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Japan's economic success and Shinto.

In many fields Japan cannot compete with the United States but is already partially ahead in some, and in one that at present is attracting most interest, computing, may well leave the United States behind. Within the next ten years the wealth that once flowed into the Middle East is expected to flow into Japan and the United States should be surpassed economically. In the nearer future the Soviet Union should also be completely surpassed. This may cause the United States and the Soviet Union to shake hands and turn on Japan.

One thing for which the Japanese can be grateful is the fact that they have not needed to waste money and energy on military matters and defense, a factor that has probably contributed to the building of the strongest economy they have ever known. Research carried out by foreign scholars on Japanese culture, the basis for this economic miracle, has also been remarkable. Beginning with "Research on Zen" Suzuki Daisetsu published many books on Buddhism, but not much has been published on Shinto merely because it abhors and defies explanation. Because ceremony is an important element Shinto has never been introduced into foreign countries. As the seeds of British culture were sown thoughout the world by the fortune-seekers that made the British Empire so economic factors have always combined with the spread of culture. Missionary work has also spread cultures, sometimes without economic ties. In Japan's case apects of its culture such as Judo, Karate, Ikebana and the Tea-ceremony fostered an interest abroad in Shinto, without which the above forms would be very different. In the past the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, and China led the world, but with the adoption of natural science Europe and Japan have taken the lead. Even so there was a big difference in the adaptation of science in Europe and Japan. Europe had always thought rationally but accepted the advances in natural science as a reaction to the restrictions brought about by the worship of Christianity but Japan had no such problems, it accepted rational thinking right from the beginning.

Geographical conditions such as climate, history and their natures have always influenced a people's character. Japan was lucky in that although it was situated near enough to China to receive its beneficial influences such as Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, it was distant and large enough to be relatively safe from attack or colonization. Unlike Poland which was always in danger of attack from either Russia or Germany Japan has never had to suffer the threat of invasion apart from that of the Mongols in the 13th century, and the occupation of the US forces after the Seond World War, which cannot be described as a hard ship since America was rich and powerful and needed nothing from Japan, which it rather nurtured.

For the "boat people" of the past that fled in fear of their lives and made it safely from the continent to Japan, this count ry was a kind of Utopia, and those that were successful made it their final resting place. Very few Japanese went abroad to live or work. One example is Yamada Nagamasa, who went south to trade, and others who emigrated to Hawaii, Brazil or America less than a hundred years ago, and the drifter John Manjiro. The regular ambassadors and scholars that went to China in the Sung and Tang dynasties to absorb Chinese culture always came back. Therefore the culture and civilization that found its way to Japan stopped here and didn't leave for a long time.

It is very difficult to generalize on the nature of the Japanese people. Unilke America where intellectuals rub shoulders with the poor and uneducated Japan is a much more even society. Historically Japan has alway been a unified society with the Emperor at the centre. The Japanese flag and the national anthem are threfore not important reminders of the nation or regarded so highly. This was not due to the abnormal conditions that prevailed after the defeat of Japan in World War ll. Japan was lucky to be able to receive the benefits of modern civilization and democracy without having to suffer the destruct ion of revolution.

But what about the climate, which did not affect the people so much in the hunting and gathering period but had a great influence on life in the agricultural period. Humid monsoon conditions, heavy rain and a high temperature are ideal for the cultivation of rice. Japanese agricultural technology has made it possible to grow rice as far north as Southern Hokkaido. In this ricegrowing, agricultural society, which has lasted for over two thousand years, the worship of Shinto came about. The posture of standing against nature in the hunting and gathering period brought about the acceptence of nature in all its abundance, and made the people very sentimental. Since the Japanese were not a maritime people they did not look at the stars astronomically or as physicists, but in their observation of the fauna and flora around them, everything, even inanimate objects such as soil and rocks, were viewed as being animate. One could say that by experience the Japanese realized the rela tivity of individual things and the entity as it is viewed in Alfred Kastler's consideration of the holon. Civilization flows from highly developed areas to areas of lower development, and naturally culture flows with it. In its long history Japan has taken a lot from foreign countries, and at its own convenience, and has made more highly countries its teachers. During the period of "sakoku" (national isolation) Japan's culture matured, but while it slumbered technologicaly the industrial revolution of western countries left it far behind and when it awoke Japan got a big shock. Unlike China which was hampered by its lack of any technique of thinking theoretically and thought of itself as the centre of the universe and the place where everyone came to learn, Japan was always of the opinion that civilization and culture came from elsewhere and thus with its eyes open was able to take counter-measures. As the centre knows only what is going on in the centre, but the countryside learns from it so Japan was able to counter-balance the flow of information. Japan has always been the countryside as far as the rest of the world is concerned. As the Japanese have always conversed with nature so have they always conversed with foreign cultures. Their openness to foreign things while at the same time keeping their old inhe rited culture gave them the balance which led to economic success.

There are two different ways that a nation may develop from its founding as a country. One is to start as a tribe, become an ancient nation, a feudalistic society and then a modern state. Most modern nations are of this type. The second kind starts as a tribe and gets no further than the ancient state. Communist countries and many underdeveloped nations belong to this type. The ancient Japanese state was not such a firm unit, nor was it a feudalistic state. The political system of the Edo Period (1603 - 1868) where every "han" (administative unit or local domain) hired its own "samurai" (warriors) spent a vast proportion of its income on defense. This system cracked easily on pressure from outside and changed Japan into a modern state. Then it solidi fied and the loyalty which had been decentralized and directed towards each "han" became centred on the Emperor. This loyalty, which had originated in the rural community, became ever stronger once ity was given the chance. This is also a characteristic of the Japanese people. While pronouncing the old adage that "A samurai can never follow two lords!" they easily abandon the old lord and follow the new one when the going suits them. If the new environment suits them they do their best in it. Before the war their place was in the countryside, after the war the environment became the factory.

Since Shinto does not believe in propogation no shrines have been built abroad, apart from the ones that were built by Japanese immigrants in Hawaii and Brazil. The shrines that were built by order in Korea and Taiwan had the opposite effect from what was intended, they tended to put people off Shinto. Then has the Shinto shrine no place in foreign countries? It is very natural for foreigners visiting shrines in Japan, Europeans, Americans and other Asians, to worship quite unaffectedly and take home amulettes. It must have been only natural to have a common feeling and respect for nature (the deities), before they became a religious idelogy. Is it not possible to say that the economic success of Japan and interest in Shinto and Japanese shrines has not awakened a belief that lay dormant in people from other lands? Nothing stops us standing before God. Shinto does not proselityze or force itself on people. Why should it not become international and more popular than religions that are forced on one such as Christianity, Islam, etc.?

The twentieth century is said to be the century of religion. Religions are becoming more understanding and compatible, com pared with their dogmatic and exclusive past. At such a time a belief in the originality of Shinto, which preaches that it has no originallity, may be helpful. One needs only to participate positively in Shinto ceremonies in order to learn something.