Taro Aso on Christianity
TL;DR
Taro Aso asserts that the Japanese work ethic, valuing labor as inherently good, contrasts with the Judeo-Christian view of work as punishment.
Key Points
He stated in January 2009 that the Japanese value of hard work is thinking completely different from the Old Testament's view of labor as punishment.
Aso, who is a Catholic, made this comparative statement about world religions while discussing the global economic crisis.
The Christian community in Japan is estimated to be less than one percent of the total population, with Catholics forming a minority of that group.
Summary
Taro Aso, when serving as Prime Minister, publicly contrasted the Japanese cultural value of hard work with the Judeo-Christian tradition, which he suggested views labor as a punishment handed down from God in the Old Testament. He argued that Japan’s philosophy regarding work should be shared with other nations, citing the creation myths in the Kojiki where deities are depicted as working. This position was articulated during a discussion on the global economic crisis, positioning the Japanese approach as superior in that context, despite the nation's issues with overwork, known as karoshi.
While Aso himself is a proclaimed Catholic, his comments highlighted a perceived difference between Japanese secular values and organized Western religion regarding the meaning of labor. The Christian community in Japan remains a small minority, making up less than one percent of the population, with Protestants slightly outnumbering Catholics. Aso's remarks sparked commentary regarding the actual nature of the Japanese work ethic versus the ideal he presented, particularly in light of historical context and low productivity per hour.
Key Quotes
"Our values in Japan regard hard work as important," Aso said during a discussion on the global economic crisis. "To work is good. It's completely different thinking from the Old Testament. We should share our philosophy with many other nations."
Frequently Asked Questions
Taro Aso's public position regarding Christianity is primarily in the context of contrasting its perceived view of work with Japanese cultural values. He suggested that the Judeo-Christian tradition views labor as a punishment, which differs from the Japanese belief that working is inherently good.
Yes, Aso drew criticism in 2009 for stating that Japan's belief in hard work contrasted with the thinking in the Old Testament, implying that work in Christianity is seen as God's punishment. This remark was made while he was Prime Minister.
Taro Aso has been described as a proclaimed Catholic. However, reports have indicated that as an adult, he rarely attended Mass outside of family funerals and had not baptized his own children.
Sources3
Aso says world religions can learn from Japan
Christianity's long history in the margins
Japan's Catholic deputy PM was born for the job
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.