In 1868 the Meiji Restoration brought a unified government to Japan now centered in Edo or Tokyo. The nation had been asleep for centuries according to Western standards of military, industrial, economic and political structures. Japan now was to catch up with the West. Overnight almost, Japan developed industries, banks, universities, businesses as well as a strong well disciplined army and navy.
In 1890 the Imperial Rescript on Education (kyouiku chokugo) required all schools in Japan to adhere to an official ceremony of bowing to the picture of their divine Emperor. "Ten on Heika" or Emperor literally translates as "the Majesty of Heaven". This was the method chosen for molding the nation into absolute obedience to the Emperor and government. This was an act of worship to the living god ("arahitogami") of Japan. Uchimura Kanzo, a Christian teacher in a Tokyo high school refused to compromise his Christian faith by bowing to a picture of a pagan emperor which act was idolatry. As a result he was dismissed as a teacher. He began teaching the Bible in Tokyo and many intellectuals were influenced to believe in Christ. The "non-Church Movement" was thus begun and continues to this day. Along with others Uchimura suffered persecution because of his faith. Japan's statesmen and politicians were preparing the populace for the government's military aggression in Asia by unifying the people through these acts of worship of the Emperor and the Empire as divine. This became tied to true patriotism. If one did not worship the Emperor, one was not a true Japanese. Christian statistics plunged to low levels in just a few years. The Kingdom of God clashed with the Empire. It was unpopular to be a Christian or "non-Japanese-like".

In the aftermath of World War II, contrary to popular Western opinion, the Emperor never denied his deity. He only affirmed his humanity. Many faithful Japanese considered his declaration of humanity a divine act. MacArthur was very afraid that the people would be uncontrollable if the Emperor were not retained but tried in the War Tribunal in Tokyo. MacArthur was a pragmatist and not a Joshua. In 1971 David Bergamini had his monumental work "Japan's Imperial Conspiracy" published. If the data verified in this 1200 page book had been available for the earlier War Crimes Tribunal, the Emperor probably would have had to be tried along with Tojo and others who were tried and found guilty.

Since 1894 and the war with China, Japan had attained international status with her powerful navy, army and merchant fleet. Japan was aggressive. Remember in 1895, Formosa, now Taiwan, was attained as a settlement of the Sino- Japanese war. In 1905 Russian was defeated by the Japanese. In 1910 Korea was annexed. In 1918 Japan on the side of the Allies was victorious.. In 1931-2, the Manchurian Incident led to the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo. In 1937, the Rape of Nanking resulted in the needless death of perhaps over 200, 000 Chinese men, women and children. Japan only wanted to show its power in the midst of overwhelming numbers of docile Chinese. War in China preceded the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. South east Asia was "rescued" from the West by the Japanese who were hated by most of those conquered by them. All of this was for the Co-Prosperity of Greater Asia. "Hakkou ichi u" meant that the eight corners of the Emperor's roof would extend to all the world, because the divine Emperor would be their savior and god. Such was the fanaticism and extremes of Japanese military extensions in the first part of the 20th Century.
Now, once again, since 2000, Japan seeks to unify and train its "spoiled" children in the ways and disciplines of old Japan with its former glory. A new patriotism is in the air. It is exemplified in the required singing of the National Anthem (kimigayo) which is a prayer for the eternal life of the Emperor, and respect for the World War II war flag (hinomaru) at all school assemblies. It is required by law. If a school teacher refuses, he or she will lose the job of teaching and be disgraced. From 1890 many Christians compromised and kept their jobs interpreting the idolatry as patriotism. Again in 2001 many Japanese Christians are forgetting the circumstances that led up to the final destruction of the empire in 1945. They perhaps are again preparing the way for new Emperor worship and national divinity of the state. Many may be unaware of this real danger. Christians differ over this issue and public debates are taking place in Japan.. Some believers in the various churches are standing fast against the possible resurgence of the subtle and gradual return of emperor worship, and state worship. They are opposing the ceremonies for the singing of the prayer for the emperor's eternal existence and the exalting of the war flag.
The present "MacArthur" Constitution of Japan forbids an army or navy or air force for aggression. A permitted and legal self defense force is strong and able with the help of the U.S. The Japanese Diet is considering changing the Constitution so as to allow for a regular military buildup. Most Christians are against war and any aggression by Japan anywhere in war. Already the new Prime Minister Koizumi has plans to take the entire Cabinet on an official visit to the National Shinto Shrine, Yasukuni in order to worship the two million war dead enshrined there as gods. The present constitution forbids the use of religion by the state. The former Prime Minister Mori publically stated that he wanted Emperor Akihito to be declared, as was his father Hirohito, "arahitogami" or a living god. After the death of his father in February 1989, Akihito went through the "Daijousai" Shinto ceremony at which time he had deity infused and became the divine high priest of Shinto, thus qualifying to be declared "arahitogami" or living god in the future.

Thus Japan today is in flux. The young people are not disciplined or very patriotic. The nation is well off financially even though the stock market and land prices for a while at least depreciated about 50 percent. Yet Japan is the strongest economy in Asia and perhaps the world. They are great savers. Americans are great spenders.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12
May the day come for Japan when the Gospel will be eagerly received and the people will have the discernment to separate error from truth. May the Church have keen discernment and unity over the issue of the anthem and the flag ceremonies. May that day come before Japan again falls into error through the resurgence of the Shinto Imperial system and turn to idolatry which will again be her downfall. Jesus is the Way , the Truth , and the Life. No man or nation can know the true God, or come to God, or prosper spiritually and culturally, ultimately, except through Jesus Christ , the true Son of God.