Why Talking About Faith Can Feel Difficult in Japan — “Did something happen?” —

There is a question I was once asked, and I still remember it clearly.

Not long after I was baptised into the Catholic Church,
I mentioned it in conversation.

The response was immediate, and very sincere:

“Did something happen?”

It was not said unkindly.
If anything, it came from genuine concern.

But at that moment, I realised something.

In Japan, speaking openly about having faith can feel… a little complicated.

A country that is both open and distant

Japan is often described as a country that is open to many religions.

It is not unusual for people to:

• visit a shrine at New Year
• observe Buddhist traditions
• attend a Christian-style wedding

And yet, when it comes to personally belonging to a specific religion,
the reaction can sometimes change.

There is a quiet distance.

The phrase “running to religion”

In Japanese, there is a phrase:

“to run to religion.”

It is often used when someone becomes deeply involved in a religion,
especially as an adult.

The phrase carries a certain nuance —
as if faith is something people turn to only
when something has gone wrong.

Why this impression exists

One possible reason is the image many people have of religion.

For some, “joining a religion” is closely associated with
new or emerging religious movements.

In Japan, such groups have sometimes drawn attention
for their aggressive recruitment methods
or for becoming involved in people’s personal struggles.

Because of this, religion itself can carry a slightly negative impression.

So when someone says they have become religious,
others may quietly wonder:

“Was there something difficult in their life?”

A different path

However, the path to becoming Catholic is usually not sudden.

There is rarely any strong invitation or pressure.

In most cases, a person must first visit the church on their own,
and then spend time learning and preparing before baptism.

It is not something that happens quickly.

In that sense, it feels quite different from the idea of
“running” toward something.

A small and slightly humorous memory

There is one more memory that has stayed with me.

One day, on my way home from work,
I was approached by two people from a religious group.

When I told them that I was Catholic,

they smiled and said:

“Oh, then we are the same — we are both Christian.”

And then, quite energetically,
they handed me a book written by their leader and said,

“Please read this!”

…before quickly walking away.

I remember standing there for a moment, thinking:

(I am not entirely sure that is how it works…)

A quiet thought

Perhaps, in Japan, religion is often seen as something
people turn to in difficult moments.

In a way, that might also reflect something else.

It may be a sign that many people feel
they can live their lives without needing to ask such questions.

And perhaps that, too, is a kind of peace.

And still

Even so, faith is not always about escaping something.

Sometimes, it is simply about seeking something —
quietly, and gently.