US Navy allows sailors in Japan to engage in Shinto Religion Ceremony (Photos)

Japanese News sources and US Military, Japan ^ | 29 October 2007 | AmericaninTokyo

[AmericanInTokyo]

Not to "step on anybody's rice bowl" here, but does anyone besides me find this a bit IRONIC??

Here we have a case where we are told by The Pentagon back in the States that military funerals, involving a time-honored tradition of flag-folding, must be "religiously cleansed", and other references for example to Jesus Christ kept out of Chaplains' public comments.

All the while, here in Japan, just one week ago (as in previous years), the US Navy's Commander of Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) and MWR Office officially sanctioned, paid for, or otherwise arranged American sailors to parade through the streets in a SHINTO RELIGION festival carrying a portable Shinto shrine (o-mikoshi).

Here are the photos to prove it:

071021-N-7446H-007 YOKOSUKA, Japan (Oct. 21, 2007) - Sailors carry a Mikoshi through the streets of Yokosuka during the 31st Yokosuka Mikoshi Parade. More than 50 Sailors volunteered to participate in the parade and experience Japanese culture. Mikoshi are portable wooden Shinto shrines hand-carried during local Japanese festivals, or Matsuri. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derek J. Hurder (RELEASED)

[AmericanInTokyo]

I am sure those Navy guys, God bless them, far away from home, had a great time and seeing the fun on their faces, I don't for a moment want to rain on their parade, nor do I think many of them nor their superiors gave deep thought to the religious significance here.

What I object to is the double standard.

US Military are being told more and more that they are to avoid the appearance of any kind religious favoritism (let's face it, we all know this is an ACLU-type attack on Judeo Christianity to accomodate just a few troublemakers), and yet overseas on or near US bases, the Pentagon perfectly sanctions participation, for example, in SHINTO RELIGION-type cultural events.

I would say, if we allow our US military overseas to participate in religious, or religious-origined events, we should not try to squash Christianity in military activities, including prayers and services, back in the United States.

On the significance of the "mikoshi" in Japanese Shinto religion, here is Wikipedia's take:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoshi

[Doofer]

I was stationed in Japan for 14 years and this is considered good community relations. Anyway at least they weren’t carrying one of those portable shrines that has a wooden phallus as its center piece....

[PGalt]

Interesting. Thanks for posting. (*reading about Shinto at 3:00am...back to bed*)

[SteveMcKing]

Is it “religion”, or is it “culture”? Both?

The ACLU only makes the distinction for Christianity. Then it’s just “religion”, not culture.

Any other religion can be passed off as “culture” to leftists.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I get the community relations part of it, believe me, I get it.

What I object to is that religious, particularly Christian-related activities are being more and more curtailed back Stateside within the US military per the Pentagon, the latest flap is the stupid and uncalled-for, ACLU-inspired removing of religous references to the military ceremony involving the flag folding at funerals, but participation in Shinto ceremonies overseas doesn't bat an eye.

PS, that's a *roger copy* on those crazy phallus' in Japan!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Is this thing somehow tied up with the office of emperor in Japan? Japan doesn’t have the same kind of “separation of church and state” that we do.

[AmericanInTokyo]

You make good points.

In the Japanese sense, more or less, this is both religion and culture, at least within "shindo" and "bunka".

[AmericanInTokyo]

Before we so totally crushed Imperial Japan, yes, it would have all been tied together part-and-parcel with Emperor Worship (Tenno as "God") and state Shinto. Of course, that is a moot point because US sailors would not be parading around Yokosuka (then an Imperial Navy town) with mikoshi on their shoulders in the 1940s!

State Shinto has been abolished, by Postwar Japanese government led by MacArthur.

[AmericanInTokyo]

FYI, again from Wiki:

Shinto (神道, shintō) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. It involves the worship of kami (神, kami), spirits. Some kami are local and can be regarded as the spiritual being/spirit or genius of a particular place, but other ones represent major natural objects and processes: for example, Amaterasu, the Sun goddess, or Mount Fuji. Shinto is an animistic belief system. The word Shinto, from the original Chinese Shêntao (神道),[1] combines two kanji: "shin" (神, "shin") (loan words usually retain their Chinese pronunciation, hence shin not kami), meaning gods or spirits; and "tō" (道, "tō"), meaning a philosophical way or path (originally from the Chinese word dao). As such, Shinto is commonly translated as "The Way of the Gods". Some differences exist between Koshintō (the ancient Shintō) and the many types of Shintō taught and practiced today, showing the influences of Buddhism when it was introduced into Japan in the sixth century.[2]

[AmericanInTokyo]

Mikoshi In the "matsuri" of a shrine the "kami" is moved to the place of service on a "mikoshi" palanquin, which is usually described as a miniature shrine or portable shrine in English. A "mikoshi" should not be taken for a shrine beyond the sense that there is a "kami" inside in a "matsuri" procession. It had better be called a sacred palanquin to be more closely identified. A "mikoshi" consists of a roof, body and stand. It may be lacquered in black with many metal decorations on the surface and square, hexagonal or octagonal in shape. The possible origin of "mikoshi" is said to be found in the Nara Period, when the "kami" of the Hachiman Shrine in Usa was invited on a purple palanquin to Nara for the constructin of the "Daibutsu" Great Statue of Budda. A "mikoshi" on its way the place of "matsuri" service is carried by young men who are not supposed to provide the "kami" with a smooth, fast ride. Instead they make it in a zigzag, swaying in all directions and pushing the "mikoshi" up and down, often very violently to amuse the "kami". The movement of a "mikoshi" is considered to be directed by the will of the "kami" beyond the control of those shouldering it. Without a "mikoshi" a "matsuri" lacks proper atomospheres. Though a "mikoshi" is only a means of transportation for the "kami" to the place of service and non-essentioal an element in the "matsuri" from the religious point of view, it has been made to bring a highlight to the festive occasion. The only religious excuse for making the "mikoshi" more elaborate in style in more gorgeous a procession is to please and amuse the "kami". In some "matsuri" festivals, "mikoshi" of several shrines are brought together. In some others the "mikoshi" is carried into a river or sea for the "mikoshi washing". Still in other "matsuris", "mikoshis" are brought into contests of one kind or another, often causing blood to shed. A "mikoshi" in procession is sometimes seen running into homes. Such accidents are regarded as lucky omens by some and worried about by others as penalties for the lack of faith.

[Ronin]

The only time being in a mikoshi parade is bad is if you are over 6’ tall and everyone else is like 5’4”.

While mikoshi still have some religious significance, carrying the things is all about partying down and having a blast.

I am sure these guys had a great time.

[Wiz]

Come on, this is only a carnival.

[dennisw]

The Hari Krishnas do the same ting. They carry a big ol wooden cart with Krishna statue inside. Around May or so. The Nips prolly got this bit off of the Haris

[Berosus]

I don't have a problem with our boys doing this, but oh! Imagine how upset the leftists an atheists in our country would be if it was a Christian ceremony. For the record, I'm a member of the so-called "religious right." Now who's the more tolerant around here?

[AmericanInTokyo]

You do get the point, don’t you, though?

[Thrownatbirth]

Come on, this is only a carnival.

It's a conga line with a big chandelier. And the cool shirts. I'd be first off the liberty boat.

[AmericanInTokyo]

This is PRECISELY the point I am trying to make. YES!

[AmericanInTokyo]

LOL

[AmericanInTokyo]

dennis, i hate to burst your bubble, but certainly modern hare krishna-ism (ISKON) is much younger than Shinto! :-)

[thewitz]

Agreed, I was stationed in Atsugi up until 2005. We used to partake in the same kind of events, good fun as always. I’m also looking forward to going back once the base where I am currently located shuts down. The wife has orders to the USS Kitty Hawk and I have orders to the base communications office in Yokosuka. You guys may even see my picture from the festival next year.