Japan Catholic News
September 2006
EXHIBIT AT EICHI UNIVERSITY RECALLS WAR SUFFERING
Catholic Weekly, September 10
An exhibition aimed at keeping alive the memory of the horrible things
that occurred in the war in Asia and the Pacific, "Peace Exhibition
2006," was sponsored by Osaka diocesan-run Eichi University Aug.
5 - 12.
The exhibit concentrated on the Battle of Okinawa and the Nanjing
Massacre. The sub-theme for the exhibition was "Never Again --
Such a Horrible War." The exhibit consisted of materials and
videos on loan from the places featured in the exhibition, a display
of books and articles, and talks by scholars and persons with personal
experience of the war.
During the exhibition, Moritoshi Oshiro gave a talk entitled "The
Battle of Okinawa and Groups Seeking Peace" in which he told
of his experience during the war. When he was 12, a Japanese soldier
attacked him in a bomb shelter, stealing his food and beating him.
In the struggle he lost the sight in his right eye. Years later he
also lost the use of his voice from laryngeal cancer. Now he speaks
using an artificial larynx which he presses to his throat.
Takeshi Nakayama, a teacher at the university, remarked, "Seeing
the effort that Mr. Oshio had to make to pronounce each word as he
told us his story, I thought that all the people listening to the
talk must have been deeply affected by his words."
Kan Matsuoka, an elementary school teacher from Osaka, gave a talk
about the Nanjing Massacre. He has been gathering evidence of the
massacre by the Japanese Army for many years. Many of the materials
about the Nanjing Massacre displayed during the exhibit were collected
by Matsuoka.
JAPAN CATHOLIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ONCE AGAIN SENDS TEAM OVERSEAS
Catholic Weekly, September 10
Every year the Japan Catholic Medical Association (JCMA) carries out
an overseas medical aid program called "Medical Mission."
This year, from July 29 to Aug. 3, a team of 24 doctors, nurses, dental
hygienists and students provided services in Giban, a village in Isabella
province in the Philippines. Among the participants were a priest and
a sister.
The medical consultations lasted for two days. As usual, patients came
very early in the morning and waited in line all day waiting to be
treated. The JCMA team treated a total of 673 patients.
FILIPINO MISSIONARY PRIESTS WORK IN OKINAWA TO SHARE JOY
Catholic Weekly, September 10
There are three Filipino priests working in Naha Diocese, all members
of the Mission Society of the Philippines.
Fr. Rommel Cruz (36), one of the three, said, "It goes without
saying that it is the dream of a missioner to see more people come
to church. I'm just getting started, but I am working with the aim
of bringing the Church closer to the people."
Although he also celebrates English-language Masses, Fr. Cruz said, "My
priority is to work with Japanese Catholics."
At present the parishes of Awase in Okinawa city and Gushikawa in Uruma
city have been entrusted to his mission society. Also, plans to construct
a new church in Yomitan are under way. It is expected that this church,
too, will be entrusted to the Filipino priests.
Fr. Cruz, who is pastor of the Awase parish, believes that, "a
church without young people is a church without hope," so he has
a Mass on Saturday aimed at young people. After Mass everyone has dinner
together - including the six servers.
"I want them to feel that the church is their home," the priest
explained. He also invites young people to stay overnight at the church
once a month. "At first they were reluctant, but now they seem
to feel as if they are in their own home."
In Japan, the number of people who receive baptism as Catholics is
not great. Fr. Senador Lumandas (41), who arrived in Okinawa three
months ago, said, "Of course I want to see people be converted,
but first the missioners must give witness."
There is one thing that Fr. Cruz is particularly conscious of. "A
missioner is one who supports others in mission. The hope of the Japanese
Church must be the Japanese people. We Filipinos have always felt that
missioners are those who come from Europe. It must not be so here in
Japan."
"Look at how we got started here. There were some Filipino Catholics
living in Okinawa who told an acquaintance of mine, Fr. Primitivo Balasbas
(58), also a member of same mission society, that they hoped some Filipino
priests could come to Naha diocese. In 2001 we received permission
from Bishop Toshio Oshikawa to come to Okinawa and now we are here."
In 1965, the 400th anniversary of the evangelization of the Philippines,
the Philippines Bishops Conference, reflecting on their history, decided
that they should institute a mission society for the Philippines. Now
there are 80 members working in Asia, Oceania, Europe and South America.
"The core spirit of the Mission Society of the Philippines is joy.
If we have faith, Jesus will be with us. This makes us very happy," says
Fr. Lumandas.
"In Japan faith seems to be a personal matter, but people need to share
with one another," says Fr. Cruz. "It is really important
that people make the faith their own. If their faith feels like 'something
foreign,' it will never become their own. The most important thing
is that faith must take root in one's life."
JAPANESE FRANCISCAN WORKS WITH DEAF IN THE PHILIPPINES
Catholic Weekly, September 3
In countries like Japan, Korea and the United States incidences of
congenital deafness are decreasing, but in the Philippines they continue
to increase. Japanese Franciscan Father Hozo Sato works in the Philippines,
assisting with the education of deaf people.
According to Fr. Sato, the major cause of congenital deafness among
Filipinos is uterine rubella (German measles) contracted by the fetus
when pregnant women contract rubella. Since preventive vaccination
is not widely available, infection of the fetus is unavoidable. Moreover,
when a child is deaf, neither the child nor the parents have a chance
to learn sign language, and in many cases mutual communication between
them is difficult.
According to Fr. Sato, "The hands of deaf children in the countryside
are covered with wrinkles because of work. They cannot go to school,
do not understand sign language, and since they can only converse with
their families through signs and gestures they only to do things like
washing and housework. In order to help them become self-reliant, it
is important that they learn sign language and have a community where
they can use it to communicate with others."
The Philippine Saint Francis of Assisi Deaf Center (PSFADC) where Fr.
Sato works, has centers in Manila and in Calbayog on the island of
Samar, 700 kilometers south of the capital, and supports the education
of deaf people in areas where they do not have an opportunity to learn
sign language.
Young people from rural areas live together at the Manila office. Those
with hearing and speaking impairments go to classes to train as sign
language instructors, catechists and work training instructors, while
people with normal hearing ability go to classes to qualify as sign
language interpreters. Meanwhile, in Calbayog city, where unlike Manila
and other large cities there are no educational facilities for teaching
people through sign language, PSFADC opened a high school section for
deaf children in 2004. In order to redress the lack of educational
facilities for deaf children there they are opening a kindergarten
this year and plan to open a primary school facility next year.
Fr. Sato has been involved in helping deaf children as a member of
an NGO in the Philippines for 17 years. At the beginning the attitude
of the children in the school for the deaf was not positive as the
NGO assistance was used to expand facilities for education in the spoken
language, and respect and understanding for Filipino sign language,
the language of the deaf, was lacking.
"In the Philippines there already was a sign language which developed
naturally and was rooted in people's life and culture," said the
priest. "But the sign language which the teachers used was English
sign language, and was a word for word direct translation of English.
This had continued for 100 years. In the first place, the words in
sign language are in a different form from those in spoken English
and other languages. English sign language can only be used with those
people who are quite familiar with the English language."
Three years ago, when PSFADC adopted Philippine sign language the students
responded enthusiastically.
But since the number of teachers in rural areas who can use sign language
is small, only private schools can provide such education. PSFADC built
dormitories and took in children with hearing impairments, but since
many of them were poor it had to bear not only the expenses of education,
but also clothing, food and accommodation.
"In Calbayog the rented house is over run with rats, and with over
40 students is overcrowded so we began to build a new dormitory, but
our
funds were insufficient, and the construction has stopped," said
Fr. Sato.
In Japan more people than formerly have become interested in sign language.
"But how many people will say that sign language is a 'language'? In
Sweden, Swedish and sign language are recognized by law as official
languages. This is, I think, an appropriate recognition of a linguistic
minority living among a majority. For people whose first language is
sign language, I think it is necessary in both the Philippines and
Japan that such people be trained as teachers and pastors," said
Fr. Sato.
KAGOSHIMA CATHOLICS WRITE LETTERS TO XAVIER
Catholic Weekly, September 17
In commemoration of the fifth centenary of the birth of St. Francis
Xavier, the diocese of Kagoshima invited people to write a letter or
compose a poem to the saint who first brought Christianity to Japan.
The 23 entries were exhibited in the Church of St. Francis Xavier Aug.
13 at a ceremony commemorating his landing in Kagoshima in 1549.
The congregation was asked to choose the two best entries, one letter
and one verse. The following letter from Sakurako Ogata, a first grader
from the Taniyama Church, won first prize.
Dear Fr. Francis Xavier,
Thank you for looking after us. You had a hard time in Japan didn't
you? Even when you were hungry, you had fun with an apple. Me too,
even when I am hungry I have fun with my friends.
MORIOKA SCHOOL USES OVERSEAS STUDY, RELIGIOUS ED TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK
Catholic Weekly, September 10
 Shirayuri Gakuen, founded by the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint
Paul of Chartres, is the only educational institution in Iwate Prefecture
that provides an integrated educational program from kindergarten through
high school. The school, which was the first school for girls in the
history of Iwate prefecture, was opened in 1892 as Morioka Private
Girls School. Since then it has graduated about 20,000 girls.
According to Junji Fujimura, head teacher of the junior-senior high
school, "The school was founded as a response to a desire expressed
by the local people that education be provided for girls. The kindergarten
was added in 1939 and the elementary school in 1956."
Ten years ago the seven sister schools throughout the nation that comprise
Shirayuri Gakuen drew up a document called Profile of an 18-Year-Old
Shirayuri Graduate that set out the overall goal of their education.
The document describes the kind of student the schools will seek to
produce by the time of graduation. It describes a person who lives
a life of gentleness, diligence and love built on a base of religiosity
and a worldwide outlook.
The school has put emphasis on English language education from the
time of its founding. "At the ceremony marking the founding of
the school in the Meiji Era, the students had to make speeches both
in Japanese and English," said Fujimura. "The aim was that
students would become connected with the world. English Education was
seen as providing the opening to be able to do so."
The school consistantly took the lead within the prefecture in setting
up a system for studying abroad and for promoting international exchange
programs. They put into practice their goal of promoting "education
aimed at developing good citizens of the world living joyfully with
others with a genuine international outlook."
Every year, 20 students go to Canada for overseas study, gaining valuable
personal experience.
The school also has a broad range of club activities. In recent years
their archery, basketball and broadcasting clubs have had very good
records in national competitions.
Nobuhiro Tano, who is in charge of the religion department, said, "There
are only a few Christian students, so we are developing a religious
education program different from the model of a catechism class. We
point out who Jesus is by introducing people who are seeking to live
as Jesus did."
One of Tano's methods is to prepare and distribute a pamphlet he calls
The Sacred Word of the Week. "I feel that one religion class a
week is insufficient so I try to think of different ways that I can
shower the students with Gospel values. I choose stories that can be
related to the Bible from all kinds of books and print them up in The
Sacred Word of the Week."
An 11th-grade high school student, Mao Otanaka, a Catholic from the
Yotsuya Church, said, "Normally I don't think much about religious
things, but listening to the explanations of the teachers has deepened
my understanding."
Students get to meet different priests each year at the annual retreat. "When
I was a third-year Junior High School student, a Mexican priest spoke
to us. I was surprised to find out that the whole country is Catholic
and that the family life of the Mexicans is completely different from
ours," said Otanaka.
Elementary school principal Hideo Sekiya, conducts religion classes
for the students and also gives talks to the parents. "I think
of my talks in terms of educating the students as persons -- nurturing
the growth of their spirit. I don't keep saying 'Christ ... Christ ...'
but rather talk from the bigger perspective of their 'Father in Heaven.'"
This year is the 50th anniversary of the elementary school. Unfortunately,
this school, too, is feeling pressure from the effect of the decline
of births in Japan. According to Sekiya, "The parents, teachers
and alumnae have set up a Student Recruitment Committee and they are
receiving cooperation from the Junior and Senior High School and from
sister schools throughout Japan."
Sekiya is the first Catholic to become a principal among the four elementary
sister schools. "Our role is to convey the heart of Christ to
the students. However, it is really a big loss that the students can
no longer come into daily contact with sisters in the school. Even
seeing the way sisters walk and the way they sit has an influence on
the students. This is a problem not just for the school, but for the
Church as a whole. I would be very happy if our education here in some
way contributes to an increase in the number of sisters."
DIOCESES RESPOND TO GROWING NUMBER OF ELDERLY, RETIRED PRIESTS
Catholic Weekly, September 17
The average age of priests in Japan is now 61.66. The increase in the
number of elderly in the Church and in Religious orders has given rise
to problems, including provision for retired priests.
The Code of Canon Law sets 75 as the retirement age for priests, but
a bishop can extend the limit if conditions warrant. Even when a priest
retires, he does not lose his priestly character.
Fr. Minoru Yamauchi, in charge of planning for the aged in the Nagasaki
diocese, said, "As a general rule, retired priests do not take
part in organized pastoral care or parish activities, but depending
on the needs of the district and the priest's own health, they help
out with Masses and confessions."
The chancellor of the Oita diocese, Fr. Yoshitaka Kiguchi, said that
he interprets retirement as relinquishing public duties and responsibility.
Otherwise the priest is "a priest forever." Old age and illness
are not factors.
In fact, retired diocesan priests for the most part find part-time
jobs. Some become chaplains to Religious orders or universities; some
undertake family visitation and help around a parish; others give lectures
or write books and articles. Each continues his life of prayer and
contributes quietly in his own way to the work of evangelization.
Some dioceses have a "Priests' House" as a residence
for retired priests which may be an annex to the bishop's house, or
rooms may allotted to retirees in the diocesan center. In cases where
they are not able to look after themselves, some find accommodation
in facilities attached to a convent or monastery, or in a social welfare
facility run by a Religious order. Others live with relatives.
Depending on the diocese and the priest, sometimes the priest himself
must find a place to stay; a church or a convent, for instance, where
he is well known and where parishioners or Sisters will look after
him.
With a view to solving some of the problems surrounding the care of
aged priests and Religious, in 2000 the Osaka diocese set up Nibuno
Villa in Himeji, the first joint residence for retired priests and
Religious, both men and women, regardless of affiliation.
In addition to the Osaka diocese, Kyoto diocese and eight religious
orders and missionary societies now run the Villa jointly. There is
no limit to age or length of stay. It has a capacity of 30. The basic
rule is one person to a room. All are barrier free and equipped with
a shower and an electrically controlled bed. As of Aug, there were
10 in residence, including priests from the two dioceses and priests
and Brothers from Religious orders.
Osaka diocesan chancellor, Fr. Hirokazu Kanbayashi, who first proposed
the idea for the Villa, said, "I felt that the problems surrounding
the care of aged members were the same for us all, both for the diocese
and the Religious groups of men and women working in the diocese, especially
the smaller congregations who would not be able to maintain an institution
of their own. I felt that we could work with them. The Franciscan Sisters
who run St. Mary's General Hospital close by agreed to take over the
management. The Scheut Fathers donated the site."
The Nagasaki diocese is contemplating a residence that will provide
round-the-clock care for retired priests and deacons.
In Fukuoka, on the grounds of the bishop's house, the second floor
of a house owned by the Sisters of the Society of Seminary Axiliatrices
is being rebuilt as a residence for retired priests. However, the chancellor,
Fr. Shigeharu Tanaka said the diocese still does not have a plan for
men who cannot look after their own needs.
In Yokohama diocese, a committee was set up two years ago to consider
the problem of elderly diocesan priests who need someone to look after
them but nothing has been decided yet.
Concerning the care of elderly priests who have retired, Fr. Kanbayashi
said that, "in Osaka, a priest never retires from priesthood,
and whether they are in active service or not, we are now able to pay
everyone the same salary. That is because all our parishes contribute
according to their means. We are most grateful to the faithful for
their generosity. The care of elderly priests is a problem that should
concern the laity also."
TEACHING BY DISCIPLINE, EXAMPLE AND EXPERIENCE IS KEY AT NOTRE DAME SCHOOL
Catholic Weekly, September 3
In this age of fewer children, Kyoto's Notre Dame College Elementary
School is a mammoth school with 1000 pupils. It is a co-educational
Catholic school run by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and includes
among its pupils children of local Shinto priests and Buddhist monks.
Parents send their children to the school because the six years of
elementary education emphasizes both academic study and discipline.
According to Hideo Ota, a teacher at the school, at Notre Dame there
is a prize for three years continuous study of mathematics and another
prize for five years study of Chinese characters. The school is well
known in Kyoto for the high level of its basic academic training. But
the parents are not only interested in the academic education.
Notre Dame is renowned for the thorough discipline it instills in the
pupils. Special emphasis is put on training children to give greetings
and act courteously among others, and in a large tatami room called
the "courtesy room" they are taught the proper way to bow
and sit as well as other aspects of traditional Japanese etiquette.
A Grand Tea Ceremony is held once every year, to which the first year
pupils invite one member of their families. The children offer their
guests Japanese cakes made in the cooking class and tea which they
make themselves. Many grandparents are moved to tears as they take
the tea their grandchildren have made.
During school camps the children are not only taught how to live in
harmony with nature, but proper behavior as well.
Commenting on these camps, Ota said, 'during bath time I undress along
with the boys and show them how to wash properly. When I was a child,
if I just jumped into the bath I would be told by the adults around
me 'you must not jump into the bath like that -- it is rude to
the people around you.' They would show me the proper way to wash and
get into the bath. Nowadays parents and society do not discipline children
very well and the number of children who do not know how to bathe properly
is increasing. It is important that schools and parents cooperate in
training children."
Since children have few siblings these days, at Notre Dame there is
a "partner system" between sixth and first graders, in which
a sixth year pupil looks after a first year pupil for a whole year.
Through showing them how to set the table for school meals and other
such activities, the older pupils instill confidence in the younger
ones, and try to naturally become a senior whom the younger ones wish
to emulate.
Teachers also educate the children through showing them their own attitude
to life. When refuse falls to the ground the teachers take the initiative
in picking it up. At reading time, the teachers also read a book.
"If while telling the children 'it is reading time' a teacher is grading
answer papers, confidence in the teacher will not grow in the children.
In order that the pupils may be taught by the teachers' example, the
teachers always have to take the initiative in doing what they wish
the pupils to do," said Ota.
Notre Dame's school tours are also unique. School tours are considered
as graduation discovery projects to help children learn about the "importance
of life" and "what is life." Each pupil can choose from
among eight different Japanese and foreign tour options.
One of this year's tours featured a chance to observe a heart operation
in progress through a monitor. Some children were surprised on seeing
a real heart, and others were inspired when they saw the work the doctors
were engaged in.
Forming the basis to this style of education is the concept that to
develop each child's sensitivity and deepen their personal sense
of values, the accumulation of practical experience is as important
as academic knowledge.
Ota observed that Notre Dame Elementary School is trying to become
a large family.
PRIEST REFLECTS ON TEAM MINISTRY AS JAPANESE REPLACE FOREIGN MISSIONERS
Catholic Weekly, September 3
The Yotsuya, Morioka-Kamido and Shike parishes in Iwate prefecture,
previously served by the Bethlehem Fathers, were returned to the diocese
several years ago and now make up one of the chiku (areas) in the team
pastoral care system in the diocese.
Four priests look after the chiku. Their coordinator is Fr. Shogo Doi,
67, Sendai diocesan priest. The other members of the team are diocesan
Frs. Akio Umetsu, 65, and Takeo Tanaka, 49, who live at the Yotsuya
Church, while Bethlehem Father Joseph Hugentobler, 86, lives at Shike.
"To tell the truth, it's easier to go it alone, because you can carry
out the plans you yourself made," said Fr. Doi, commenting on
team ministry.
There was a time when one priest in Iwate and Miyage prefectures might
look after as many as four churches and three outstations, and liturgies
without a priest were rare.
According to Fr. Doi, team pastoral care involves living together and
working together but, "there is another vital aspect--a unified
approach. This requires training both for priests and people. If we
can achieve this, we shall have a sense of responsibility, zeal and
a greater mutual respect."
"The Church has always had 'team-work' because as individuals we always
collaborated with one another," said the priest.
"There has to be an objective in community life and teamed pastoral
care," he explained. "To build a better Church community
we need a plan, a team to study it and adopt the training needed to
implement it. Without this we won't know how to go about educating
the faithful; we won't be agreed on how the Church should be run. We
have not achieved this yet. A district is short-handed so someone is
sent and that's it. However, being adults, the four of us collaborate
and share the work to be done."
According to the priest there are difficulties in the switch from a
Church formed by missionaries to a Japanese Church that can stand on
its own feet.
"Sixty years is a long time. And all that time we have been educated
by missionaries. One finds a 'little Switzerland,' 'a little Canada,'
'a little Italy.' It isn't easy to wean ourselves from that."
"I myself was baptized at a church run by missionaries," he continued. "It
was a time when associating with Westerners gave one a sense of superiority
and one met with a different scale of values. But that was not a real
interior renewal. Actually among those who became Christian at that
time I don't think there were many who experienced a really deep interior
renewal. We have to change that now."
"The element of mystery in religion is something we must also think
of. When Japanese are looking for God, they do not want arguments,
but rather a sense of direct communication with God. In the Japanese
liturgy we need more contemplation, a greater feeling for the sacred.
Here in Japan we did not really put our hearts into 'renewal.' Now
we are being forced into it."
LATE SWISS PRIEST'S PAINTINGS DISPLAYED IN IWATE
Catholic Weekly, August 27
 An exhibit of the paintings of the late Fr. Georg Sturm of the Bethlehem
Foreign Mission Society was held at the Ninohe Shimin Bunka Kaikan
from July 26-30.
According to Yoko Kunika, who published a collection of the priest's
paintings of thatched-roof houses and scenery in 2002 in a book called
Poetic Feelings of Thatched Houses Reflected in His Blue Eyes, the
Swiss missioner could often be seen in the vicinity of Ninohe Church
in Iwate prefecture giving advice to the local people on farming. He
also planted trees throughout the town.
Fr. Sturm worked at the Ninohe Church for 45 years, dying two years
ago at the age of 89.
Kunika, who met Father Sturm in his later years, said, "When Father
died two years ago, I thought 'There's still so much work left to do.'"
After the priest's death it took two years before all the works that
he had donated to Ninohe City could be organized for an exhibition.
The exhibition was held on the second anniversary of his death.
In connection with the exhibit, Kunika published The Priest and
the Lilies of the Field, a collection of Fr. Sturm's paintings of trees
and plants.
"Now that I have kept my promise to Father I am so relieved. It's like
taking a heavy load off my shoulders. When I look at the paintings,
I see pictures painted both with the eye of an artist and the eye of
a botanist."
The originals of Fr. Sturm's work will be kept by Ninohe city and an
album of reproductions will be made for public exposition.
The picture collections cost 2000 yen each. Inquiries can be made to
Kunika (Tel: 0195-23-2024).
JAPANESE CATHOLIC GROUP IN HONG KONG A FAST-CHANGING COMMUNITY
Catholic Weekly, September 3
About 30 Japanese Catholics living in Hong Kong gather in a classroom
at St. Margaret's Church in the Happy Valley district every Sunday.
When Noboru Takahashi, president of the Hong Kong Japanese Catholic
Society, told a reporter that their numbers are growing, the treasurer,
Keiko Shinohara chimed in, "10 new members this year!"
Shinohara has lived in Hong Kong for the past eight years. Takahashi
arrived 18 months ago. Sister Toshiko Yomogida of the Missionary Sisters
of Our Lady of the Angels is the coordinator of the group, which began
in 1973.
Maryknoll Father Adam Gudalefsky, who used to work in Japan, celebrates
Mass in Japanese. When he is absent, a Filipino priest celebrates in
English. Occasionally, Japanese priests visiting Hong Kong lead the
celebration.
Even during periods when there is no Mass in Japanese attendance has
increased.
"This is God's doing," said Takahashi.
He recently opened a home page (www.hkjcatholic.com) and places ads
in magazines aimed at Japanese.
"I make full use of advertizing and try to tell readers everything
we are doing. People who have seen it come to us," he said.
The Hong Kong Japanese Catholic Society is presently composed of 15
families and eight individuals. They fit mostly under two headings -- permanent
residents and people who have been assigned to Hong Kong in connection
with their work for short periods. Many members return to Japan for
the summer.
"When we lose five elementary school children, for instance, the atmosphere
changes abruptly," Takahashi said. "Changes in membership
happen frequently, but that is the character of the place."
Yuko Ng?the group's secretary, commented that such changes cannot
be helped, but members are blessed to be able to attend Mass in their
own language and meet other Japanese.
After Mass on Sunday, members get together for lunch. They also organize
events throughout the year such as retreats, Christmas and Easter parties,
barbecues. These are occasions for attracting new members.
Takahashi said, "Our members are a really mixed bag -- permanent
residents, short term assignees, tourists. We welcome them all."
JAPANESE AND KOREAN STUDENTS GATHER IN YAMAGUCHI
Catholic Weekly, August 27
The 12th Annual Korea-Japan Joint Camp was held this year in Yamaguchi
from July 29 to Aug. 3. The Japanese contingent included 38 junior
and senior high school students from parishes and Catholic schools
in the Yamaguchi-Shimane District of Hiroshima Diocese. Fifty junior
and senior high school students from Namchon Parish in Busan, Korea,
also attended.
The theme was "Love and Passion for All -- From Encounter
to Encounter." The camp, held at the National Yamaguchi Tokuji
Youth Outdoor Learning Center, was sponsored by the Yamaguchi-Shimane
District Shonen no Tsudoi (young people's group).
"I hardly knew any of the kids, so I was anxious about whether I could
make friends," said Mino Shimazoe, a 10th grader. "But once
the meeting began, it felt like we were friends from the instant our
eyes met."
The participants deepened their exchange through a sports day, putting
on a play, and personal exchange and sharing.
Eleventh grader Yurika Fujimoto said, "I was worried about the
language barrier, but once things got started, the one word that was
always understood was 'heart.' As the end of the camp drew closer and
closer, we felt that we didn't want to leave one another. It was really
hard. Even now I am keeping in touch with my Korean friends through
email. Next year I want to participate as a leader."
Each of the participants from Korea spent the last two days with a
Japanese family on a home-stay. About 25 families accepted students.
Missionaries of Christ Jesus Sister Fumiyo Kohama said that she heard
many of the families saying, "We are really glad we did it."
Sr. Kohama said that it was from very open and generous people like
this that she felt the support to carry out her job. She added that
she was also very thankful for the volunteers who helped as interpreters.
"The camp ended with tearful goodbyes," the nun added.
The camps, which began in 1983, had been sponsored by dioceses other
than Busan until now. Busan plans to prepare for the camp next year
also.
"Nippon Notes"by William Grimm
A NEW PRINCE FOR AN OLD COUNTRY
UCANews
TOKYO (UCAN) -- As of Sept. 6, Japan has a new little prince who, in
his short life, has already headed off a constitutional crisis.
According to Japanese law, the imperial throne must pass through the
male line. However, the imperial family has not been producing sons.
The crown prince and princess have a daughter. The crown prince's younger
brother had two daughters until his wife gave birth to a boy on September
6. So, assuming that the newborn lad grows up healthy, Japan will be
spared a succession crisis for at least another generation.
Until the latest pregnancy was announced, the government was floating
the idea of allowing females not only to ascend the throne, but to
have the succession pass to their offspring. Conservatives were aghast.
Those conservatives are rejoicing at the new prince's birth. So, too,
are the media.
Much of the media fuss, of course, is due to the fact that news of
this sort sells newspapers and magazines and attracts viewers. But,
in fact, how much interest or excitement is there among the Japanese
people?
Sometimes, it is important to notice what people fail to say. This
is especially true when reading or viewing news reports. We must keep
questions in mind and see if the article or report answers them.
In the case of the newborn prince, the question is, "Who cares?"
The media have spoken of people waiting outside the hospital for the
birth and of others rejoicing over it. Notably absent from the reports
is any mention of how many people were waiting or who is doing the
rejoicing. There are no photos of crowds. There have been no parades
or mass public demonstrations of rejoicing.
In fact, most Japanese do not care. The imperial family and system
are so remote from the lives of people here that the birth of a new
prince does not excite the mass of people. The birth of a panda at
one of the nation's zoos would certainly attract larger and more emotional
crowds.
Of more concern is the kind of country Japan will be when the newborn
prince is ready to become emperor.
On the same day the yet-to-be-named prince was born, the United Nations
Population Fund issued a report that projects a drop of 16 million
people, or 13 percent, in Japan's population by the year 2050, about
the time the boy is likely to take the throne. In fact, the Japanese
government's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
predicts an even sharper drop.
Japan's population will not only be smaller but older too, the institute
says. It predicts that in 2050, "1 in 2.8 persons will be over
65."
What sort of challenge does this present for the Church? An immediate
response to that question might refer to the need for more activities
to serve the elderly: nursing homes, medical care, seniors' clubs,
meal services, etc. However, that response overlooks the fact that
there are likely to be few people, Catholic or otherwise, available
to staff such programs. After all, Catholics are not immune to the
effects of the aging that is already reshaping Japan.
The time for the Church in Japan to serve the elderly of 2050 is today.
Can we help today's middle-aged people develop the attitudes and spirituality
that will enable them to live into an old age of peaceful dignity when
there will be few people to care for them? And when younger people
may resent the large amount of resources that will be directed toward
the elderly?
In addition to the international political and economic effects, Japan's
aging presents a challenge for the Church throughout Asia. Traditionally
the Church has used its resources to serve the poor. Might there be
a need in the not-too-distant future for the Church to respond to the
needs of a nation whose poverty will be of youth rather than of money?
Japanese industry is already importing labor from other countries in
order to cope with a shortage of working-age people. The Church has,
of course, always imported labor in the form of missionary priests,
sisters, brothers and laity. The time is coming when the Church here
will have to import a new kind of missioner, specialists in being an
evangelizing presence with and for the elderly.
Will the younger Churches of Asia be prepared to send people in mission
to Japan in order to serve the elderly? If the willingness is there,
what sort of preparation will be needed? And what sort of planning
must be done today?
Our little prince may eventually reign in a country that is barely
distinguishable from an old folks' home. How will the Church serve
in that same country?
Maryknoll Father William Grimm is
editor-in-chief of Katorikku Shimbun, Japan's Catholic weekly.
Opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not represent
the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan.
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PRIEST, OTHERS, FILE SUITS AGAINST YASUKUNI SHRINE AND GOVERNMENT
Catholic Weekly, August 27
 Nine people, including Osaka diocesan priest Fr. Toshihiko Nishiyama
(71), all with family members who have been enshrined in Yasukuni Shrine,
filed a lawsuit with the Osaka District Court Aug. 11 against both
Yasukuni Shrine and the Japanese government, which handed over to Yasukuni
Shrine a list of the deceased to be enshrined.
The lawsuit demands that the names of their relatives be removed from
the list of those enshrined and asks for compensation for the violation
of their right to decide how their relatives will be honored. Among
the plaintiffs are Pure Land Sect (Jodo Shinshu) Buddhist priest Ryuken
Sugawara (66) and an indigenous Taiwanese, Yang Yuanhuang (51).
The nine plaintiffs together have 11 family members who died as soldiers
or employees of the Japanese military and who have been enshrined in
Yasukuni Shrine. Previously the plaintiffs had individually demanded
that the shrine delete the names of their family members from the shrine's
list of war dead, but their requests were rejected. They say that is
the reason they are bringing the case to court.
The lawsuit claims that "the way that a family decides to mourn
and give meaning to the deaths of their family members, and the decision
as to whether they will have a memorial service or not is an intensely
personal issue."
The suit asserts that the families' rights were violated because Yasukuni
Shrine enshrined their relatives without the families' consent, and
then refused demands that their enshrinement be nullified. In order
to nullify the enshrinement the plaintiffs are demanding that the names
of their relatives be deleted from the list of those who have been
enshrined.
Fr. Nishiyama is a specialist in the Church's responsibility regarding
the war in the 1930s and 1940s and has published materials concerning
this. His father Chuichi, a Christian, was sent by the Interior Ministry
to work in the Navy Construction Department. He died from illness in
April 1943 at the age of 37.
In 2004 Fr. Nishiyama made an inquiry to Yasukuni Shrine as to whether
his father was enshrined or not. He learned that his father had been
enshrined in 1976. Over the past two years, Fr. Nishiyama examined
documents to gain an understanding of the thinking of the shrine, and
this past July he had a consultation with the Yasukuni authorities,
but their response was that enshrinement does not violate the religious
freedom of the priest.
Fr. Nishiyama said, "All religious denominations have closed their
eyes to the fact that enshrinement denies the freedom of belief of
the families. My deep conviction that we must take this action now
in order to ensure our freedom of belief is what that impels me to
join this lawsuit."
Bishop Goro Matsuura, uxiliary bishop of Osaaka and chairperson of
the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace, announced his support
for the lawsuit on the day it was filed.
WORLD RELIGIOUS LEADERS GATHER IN KYOTO
FOR ASSEMBLY OF RELIGIONS FOR PEACE
Catholic Weekly, September
3 and 10
 Over 500 official representatives and more than 2,000 religious
leaders from almost 100 countries and regions attended the
Eighth World Assembly
of Religions for Peace in Kyoto August 26-29. One hundred and fifty
Catholics were among the official representatives at the assembly organized
by the World Conference of Religion and Peace (WCRP).
"I was very impressed with the large number of Catholic representatives
at this year's conference," said Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald,
former president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
and presently apostolic nuncio to Egypt. The archbishop also attended
the 1989 and 1994 assemblies.
The assembly was the largest since the first WCRP assembly was held
36 years ago, also in Kyoto.
"Resolving Conflict," "Constructing Peace" and "Sustainable
Development" were the three principle themes of the conference.
After listening to reports at the plenary sessions, participants divided
into study groups and considered practical proposals in greater detail.
At the study groups there were also reports from a Women's Assembly
and World Youth Assembly that had been held earlier. Groups also discussed
in detail reports from various countries and practical plans to deal
with their problems as well as compiling a list of specific proposals.
On the final day, the participants adopted an Assembly Declaration
before the meeting closed.
At the opening ceremony the patriarch of the Tendai sect of Buddhism
in Japan, Venerable Eshin Watanabe, called on participants to reflect
within themselves on whether they are worthy of the word "peace" and
renew their commitment to it.
Japanese Cardinal Fumio Hamao, former president of the Pontifical Council
for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, read a message
from Pope Benedict XVI declaring that "peace is not just the absence
of war, but is a gift of God, and so we all have a responsibility for
peace."
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan also attended the opening
ceremony and expressed respect for and hope in the religious leaders'
involvement in peace efforts.
In his opening address, Dr. William Vendley, WCRP secretary general,
said, "Our religions, all of them, are always, are perpetually,
vulnerable to being hijacked. I am not speaking of any one religion
at any one time, but of all religions across time. Today, our religions
are being hijacked by religious extremists, hijacked by unscrupulous
politicians, hijacked by the sensationalist media....Our vehicles of
faith must be rescued from the hijackers' grasp."
 He also spoke of how significant it was that this time religious leaders
from countries involved in violent conflicts where political leaders
could not meet are able to come together. In order to facilitate such
interchange there were many informal meetings during the assembly free
from the attention of the press and public.
Ann Veneman, executive director of UNICEF, spoke of the miserable conditions
in which many children live. Former president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami
(right)
of Iran said that in recent years the rival camps in East and West
had a "history of violence" and appealed to "all religions
to come together and dialogue so that violence is not glorified."
Archbishop Fitzgerald (below) commented to a reporter that "the
results of this meeting must be shared among every group and every
place, and
I hope they will be implemented at the local level."
 The chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea's Committee
for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue, Bishop Kim
Hee-joong, auxiliary bishop of Kwangju, also said that "we must
go beyond differences in religious doctrine, and respecting each other,
I wish to promote better cooperation among all religions."
At the Aug. 29 close of the assembly participants adopted a "Kyoto
Declaration."
The declaration pointed out that religion is used to cause and justify
violence, and stated that "religious communities and leaders must
stand up, speak out, and take action against the misuse of religion."
Placing emphasis upon overcoming violence and protecting life, the
participants resolved that, "We are determined to mobilize our
religious communities to work together and with all sectors of society
to stop war, struggle to build more just communities, foster education
for justice and peace, eliminate poverty and advance sustainable development
for future generations."
At the end of the assembly, Cardinal Hamao, who had attended every
session, commented, "This was my first time attending the WCRP
Assembly, and I was very impressed with the way members of Risho Koseikai
and other young volunteers looked after the participants so well. Christians
formed the largest group among the 2,000 participants, and it was good
that there were a lot of Catholics among them."
Referring to the fact that during the meeting it was pointed out that
religion is the cause of many conflicts, the cardinal added, "Faith
is beliefs, and people think their own beliefs are the best, and there
is a danger that they become exclusive and intolerant. From now on,
religious leaders -- myself included -- taking a standpoint different
from that of politicians, must nourish people's hearts with religion.
I feel strongly our mission and responsibility to educate people about
peace, and assist those who are suffering."
The Church in Japan has a mission to further promote interreligious
dialogue he continued.
"For example, if Buddhists, Confucianists, Taoists and other religious
leaders from Korea and China come together, if there could be a meeting
of Asian religious leaders, it would play a role in improving relations
between Japan and Korea, and Japan and China."
Cardinal Hamao also met with Chinese bishop Ma Yinglin, who was consecrated
last April.
"When I told him that I had been there a long time ago, he said 'now
come again as a cardinal.' He seemed to be a good bishop. I would like
to visit him. When I return to Rome I wish to study more about what
is happening in China."
The full text of the Kyoto Declaration is available on the WCRP website
at www.wcrp.org/files/KyotoDeclaration.pdf
NAGASAKI RECALLS ATOMIC BOMBING WITH TORCHLIGHT
PROCESSION, MASS
Catholic Weekly, August 27
On August 9, three days after Hiroshima did so, Nagasaki marked the
61st anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on its city. A
large number of people gathered at Urakami Church to pray for the victims
of the bomb and offer prayers for peace.
That evening, just as they had done last year, participants walked
in procession carrying burning torches. This year, children walked
in a separate procession following a different route, each holding
a glowing light. Both groups processed from the Urakami Church, praying
and singing hymns until they met again at Peace Park.
About 2,500 people gathered at the park to participate in a Mass for
Peace offered by Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami. Bishops Atsumi Misue of
Hiroshima and Ryoji Miyahara of Oita as well as pilgrims from other
dioceses joined in the Mass.
In his sermon Archbishop Takami called on all to realize that for there
to be peace it is important "always to be the first to love, to
extend your love to all people, even enemies, and to love to the point
of offering your life for the other."
This year Father Wladyslaw Zawalniuk, a priest from Minsk, Belarus,
participated in the Nagasaki peace events. Belarus, formerly part of
the Soviet Union, was contaminated by the 1986 atomic reactor accident
in Chernobyl. The priest's visit to Nagasaki was the realization of
an intention that goes back to 2000, when the Hibakusha Maria statue
was exhibited in Belarus. The statue of Mary was badly damaged in the
1945 bombing.
On the evening of Aug. 8, a Memorial Prayer Service for the Victims
of the A-Bomb, sponsored by the Forum of Religionists of Nagasaki Prefecture,
was held at the epicenter of the atomic explosion. During the service,
Father Zawalniuk decried the fact that even now nuclear tragedy continues.
Touching on the situation in Belarus, he told of the many people whose
bodies are still being ravaged by radiation.
Plaques on which the names of the atomic bomb victims have been engraved
are in the chapel of the Urakami Church where the Hibakusha Maria is
kept. On Aug. 9 a plaque with the names of the latest victims was blessed
and added. This ceremony was followed by a Mass in the church that
began at the exact time that the bomb was dropped, 11:02 am.
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