Smosh-pit blogger Lance writes to us from his new home... in Japan!
Overall, Japan is not a religious country. They love their rituals; which stem from their own Shintoism, Buddhism, and some Confucian teachings imported from other parts of Asia.
Buddhist and Shinto Priests blessing y'all since way back.
But, if you asked the average Japanese person if they believe in God, they will likely say no, or that they don't really think about it. However, they do go to church on their wedding day.
Couples get married in churches, by a white actor playing a priest, just like in the movies!
Yet, despite the lack of devout belief among the people, there are around 183,000 legally registered religions in Japan! Most of these a "new religions" or as we might call them, "cults."
Some of the leaders of major cults in Japan, play dress-up.
Yakuza
Saints they ain't.
The Yakuza a religion? Yep. But not in the traditional sense. The Yakuza uses the tax-free status as a cover for laundering money and doing business. Recently, the address of a temple in in Osaka was found to be a factory run by the mob. They had even hired foreigners to dress up like begging monks and collect money in the shopping districts to increase profits. In the name of the Lord.
Sokka Gakkai
Sokka Gakkai President, Daisaku Ikeda. Known to burst into tears at rallys.
Sokka Gakkai is an offshoot of Budhhism. Members are required to give a large percentage of their income to the religion, send their kids to Sokka schools, and ex-members are followed and harrased by church members. (Sounds like Utah!)
Tina Turner is reportedly a member of this cult. Hey, it's no weirder than Kaballah.
Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi are essentially hippies. They live in "utopian" communities, which reject consumerism, and advocates simple, communal living. They are famous for producing organic foods and having progressive ideas about childcare and education, and one assumes, bathing. (hippies and vegans smell bad) When kids are 5 years old they are separated off into their own communities and encouraged to take care of themselves.
(shrug) Worked out fine in "Battle Royale."
Panawave Laboratory
Panawave Laboratory became famous in 2002 when members travelled around wearing white sheets, in white vans, and began covering trees and guardrails and damn near anything else in sheets and protective stickers. Panawave Van They beleive they must save the world from a dangerous change in the Earth's magnetic poles. They intend to do it by not bathing, and eating only cup-ramen. Not kidding.
Aum Shinrikyo "Doomsday cult"
This group was founded in 1982 by Shoko Asahara.(see below)
He once claimed he was "Christ" and was here to take all of the world's sins upon himself. He also orchestrated a Sarin Gas attack on Tokyo's subway system which killed 13 people, and injured hundreds. It was the most serious attack in Japan since World War II, no word on whether a gas-attack is considered a sin by Mr. Asahara, but he'll find out when he is executed sometime in the near future. Aum Shinrikyo is an offshoot of Buddhism, so perhaps he'll be reincarnated as a cockroach or something.
Tom Cruise says, "Stay away from cults kids!"
What other Japanese Cults have you heard of? Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!
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