Religion and state row in Japan

A row over separation of religion and the state has broken out in Japan after Ichiro Ozawa, secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, said in a speech in a Buddhist temple that Christianity was “a self-righteous religion that excluded other religions.” He said Christianity was at a dead-end (or, in some translations, “at an impasse”). Islam was somewhat better, he claimed, but “it too excludes other religions.” But he had fulsome praise for Buddhism, which he deemed “magnanimous.”

Christians in Japan then accused Mr Ozawa of breaching article 20 of the Japanese constitution, which reads: “No religious organization shall receive any privileges from the state or exercise any political authority. No person shall be compelled to take part in any religious acts. The state and its organs shall refrain from religious education or any other religious activity.”

Pastor Peter Teo of the Church of Our Saviour in Fujisawa, told the Japan Times: “Although I have great respect for Ozawa’s political skills, I believe his scathing remarks about Christianity are untrue and unbefitting a man of his political stature. As a politician, Ozawa has a responsibility to uphold Article 20 of the Japanese Constitution. Ozawa — as an influential member of state organs — is obliged to refrain from religious activity, which includes a public denunciation of Christianity. I hope Ozawa apologizes for his unkind and untrue statements.”