The Complementary Nature of Japanese Religion

This is a rather weak paper I wrote for my Japanese religion class. I though maybe some of you might want to read it but it's long with a pathetic ending so be prepared. Also, if you'd like to see pictues of the Sanja Matsuri mentioned at the end then see the album in my photobucket (I think its titles sanja matsuri). Also...the footnotes did something wierd so deal with them as best as you can.

There exist in Japan two major religious traditions, Shinto and Buddhism, which have grown over time to sit side by side in the everyday lives of the Japanese. Although both of these religions have their own long histories they have been molded together in contemporary Japan, as well as separated and given their own distinct functions in Japanese life. I will illustrate these two ideas, which probably seem contradictory, with two specific experiences of my own; my “religious” activities with my host family and the visits I have made to Asakusa Jinja especially in reference to the Sanja Matsuri.

Shinto is the folk religion of Japan and the beliefs are associated with different kami, or gods of nature. Initially the religion revolved around communities and villages and the kami were typically associated with their own needs (protection from natural harm, agricultural profit, etc). Unlike Shinto, Buddhism is an imported religion from China via Korea. While Shinto remained a major religion for the common folk, Buddhism was a religion that moved outward, having been adopted by the aristocracy first. During the Nara period and into late Meiji, it was not uncommon for Buddhist temples and Shinto shrine to be built next to or within one another[1] and from the Kamakura period on, Shinto and Buddhism’s relationship, with Shinto playing a primarily subordinate role, was explored and developed. During the Meiji restoration, in an effort to create some Nationalistic pride by drawing on the idea of Ujigami in Shinto tradition (the idea of community being strong and secure), Shinto and Buddhism were separated and the government created State Shinto. After the defeat in World War II, however, freedom of religion as well as separation of religion and state was established thus abolishing State Shinto.
This brief overview of the history suggests an already deep intertwining of Shinto and Buddhist ideas and thus gives us the framework for the complicated religious positions the Japanese are in today (although it probably doesn’t seem so complicated to them).

I will now present my first illustrator of Shinto and Buddhist complimentary nature: The host family I have been living with for 9 months now. When I first arrived in Japan I was surprised when my host mother asked me if I was religious. I replied that although I was a Christian I was not really religious, as in going to church every Sunday religious. I then asked if she was and she replied similarly, that she (and her family) was Buddhist though they weren’t religious. At the time, I didn’t really think much of this answer and assumed it applied the same way my “not really religious” sentiment applied. Since that conversation I have participated in several Shinto traditions with my host mother, from higan to hatsumode, as well as visited a few Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, at which she has always made a prayer and offering (and if her children are with her, gotten them to as well). When we went together to hatsumode, we went to a Buddhist temple. Hatsumode is of course a Shinto tradition, and although she did not pray at the temple she did buy a fortune for the New Year. We also stayed to hear the first ringing of the bell. When she told me the bell rings 108 times I asked her why. She did not know the response but I have since learned that the number could possibly signify the 108 temptations the Buddhist tradition warns of.

This experience illustrates several ideas about the contemporary approach to religion. She is not unlike the majority of Japanese who simply move through one tradition to another without pause or hesitation. I am not even sure if she is aware that she moves through both Shinto and Buddhist rituals and activities at once and throughout the different aspects of her life. But still, according to statistics, she is at least somewhat closer to the idea of “not really religious” because her household has no kamidana or butsudan, Shinto and Buddhist alters which house household deities and honor family ancestors respectively. In many households in Japan both of these religious shelves are featured, whether or not the household members consider themselves religious or not.[2]

While we had gone to hatsumode, a primarily Shinto event, earlier that fall we had gone to Yokohama to visit the grave of my host father’s mother. At the time I did not know this was the Buddhist tradition of haka mairi, visiting graves to clean them and make offerings, and more specifically higan, which takes place in the spring and fall. I was even encouraged to light incense and stand before the grave as well. This not only further illustrates the Japanese ability to move from one religion’s activity to another without feeling any sense of contradiction but also illustrates the idea that these activities are not considered so religious at all, and even if they are, that actual subscription or association to the religion is not necessary.

I was encouraged to participate in both events, and have been encouraged to attend and participate in many other events by my host mother (including Seijinshiki, coming of age, which I attended in full kimono) despite the fact that I am not Shinto or a Buddhist, nor did I have any knowledge of the religious association of the events. Reader writes, “In fact many Japanese people I have talked to about hatsumode hardly consider it a religious festival at all, and are reluctant to view their participation in religious terms.” He goes on to explain the social obligation of both events.[3] Hatsumode, as are many festivals, is a cultural event where communities come together and nearly everyone is there. There is a certain amount of obligation to go to such events built up in Japanese society and hatsumode is perhaps the religious festival most attended by old and young alike,[4] suggesting it has a certain part of popular appeal as well (though my host family must once more be an exception as my host mother and I were the only ones to attend this year). Haka Mairi is also deeply entrenched in social obligation, though this is in regard’s to one’s ancestors rather than one’s community. Family obligation is a major part of Japanese lifestyle and history and was a major influencer of the development of Buddhism, yet despite this, higan is not nearly as popular as hatsumode.[5]
Even if these activities were considered religious and not simply social traditions, my being encouraged to participate during higan illustrates another idea imbedded in Japanese religion. Swyngedouw presents the ability of compartmentalization that the Japanese have with the use of two terms wa and bun. What we have seen is that Japanese can move from one religious association to another with a certain sense of harmony and without regard to any contradiction of ideas; this is wa. This ability to be at peace with the different associations comes from bun, the assignment of each religion and activity to its proper place. [6] Today, the major religions are each associated with their own aspect of life; for Shinto for birth rites, coming of age, etc, for Buddhism for funerals and honoring ancestors, etc, and, as of late, Christianity for marriage. It also implies the idea that these boundaries are not to be overstepped, and the idea that once one event is over you may simply return to normal life.

This leads to another idea which Reader describes when he talks about certain situations in life demanding certain religiously associated activities in the Japanese mind.[7] If someone dies then someone in the family must go to the temple to learn about the appropriate actions (indeed, although though many Japanese say they are Buddhist they often never find out what sect they are a part of until someone dies[8]), if there are entrance exams then students go to a temple or shrine to pray, and so on. When they do so they are completely involved in whatever frame of mind is necessary and there is no qualm or hesitation about facing a changing doctrine or requesting benefits from different religious organizations.[9] The phrase for this is kurushii toki no kamidanomi, turning to the gods in times of trouble, and for the Japanese this can mean any god regardless of religious activeness or association.[10]

It is not just the Japanese lifestyle that is affected by these developments of Japanese religion. I will now briefly discuss Asakusa Shrine in relation to the complementary nature of Shinto and Buddhism. Discussion of Asakusa actually requires the introduction of Sensoji Temple as well. As I mentioned earlier, from the Nara period on Shrines and Temples were built with one another. Sensoji and Asakusa were once such a complex though they were separated after the Meiji restoration. The Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine are still, of course, right next to each other and so much associated with each other that the largest matsuri (festival) to take place there, the Sanja Matsuri, is associated with the temple and the shrine-while researching I could not find anything that said it was specifically dedicated to one or the other location, instead they both seem to claim the matsuri as their own. Indeed, although I had been there many times it was not until my last visit that I realized the temple and shrine were separate locations, for they are so close together, and their architecture so similar, that they could still be the same complex (which is not surprising since they once were).

Architecture alone is enough to illustrate the influence that Buddhism has had on the Asakusa shrine. Most shrines are designated by Tori, gates, which lead to the shrine but Asakusa is preceded only by the huge and domineering Kaminarimon, a Buddhist gate primarily associated with the temple. Still, the most noticeable Buddhist structure is the Pagoda, which in Buddhist tradition houses relics of Buddha and in this temple’s case, those of the Kannon Bosatsu. The architecture itself is Chinese appearance including the painting which is vivid red and includes elaborate paintings on the inside ceilings.[11] While all of this shows the Buddhist influence on the shrine, matsuri are traditionally Shinto events. The Sanja Matsuri includes the procession of hundreds of mikoshi, elaborately made portable shrines to carry diety, from Asakusa to Sensoji. Despite the fact that this festival, as are all matsuri, is associated with kami, it is tied to Sensoji temple. Of course, this festival is not just for religious means, it is also conducted for the sake of the community and the sake of the festival itself.[12]

The relationship of Shinto and Buddhism is one of give and take in the lives of the Japanese. This is not to say that they are the only two religions, or that Japanese cannot have a singular religious belief. It is simply that the majority of Japanese society exhibits this sense of compartmentalization when it comes to religion, and ability to harmonize, that it is no wonder the two are so deeply intertwined.

[1] “Shinto Shrine”, http://www.wikipedia.com/
[2] Referring to the NHK survey information Swyngedouw relays in his article: “In 60% of the homes surveyed there was a kamidana, or Shinto god shelf, and in 61% a butsudan, or Buddhist altar. About 45% had both and only 24% had neither.”
Jan Swyngedouw, “Religion in Contemporary Japanese Society,” Religion and Society in Modern Japan, pg 54
[3] Reader writes about Hatsumedo and O-ban in relation to social obligation as well as the fact that regardless of this they are still attending religious rites and locations for said events.
Ian Reader, Religion in Contemporary Japan, (London, MacMillan, 1991), pg 11
[4] Referring to the high percent of people both young and old who attend hatsumedo according to the NHK survey: “hatsumedo scores 81%, with little difference between the younger and older generations…”
Swyngedouw, “Religion in Contemporary Japanese Society,” pg 55
[5] The stats here say that while many older people still participate in Higan, the younger generation is not
Swyngedouw, “Religion in Contemporary Japanese Society,” pg 55
[6] Swyngedouw, “Religion in Contemporary Japanese Society,” pg 62-63
[7] Reader states “There is a deep relationship between situations, actions, and religiosity in Japan. Situations demand actions that express a latent religiosity…” and then goes on to talk about a reaction to death and the steps taken through buddhism
Reader, Religion in Contemporary Japan, pg 15
[8] Referring to reader’s anecdote about a friend who stated this when asked what sect he was part of, plus the other many times I have heard this anecdote
Reader, Religion in Contemporary Japan, pg 3
[9] Swyngedouw is introducing his thoughts on the structure of Japanese religiosity and states “even when the Japanese engage in religious acts, there seems to be no coherency in their behavior.”
Swyngedouw, “Religion in Contemporary Japanese Society,” pg 60
[10] Reader, Religion in Contemporary Japan, pg 20
[11] “Architecture: A Harmonious coexistence of tradition and innovation,” http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/JapanAccess/kenchiku.htm
[12] “Asakusa Shrine,” http://www.asakusajinja.jp/english.html (2007)

The Power Suit

Well...I promised I'd put up pictures of me in the suit for Kyudo. Why, you ask? Because I never wear suits, and probably never will for any other reason, in my life. I also think it's funny that I need them for a sport. There are three places kyudo requires first years to wear suits: at kanpa or nomikai (the parties), at competitions, and for taking the school picture. I actually had to wear the suit to class and everyone said I looked wierd, not Jessica like, though very smartly dressed in all. I felt...odd...suits are uncomfortable and I feel out of place in them...but it kind of made me feel a bit more Japanese as well...which is just wierd.

These are pics of me in manami's suit (which is surprisingly just a tad big around the waist) as oppposed to my senpai's suit that I borrowed the first time (which is a tad too small everywhere).

Oh, by the way. Okaasan thought I looked really japanese and I was wondering if black suits are less common in america or something...mostly because all the americans I know who brought suits didn't bring black ones. Okaasan also thought I looked like a, I forger the Japanese word, but someone who is going on lots of interviews for an internship or job right before they graduate. Manami is in that stage now and almost everyother day she's going to interviews and such. She has all these applications and she has to put pictures on each one (see thenikku's recent post for commentary on how to take an ID picture in Japan).

In any case...

Much Love!

Takaosan

So a few sundays ago I went hiking on Takaosan as a sort of "get prepared for Mt. Fuji" kind of trip.

Takaosan is a 370 yen ride from shinjuku station, a fairly short ride and an easy place to find. I met some friends (Andrew, Yukari, Tyisha, John, and Dampierre) at Shinjuku and then we hopped on the train, which took about 40 minutes. We got there around noon which made me wish we had gotten there sooner because I feel like we didn't have enough time to see everything, but it was a beautiful and great trip anyway.

You get to the foot of the mountain and there are som souvinier shops and a couple of sweet shops but not really much to eat. We wandered around for awhile trying to find a conbini so we could get food to take up on the mountain. Next time I'll know to just bring food.

After that we caught a 500 yen ride on the chairlift, which is the usualy way to get about halfway up the mountain. It's a nice ride, though a bit expensive if you want to go both ways so we just caught the way up.

Once you get off the chairlift there's a place selling corn dogs (american dogs) and franks on sticks. We got a couple, ate and then moved on. There are several directions to go but more than anything (and I'm not sure why) I wanted to see this one bridge. So I lead the way! Not a good idea....

On the way to the bridge we passed the monkey park, which costs another 500 yen to enter (we didn't go in) and this really cool tree. It's really large but the neat thing is that its got this hollow root. If you put your ear next to it you hear nothing. It's really intense this sound of nothingness, like a vacuum or something. I was entertained by this tree.

We finally found our way to the bridge, which was less exciting in person. Then we hiked the rest of the way up the mountain to the top which has a few restaurants and a really spectacular view. A large group asked John to take their picture for them so he did, then they wanted us all in the picture so we did that, and then they started getting John's autograph or something...that's what it looked like. Nice people who we ran into a couple of times on the way down.




When we headed down we were trying to find one of the water falls but once again I had been put in the lead. I ended up putting us on the longest path down between which there is almost nothing except a small inari shrine. Still, it was nice just hiking and talking and singing on our way off the mountain.


Also, as we were reaching the bottom we heard Hula music! at the foot a hawaiian band had been preforming! It was pretty neat. There was a smaller waterfall at the foot so we all took pictures in front of that.




All in all a wonderful little trip. I had forgotten how much I loved hiking! Now I guess I'm ready for the 6 hour climb up mount fuji, which I plan to do in the middle of June. There are more pictures in the album "Takaosan" in my photobucket...enjoy!

Also, coming soon are updates about:
Measles, Matsuri, The power Suit, and more Kyudo stuff...

Much Love!

Beach も一回(One more time!)

So, Today I went with Andrew and some of his friends and a lot of their friends to the same beach in Kamakura. This time I had a camera but because of the weather there werent very many hawks out.

When we got to the beach it looked like this:

Clouds rolling in and the rain begining to fall. I'm supposed to look terrified but instead it looks like I'm raising the roof. We decided to take shelter in a small restaurant called Sea Castle.

It's a german restaurant which was good because the people we were with all wanted beer but I would highly recomend against ever visiting this place. It smelled a bit odd and the woman working there gave us the most evil looks while we were sitting the rain out (though msot everybody ordered something and we were her only customers). Andrew did say she was nice when he was paying his check though, so who knows...maybe she just likes to stare at people and happens to have an evil look?

In any case, the day cleared up beautifully! It was sunny the rest of the time and I even jumped in the water. The water is probably dirtier than Georgia ocean which surprised me and it was freezing! Still it was fun.

Nice and relaxing.

Tomorrow I'll be seeing Spiderman 3. I could have seen it before all of you but oh well. I garuntee I'll be seeing Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribean before all of you...Mwa ha ha!

Much Love!

The Measles....

Okay...
I'm not saying I love the measles or anything but at this moment they have made me happier than naything else could have today.

Because there is an outbreak in Tokyo right now, particularly, 3 students at Sophia have gotten it, the school will be closed all of next week. That means no school, no clubs, no tests, no nothing! It's the vacation I was dreading not having! Even longer than golden week!

Of course, Tyisha and her friends are pretty much about to plan a last minute trip somewhere...I'd totally go if I had the money but as it is I'll be sitting pretty and relaxing.

I really needed another vacation so I'm pretty pumped!

IN other small news, I'm getting plans ready for a trip to Fuji san with friends on the last weekend of may. Very excited about that, plus it should be cheap. I'm also starting to work on plans for a possible trip to Okinawa in July...if I can save enough money.

I'm so happy right now.

But of course, maybe keep in your mind and prayers those students that do have measles.
Much Love!

Yasukuni Mondai

Yasukuni Shrine is a shinto shrine in the heart of tokyo and also in the heart of a ton of Controversy.

I have never felt so pessimistic about something as I do about the yasukuni mondai (problem in japanese). The problem with all the controversy is how multilayered it is. It's got several aspects; religous, political (both domestic and international), and constitutional.

I'll break it down for you but first a brief history:
Yasukuni was established in 1879 after being moved from it's previous location in kyoto. All of the enshrined spirits of those who had died in the fighting before the meiji restoration were also transferred to the new location. From then on all the spirits of those who died in in Japanese war would be enshrined in Yasukuni. Now, the problem comes after World War II, when a little over 1000 dead, all convicted of war crimes of some level, were also enshrined. the most problematic thing is that along with these spirits, those of 14 Class A war crime accused individuals were also enshrined as "Martyrs of Showa."
Since these enshrined were deiscovered Yasukuni has been the center of much international and domestic politcial discussion, which may or may not seem obvious to some.

Okay...now let me break down the different levels of this problem, beginning with Relgion (and this is brief and based on the knowledge I have only recently gained so I may be wrong on some counts):
As I stated, Yasukuni is a Shinto shrine and it was established specfically for the purpose for enshrining the spirits of those who had died in Japanese wars (this even included all Japanese from BOTH sides of a civil war, and children and civilians who died defending or while working during wartime as well-I'm trying to illustrate that there was no prejudice about who and who couldn't be enshrined...as long as you fought for Japan you count...). In shinto religion there is this concept about "bad death" which is basically someone comeing to an untimely death, espexially yound and unmarried individuals. If the spirits of these bad deaths are left to their own devices they become Onryo-Gami, or bitterly hating vengeful gos (kami). SO the shrine is there to enshrine the spirits and honor them, basically pleasing them so they don't reak havoc. It is important to note that spirits are enshrined regardless of previous life and individual circumstance of death. I even found an interview of a priest at Yasukuni stating that the families who come there to grieve for former members of their family are mistaken, because the Kami now enshrined do not relate at all to the spirits of the former lives, anymore. If you understand this than it's easy to see how it wouldn't matter that War Criminals are enshrined their since their former lives arent a part of their enshrined spirits/kami.
It is also important to know that in Japan taking care of your ancestors is very important. And since Japan is such a family type nation (particularly during the meiji period when they were striving to increase a since of national identitiy) taking care of the spirits of those who fought for your country is an obvious connection. So this is why the shrine is important, or at least somewhat so, to a lot of people.

That sort of leads me into politcal discussion. I'l start with domestic since I know less about it. basically a lot of Right wing, conservatives, etc want the prime minister to continue visiting the shrine and are calling for the emperor to visit. the emperor hasn't visited since the Class A war criminals were enshrined. The last prime minister, Koizumi visited every year, while he was in office, on the anniversary of the war. The current prime minister, Abe had been going back and forth about wether he was going to visit or not. I found out that he decided not to visit and instead donated a large sum of money for a special kind of tree for the shrine's spring festival this year. Civilians want these politicans to go and honor the dead. When they do go, the politcians are said to always be going in private so it shouldnt be a problem, and when they sign their name they supposedly sign only their name and not their position. But that's not always the case and Abe's donated tree has his name and position on it though the money came out of his own pocket.
Of course, as much as visits and donations might please the conservative, right winged public and politics at home, it fires up the liberal politics and international relations, particularly with neighboring Asian countries. Many see the open support of the shrine as a glorfication of the aggression, nationalism, and colonialism that was a part of Japan during World War II. To make matters worse their is a problem of Japan's revisionist history, most easily recognized in the Yasukuni Museum located right next to the shrine. The Museum is a detailed history of world war II and the wars leading up to it, according to the Japanese. Not to say that some of it can't be true but it basically argues and supports the idea that Japan was only in the war because they HAD to be, because of European aggresion or either Asia's call for a unfied front and/or leader (which of course was Japan). It doesn't really talk about the colonization of countries like korea and mentions nothing about the comfort women (which I have a feeling is an underlying problem connected to all this). Not only that but it talks about a lot of the lives and deeds of many of those enshrined, much in a glorifying way. Not to mention other small things like the kids' guide to Yasukuni saying that "there are also 1068 who had their lives cruelly taken after the war when they were falsely and one-sidedly branded as 'war criminal' by the kangaroo court of the Allies who had fought Japan." This also points to some Japanese still not accepting the decisions made after the war since they had never signed on.
Basically to many countries, it symbolizes Japan's inability to take complete responsibilty for it's history (a problem also exemplified by the textbook revisionist issues). This ambiguous behavior is only intensified by politicians who visit and then make vague remarks expressing, "regret and profound remorse for the enormous suffering and damage." Many liberal Japanese also feel visiting the shrine goes against "no more war" commitments and that it goes against peaceful coexisitance with neighboring countries.
I can state that according to some articles I read, Abe's recent donation seems to have upset more Japanese rather than chinese.

Okay, final object: Constitution.
The consitution of Japan currently states that there is separation between church and state. When this happend Yasukuni became it's own relgious location, no longer supported by the government (during meiji it was as a part of the concept of State Shinto-which you can look up on your own). Now, as a private relgious identity Yasukuni has to be supported byu visitors and subscribers to the relgion. The problem is that the one interested in Yasukuni are dieing out. as generations grow, they become more distant from world war II and the problems and people associated with it. For that reasons many conservative, right wings are calling for Yasukuni to be adopted as a government institution. There's even an argument that other countries have national cemtaries for their war dead (like america) so whay can't they? Of course the problem is that Yasukuni is a one religion location whereas in most other national cemetaries a person can be buried however they wish (plus they arent being enshrined). Some people are suggesting they move the war criminals spirits but priest give an absolute no to that saying that once the kami's are enshrined they can't just be moved. The other alternative is to create a new non relgious location which lists all the same war dead and lists new ones as they come (lets hope not too many) which the prime minsiter and emperor can visit if they please, since it would be non relgious. Of course, that option isn't being discussed so much either. And again, there is the problem of why can't the prime minister, in his off time visit a shrine of his choice? (after all, every president we've had has been christian and when we go to court we have to swear on the bible so technically Japan is a LOT more strict about seperation of church and state).

So those are the issues...
to me it just sounds plain impossible. It makes me really sad too...really disapointed in the world. But maybe one day it will be okay.

On a side note, beause of this problem when Japan sent some soldiers to Iraq to help support the US they were gaurded like 2-1 because the Japanese were so worried about what would happen if any of them died...I mean, with so much controversy over Yasukuni could they be enshrined?

Also, on a negative note...there are a lot of cases of Taiwanese and Koreans and even some christians trying to get family memebers names of the lists so they can have thier dignity/family/etc back but the priests won't let them, saying that if they died and fought for Japan then they stay there. Sad.

Pictures of the shrine (outdoors) here.

ED:
I tried to keep my personal opinion out of this post. Most of this is the info I could find, most of which seems biased one way or the other. My own personal opinion on the matter is way too conflicted to really share.

In any case,
Much Love

The Beach

So....
For those that don't know this week in Japan was "golden week"...a week with several different holidays (for instance today is children's day) and during which many Japanese get a good long weekend.
For me it was heaven. I got to take a break from classes and clubs and hung out with a lot of people. I did go out with the kyudo club on monday, my self introduction with all the yelling turned out well and the night was really fun. I'll put up pics of me in the suit later on, I look pretty strange. Later I went to Tokyo Dome city with some friends and rode Thunder Dolphin again, I still think it's one of the best rides I've ever been on.
Since this weeks weather was unusually gorgeous some friends and I decided we wanted to try out the beach. There's one in kamakura, about a 45 minute train ride from where I live. So we headed out.
I really wish I had gotten batteries for my camera. The beach looked fairly normal...people playing and wind surfers and normal surfers and all that. Only there were only like 5 people wearing bathing suits (minus the surfers and including our group of 3 people). I guess it may have been considered a little cold for bathing suits but not really...I felt a little awkward but got over it pretty fast.
The other thing is that at this beach they didn't have seagulls. Instead they had those big black crow birds, which weren't so bad, and hawks. Big hawks that are supposed to be all graceful and noble. Instead they were circling around the beach and stealing food! They stole two pieces of chicken right out of my friends hands! It was both hilarious and really freaky. I have a thing about birds, they basically scare the crap out of me when they are two close to my or in an enclosed space. These ones would dive right down and snatch whatever you were carrying! Silent and fast! I was cracking up the whole time and flinching every 5 seconds. I still had a blast though and nothing beats relaxing on the beach. I think when my friends say they want to go karaoke again I'll just suggest the beach instead. It's so much cheaper and a lot more relaxing^.^

In any case...
I should be writing a large entry about the Yasukuni Shrine tomorrow. I have a presentation on the matter on monday so....it's also loosely connected to issues with the comfort women and ww2....sooo....

Much Love!