Spiritual War in Japan

At the beginning of Japan’s westernization, the Meiji government quickly prepared for worship of the emperor. Preoccupied with Western influences, Japanese people paid little heed to the government’s religious reformation, which was swiftly accomplished from 1867 to 1870.

!) Moving the emperor from Kyoto to Tokyo, 2) building Yasukuni Shrine, 3) changing the name of Edo to Tokyo, 4) changing the state religion from Buddhism (Tokugawa’s state religion) to Shintoism (a new government’s state religion), 5) the government starting State Shinto based on Shinto.

State Shinto taught that Japan was created by the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami. This mythology may be summarized as follows:

There are several gods at the beginning. Amaterasu was the leader of Japanese gods. The goddess wanted to create a new nation. Under Amaterasu’s command, two gods—Izanagi and Izanam—created Japan from the formless, empty, deep waters. Izanagi thrusted his spear into the muddy waters to create Japan.

The idea of Japan’s creation was borrowed from the Bible’s Genesis.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3)

Shinto teaches no concept of creation of Japan, so State Shinto had to copy the Bible for its religious foundation.

According to State Shinto, the emperor is the offspring of Japan’s creator Amaterasu Ohmikami

In Christianity, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In State Shinto, the emperor plays the role of Jesus Christ.

Like Jesus Christ, the emperor is the son of the creator of Japan

Like Jesus, Japanese Jesus Christ is the highest priest of Shinto in Japan.

Japanese Jesus is also the Supreme Commander of Japan’s military forces.

State Shinto brainwashed children in school; 1) Japan is the kingdom of god(s); 2) the emperor is a living god; 3) Yasukuni Shrine spirits serves the will of the emperor.

Japan is the country with the natural beauties of four seasons. We were born in this good country. Your father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother were also born in this country. Japan is the righteous, holy country, and “the sole kingdom of god(s) in the world.” Japan is righteous, strong, and superior as the light of the world (elementary textbook, 1943)

Like Christians, the Japanese soldiers followed their Lord, the God-emperor of Japan.

At Yasukuni Shrine, the soldiers worshiped and received the hero spirits to serve the emperor and the kingdom of god(s).

Until 1945 Japanese soldiers fought for and died for the emperor, Japan, and Yasukuni spirits. Obedience to the emperor was the highest purpose of life of Japanese people.

However, when Commodore Perry visited Japan in 1853, average Japanese knew little about the emperor. Emperor worship was forged to unite Japan against the threats of Western Colonialism.

Before the Meiji Restoration 1868, Japan had no history of following the emperor as a god.