years, Nagasaki officials discussed and negotiated with residents from local communities in each municipality in order to prepare their nomination proposal for unesco’s World Heritage list. The core heritage narrative of the “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region” proposal took shape around Catholic church buildings and heritage materials. In this article, the author argues that as the World Heritage narrative emphasizes the historic materiality of these heritage buildings, Catholic materiality has been somewhat secularized as the nomination progressed. In order to avoid stirring up controversy, Nagasaki’s public officials delicately used the heritage churches as the material intermediaries to moderate the uneasy relationships among the locals as well as to connect it with the interests of the national actors.

Yusuto takayamaukon : ima orideiku hitoe ユスト高山右近 : いま、降りでいく人へ / Furusu Kaoru : Nihon katorikku shikyō kyōgikai ressei retsufuku tokubetsu iinkai 古巣薫 : 日本カトリック司教協議会列聖列福特別委員会

Includes bibliographical references p. 197-199.