Teaching faith in Catholic schools in Japan unveils spiritual truths hidden in the fabric of everyday life, helping students connect with something deeper.
A Hidden Influence
In Japan, where religious education is prohibited in public schools, teaching religion in private religiously-affiliated schools presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Despite restrictions, religion is often subtly yet deeply ingrained in Japanese culture an didentity.
Practices like praying may go unrecognized as religious acts. My goal is to show students that religion is not as distant or abstract as it might seem. Instead, it quietly shapes their lives in meaningful ways.
Religion Gap
Religion in Japan is often overlooked especially in public education. Students have little opportunity to explore religious teachings which can result in limited or skewed perceptions.
To address this gap, I begin by asking students what comes to mind when they think of religion. Many associate it with strict rules, strange customs, or foreign traditions. Few connect it to their everyday experiences. For example, fasting is commonly associated with health or dieting rather than a spiritual discipline. When I ask if they have ever prayed, many say “No!” Yet, as we explore traditional Japanese rituals, they realize how many moments of silent prayer are already present in their daily lives.
Making Religion Relatable
To bridge this gap, I structured the class around the theme “Life as a Journey.” This allows students to explore how religion intersects with their experiences in practical, personal ways. in. One activity is when students do research on saints linked to their birthdays. Despite struggling with difficult names, they are moved to learn that someone who was born on the same day as they were, has lived a life along the spiritual path. This connection makes religion feel more personal and relevant. Even students who consider themselves “non-religious” begin to recognize a quiet, personal spirituality within themselves. As they realize that “non-religious” doesn’t mean “without belief,” their perception of religion begins to shift.
Humor
During our discussions about religion, some students, joke that it is just “brainwashing” or a way to “make you buy strange things.” When I humorously ask: “Am I brainwashing you?” or “Have you bought anything from me?”; they laugh, recognizing the gap between their perceptions and the reality of religion.
A memorable moment occurred when students, who thought the priest’s vestments at Mass were chosen based on the priest’s mood, learned that the colors have deep meanings. One student joked, “So, the altar colors match the priest’s mood? It’s like a fashion show!” This moment of lighthearted humor helped break the ice and allowed students to approach religion in a more accessible way.
Life’s Journey
As we delve into the idea of life as a journey, students begin to reflect on what truly supports them during hard times. This leads to questions about the role religion plays in giving meaning to life’s struggles. Words like “prayer” and “ritual” still trigger resistance. To help them connect more easily, I introduced the “teru teru bōzu” —a small handmade doll used to wish for good weather. We discussed how wishing can resemble prayer, and how making and hanging the doll is a type of ritual. This helps students recognize that the desire to connect with a force beyond human control is already part of their lives
Religion in Daily Life
Gradually, students begin to recognize the religious elements embedded in their routines. What once seems distant and irrelevant, now feels personal and familiar. Even those who identified themselves as “non-religious” acknowledged a belief in an unseen force—a shift that changes their understanding of religion.
Religion is no longer something separate from their lives. It has become an integral part of their daily existence, guiding them on a path of faith. This realization deepens their understanding of faith. They begin to see that following the life of Jesus Christ means walking with Him through the different moments of our everyday lives
In a society with diverse religious backgrounds, it’s essential to approach religious education in a way that allows students to explore faith for themselves.
Sr. Cecilia Momoko Katayama, SSpS – Province of Japan
Sr. Cecilia Momoko with Japanese and Australian students.
Students praying before and after meals.
A sister conducts a weekly religion class.
