PM Ishiba, a Christian, observes Christmas at church in Tokyo

Japan's Christian heritage, born in the fires of persecution and carried by faithful martyrs, stands as a testament to the enduring power of truth and faith in a world often hostile to both.

Don't know much about Ishiba - other than his struggle to masticate onigiri rice balls - but an open celebration of Christmas in this way is a rare and powerful acknowledgment of this legacy, a reminder that even in a land where Christianity was once outlawed, the light of Christ cannot be extinguished.

Contrast this with the hollow secularism of woke Uber Liberalism, where Christian values are mocked and erased. Japan's Christian history - as is Christianity as a whole - is a story of resilience, a quiet but profound rebuke to the godless ideologies that seek to undermine faith, family, and tradition worldwide.

Merry Christmas to all.

*Contrast this with the hollow secularism of woke Uber Liberalism, where Christian values are mocked and erased. Japan's Christian history - as is Christianity as a whole - is a story of resilience, a quiet but profound rebuke to the godless ideologies that seek to undermine faith, family, and tradition worldwide.*

followed by

Merry Christmas to all.

and you just don't get the irony.

Here's the weird thing. I used to work in a hall which was above a church, so I came into contact with the church management quite frequently. Japanese Christians are actually far closer to the ideal than those in many other countries: they are quiet and polite and do not seem inclined to shove their ideas down your throat or denigrate anyone else's personal beliefs. What America demonstrates is Republican Jesus Christianity, which is basically just hiding behind a religion in order to be a really nasty piece of work.

Japan earliest invasion of those in the name of Christ were the Portuguese Jesuits seeking power and money under the disguise of holy man but the Shogun stop the infection which as a result keep the western world out for 300 years. I have to note the Philippines were also invaded and were overtake by the Portuguese Jesuits and are today's poorest nation in south east Asia.

Ishiba listened to the pastor's sermon and joined in singing hymns, according to those around him.

Yeah, that's what people do in church.

Hopefully the prayers help Ishiba San become a great PM!

Glad that he can take the time to go to church and stands in the hands of God, PEACE be with him.

Merry Christmas Sir.

I have to note the Philippines were also invaded and were overtake by the Portuguese Jesuits and are today's poorest nation in south east Asia.

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste beg to differ...

Blessings to Ishiba san and his family. May he steer Japan in the right path.

Does he pick and choose which parts of the Bible he likes, like most other Christians?

Does he pick and choose which parts of the Bible he likes, like most other Christians?

If he's like most other Christians, he probably hasn't read it.

David BrentToday  10:00 am JST

Does he pick and choose which parts of the Bible he likes, like most other Christians?

Are you trying to make friends with the PM? Sound biz strategy, you must a sharp one, and surely you have no Christian friends from wherever you grew up either.

@Jay

"Japan's Christian heritage, born in the fires of persecution and carried by faithful martyrs, stands as a testament to the enduring power of truth and faith in a world often hostile to both.

Don't know much about Ishiba - other than his struggle to masticate onigiri rice balls - but an open celebration of Christmas in this way is a rare and powerful acknowledgment of this legacy, a reminder that even in a land where Christianity was once outlawed, the light of Christ cannot be extinguished.

Contrast this with the hollow secularism of woke Uber Liberalism, where Christian values are mocked and erased. Japan's Christian history - as is Christianity as a whole - is a story of resilience, a quiet but profound rebuke to the godless ideologies that seek to undermine faith, family, and tradition worldwide.

Merry Christmas to all."

Well articulated point view, you said it all Jay, and Merry Christmas to you and your family too.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Contrast this with the hollow secularism of woke Uber Liberalism

Or we could compare it with Buddhism or Agnosticism or Atheism or even science.

And was Jesus not woke? "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Anyway, Merry Christmas.

Whoa, what? I was not aware he was a Christian.

I,m going to re read some of The Bible of the New Testament .....not the old ,

PM would be pleased.

First of all, don't consider upcoming Christmas celebrations as pure Christian. It's in fact a mix of several cultural issues packed into one date. The real Santa for example was Saint Nikolaus, a bishop of Myra, about 1700 years ago, and the celebration of his good deeds is on 6th of Dec. The widely known Santa Claus stems from Netherland migration to USA, as Sintaaklaas and this has changed into English , btw a bit falsely as Santa is female in Latin language, like Santa Barbara and such, so it should be Santo Claus. The once several looks got now standardized after a Coke poster campaign in the 1930's lol Also the Christmas tree has nothing to do with Christianity, in contrary , it comes from North European and Viking tribes , celebrating Yul and other Nordic gods like Thor , which are still hidden used in Tuesday, Thursday and Friday too. OK, if the decorated Christmas tree has a star on top, then a Christian feature is added , the symbol for Bethlehem star that according to the legend appeared on Jesus' day of birth. But not even the correct date is really known, varies some years and has changed several times due to calendar reforms. So just see Christmas as a celebration for potentially everyone, regardless of religion, or with full regard to own or several religions. As it pleases you best.

 So just see Christmas as a celebration for potentially everyone, regardless of religion, or with full regard to own or several religions. As it pleases you best.

I agree. The word "Yule" is also used for Christmas times. Basically a celebration of the winter solstice. I guess the Christian church managed to get their name tagged on. Similar to Halloween, which replaced the Gaelic word Samhain and the Welsh (Brittonic) name Calan Gaeaf. Basically a celebration of the end of harvest time and the coming of winter. (Although pre-Christian customs seem to still be practiced for that one.) Easter is the oddity, referring to the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. For some reason, the Christian church didn't change that name.

Ishiba is a fourth-generation Christian and the great-grandson of Kanamori Michitomi, a member of the Kumamoto Band and a pastor who was baptized by Niijima Jo, the founder of Doshisha University. Guided by his devout Christian mother, Ishiba attended church from a young age and was baptized at the Tottori Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan during his high school years.

As a Christian politician, he has been invited to Christian gatherings and has spoken about his faith and political philosophy.

"For me, Christian faith has been a given since childhood, and the very idea that God does not exist in this world is simply incomprehensible to me."

"As this nation faces unprecedented decisions, I must not forget to pray that God's will be done, and that even someone as insignificant as I, like dust, may be used for His purpose." (The Christians キリスト教新聞)

(https://xn--pckuay0l6a7c1910dfvzb.com/?p=47451)

Cheers. Joy to the world. Christmas greetings to world leader and Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Shigeru Ishiba. And Merry Christmas to his people out there in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Ishiba is a fourth-generation Christian and the great-grandson of Kanamori Michitomi, a member of the Kumamoto Band...

Without L. L. Janes, the Kumamoto Band probably would never have come about. Japan needs more men like him... and like Clark in Sapporo, Verbeck in Nagasaki and Tokyo, Hepburn and Brown. Protestants all. And they, through the many Japanese they taught, changed Japan forever. Ishiba should talk about his providential heritage.

Can some scholarly poster steer me toward what are seen as the original records of Jesus, teachings...Sermon on the Mount etc.?

After Christ , the messages He bore have been drowned out by divisions in Churches.

Good for him. Everyone is free to have any Religion he chooses.

Merry Christmas to everyone!