Japan’s Christian Roots
Towada in Chinese/Japanese characters
There is evidence that Christianity may have come to Japan long before the Jesuit priest, Francis Xavier reached Japan on July 27, 1549. The northern prefecture of Honshu, Aomori, contains many Christian symbols that predate Xaxier, things from the 2rd or 3rd century!
There is an area in Aomori Prefecture, Northern Honshu, called “Towada”. Lake Towada is famous and the largest lake in northern Japan.
As you see, the first character is a cross. It’s the Chinese character for the number 10 but nevertheless, it is a cross shape. I believe here it’s meant to be the Cross of Christ!
The second character means “peace” and the third and last character means rice field. It literally means “Fields of peace by the cross of Christ.” Christians in the past were numerous in this part of Japan. Not far is the town of Shingo which supposedly has the grave of Jesus Christ! True Bible believers know this cannot be so because Jesus rose to Heaven and didn’t stay in the grave. But nevertheless just the fact that there are Christian symbols in the area indicates that Japanese culture may have been heavily influenced by Christianity in the first millennium. This knowledge was suppressed.
I didn’t make this stuff up. I heard it directly from the Japanese people. I’ve lived in Japan now for nearly 40 years.
Though most Japanese do not know or read the Bible, their culture contains many principles taught in the New Testament, principles such as hard work, hospitality to strangers, generosity, humility, etc.. Some may argue that most cultures in the world can say the same. However, I think one cannot argue that Japan still has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the world.