OIST
Today the weather is still cold.The forecast, however, said it will be picking up later on in the afternoon. So we hope for the best. I am looking forward today to be in Okinawa Institute of Sc and Tech(OIST) for Friday’s prayers. There’s a small Muslim community here and a few mosques(4) in all of Okinawa. Our friends who work in OIST are from Tunisia. We met in JAIST ,Ishikawa while they’re doing PhD and I was on my sabbatical leave.After ten years, we meet again, alhamdulillah, and see their little girls have grown up and speak fluent Japanese.
Japan is a very liberal country and its society can accept all types of people as long as they respect the local community. There is no “religion “ here and all what we consider as religious activities are categorised as “cultural activities “. They term it as “spiritual but not religious “. When we tried to build a mosque in JAIST when I was there(2016)the proposal was rejected by the town council and community leaders. Later, we found out that it must be “islamic cultural center” instead. The paperwork was rejected again. It was never materialised.
From DeepSeek search “ what is the religion of Japanese people?”
1. The Two Main Traditions: Shinto & Buddhism
· Shinto (神道, Shintō – “The Way of the Gods”): This is Japan’s indigenous, animistic religion. It’s centered on the worship of Kami (神).
· Who they worship: Kami. This is a broad term for sacred spirits or forces that can be found in nature (mountains, rivers, trees, rocks), natural phenomena (wind, thunder), ancestors, and even exceptional human beings. Major deities include Amaterasu Ōmikami (the Sun Goddess, considered the ancestor of the Imperial Family) and Inari (the kami of rice, fertility, and business, symbolized by foxes).
· Focus: Purity, community, celebration of life, and connection with nature. It’s optimistic and concerned with this world. Key practices include visiting shrines (Jinja) for festivals (Matsuri), praying for good fortune, and rituals marking life events like the Shichi-Go-San celebration for children.
· Buddhism (仏教, Bukkyō): Introduced from China via Korea in the 6th century.
· Who they worship/focus on: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The historical Buddha (Shakyamuni), as well as figures like Amida Buddha (of the Pure Land), Kannon (the goddess of mercy, Avalokiteshvara), and Jizō (protector of children and travelers). Buddhist altars (Butsudan) in homes honor deceased ancestors.
· Focus: The afterlife, overcoming suffering, spiritual enlightenment, and memorializing the dead. It handles funerals, graves, and ancestral remembrance. Many Japanese have both a Shinto altar (Kamidana) and a Buddhist altar at home.
2. How They Coexist (“Born Shinto, Die Buddhist”)
A common saying captures the syncretic practice:
· Shinto for “life” events: A baby’s first shrine visit, prayers for success in exams or business, weddings (increasingly Western-style now), and seasonal festivals.
· Buddhism for “death” and the afterlife: Nearly all funerals and memorial services for ancestors are conducted according to Buddhist rites.
Most Japanese see no contradiction in visiting a Shinto shrine on New Year’s Day (Hatsumōde) to pray for good luck and then visiting a family grave at a Buddhist temple during the Obon festival in summer to honor ancestral spirits.
3. Other Religious Influences
· Christianity: A very small minority (≈1%), but Christian-style weddings are popular for the ceremony’s aesthetic.
· New Religions (Shinshūkyō): Various newer religious movements that emerged from the 19th century onward, often blending elements of Shinto, Buddhism, and modern ethics. Examples include Sōka Gakkai (a Nichiren Buddhist-derived group) and Tenrikyō.
· Confucianism & Daoism: These are not organized religions in Japan but have deeply influenced social ethics, philosophy, and divination practices.
4. Key Practice: Not Exclusive Belief, but Ritual Participation
For the majority, religion in Japan is more about cultural practice, tradition, and community ritual than about personal belief or doctrinal faith. It’s common for people to describe themselves as “non-religious” while still regularly participating in shrine visits, festivals, and ancestral rites. It’s a matter of action and feeling (en) rather than creed.
In summary:
· Primary Religions: A syncretic blend of Shinto (worship of Kami in nature and life events) and Buddhism (veneration of Buddhas, focus on afterlife and ancestors).
· Who they worship: A vast pantheon of Kami (gods/spirits) and Buddhist deities, with a strong emphasis on ancestral spirits.
· Nature of Practice: Largely cultural and ritualistic, integrated into the annual calendar and life cycle, without requiring exclusive belief.
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OIST is a bit different from JAIST(Japan Adv Insy of Sc &Tech). This place is huge and seems to have more advanced research. It has a niche in marine research in-fact one of the world leading research inst related to ocean and marine life.
As I walked through the cafeteria, offices and galleries to reach the prayer room, the atmosphere from jaist immediately appeared. Research works. meetings. presentations. Stress. Disappointment. Frustration .Late night walking back home.etc. what a pathetic life! I am not going back to that anymore. It’s not worth it.
I saw some westerners taking lunch on the way so I could say oist is much more popular than Jaist. The research spectrum must be wide enough to attract those people. Later we found out that OIST was founded and run by westerners.So better stop wondering.
The Friday prayer was brief with small congregation (less than 15 people). I was shocked to say the least but that’s Muslim life in Japan. If you choose the wrong place you will end up praying Jumuah with a few people. The imam is from Algeria.
We left OIST and headed to Miyagi Island. Yep just like Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid movie. Apparently, karate has its origin in Okinawa. Mr Miyagi was a perfect representation of Okinawan; dark skinned more like a Hawaiian than Japanese. In the movie, Daniel (mexican kid)beat up a bully white kid in a karate competition.
Late afternoon, we stopped at Uruma Bridge that connects main land with Miyagi Island.It’s more like a land bridge crosses a strait. Some portion of that they created a beach where people can go down and do activities like wind surfing ,sailing or fishing. It is also a good spot to catch a sunset. So we waited.
No sunset viewing today. The sky suddenly turned cloudy, dark and cold again.
