Japan's next prime minister is Catholic

American Papist ^ | September 22, 2008 | Thomas Peters

[NYer]

BBC News: "Members of Japan's ruling party have selected a bluff conservative, Taro Aso, as their new leader, meaning he is almost certain to become the next PM."

He would be the first Catholic PM in Japan's history.

More about Taro Aso on his Wikipedia page. He also loves comics, was quickly profiled by Time, faces a tough future, is a very big departure from previous PMs, and appears to be quite the renaissance man.

Now, here's my question: presuming he wasn't born Catholic (which would surprise me), when/how did he convert? Can anyone find out?

[NYer]

Now, here's my question: presuming he wasn't born Catholic (which would surprise me), when/how did he convert? Can anyone find out?

Contact Thomas by email: thomas@americanpapist.com

[wideawake]

There has been a thousands-strong Catholic community in Japan for four centuries.

It would be much larger excpet for the fact that the largest catholic community in Japan was located in a town named Nagasaki, where a young man named Maximilian Kolbe once worked as a missionary.

[wideawake]

St. Francis Xavier arrived in Japan in 1549.

At the coronation of Pope Sixtus V in 1585, a Japanese diplomatic delegation including Japanese Catholics attended the ceremony.

[Ozone34]

One of Japan’s greatest 20th century novelists, Shusaku Endo (1923-1996) was Catholic. I remember reading a couple of his books, “When I Whistle” and “Silence” in my youth. He’s regarded by some as the Graham Greene of Japan.

[tioga]

is a Japanese politician and the President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

I hate to rain on his parade, but a liberal? (sigh)

[Revenge of Sith]

Despite their name, they’re a conservative party.

[tioga]

Thanks for the info.....it makes a world of difference!

[fso301]

bump

[puroresu]

Yes! In Japan they still use the traditional meaning of the word “liberal”, meaning freedom. Here in the West, the term has degenerated and it’s now a code word for socialism and degeneracy.

[usmcobra]

His Sister is married to one of Japan’s Princes.

[reagandemocrat]

kakure kirishitans

[magisterium]

The Nagasaki Martyrs of 1597 are avenged, and the shoguns have been vanquished!

Full circle!

[NYer]

Thank you for posting the information on the novelist! Did you enjoy Endo’s works?

[ConservativeMind]

Well, despite my differences with some things with the Catholic church, this is great news.

Congratulations to Japan and to all Catholics!

[trisham]

bump!

[Pyro7480]

I wonder how devout he is.

[Ozone34]

“Thank you for posting the information on the novelist! Did you enjoy Endo’s works?”

Yes, very much. I still recall “When I Whistle” having a medical/hospital setting, and I was very surprised to learn from the novel that it was traditional in Japan NOT to tell a patient if he/she was dying of cancer! They preferred not to stress them out with the knowledge of their certain death and make up some other story. I’ve since learned that this is quite a common practice elsewhere in the world, especially Latin America.

[Gumdrop]

This is wonderful. The Japanese are more tolerant of Christians that the Democrats in the USA!

[JSDude1]

Good=Christianity spreading in Japan=A good thing (both or either Catholic or Protestant/Evangelical)!