"Legend of Korra", Eastern Views, T.V & Ethics: What Can Christians learn from Anime?

[Supreme]

I'm not too big a fan of anime. I liked the Pokemon anime when I was young 'un at school, but gimme Spongebob or The Simpsons any day.

 

[MehGuy]

I grew up with a bunch of jerks who liked/like anime. I can't get their taste out of my mouth when I watch anime, so I tend to avoid it..

Besides, I tend to like cartoons that are more silly and humorous. I usually save the drama stuff for live action. Some people have shown me comedic animes, but so far most of them are pretty lame. I'd much rather watch Beavis and Butthead or the Simpsons..

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I'm not too big a fan of anime. I liked the Pokemon anime when I was young 'un at school, but gimme Spongebob or The Simpsons any day.

Although I've watched the Simpsons before in the 90s, I can't say that I'd watch that over certain animes - especially when seeing a lot of the crude humor present within it that has always bothered me...

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I grew up with a bunch of jerks who liked/like anime. I can't get their taste out of my mouth when I watch anime, so I tend to avoid it..

Besides, I tend to like cartoons that are more silly and humorous. I usually save the drama stuff for live action.

Sorry you had a bad taste in your mouth with the anime

 

[awitch]

I grew up with a bunch of jerks who liked/like anime. I can't get their taste out of my mouth when I watch anime, so I tend to avoid it..

Was it because of Samurai Pizza Cats?


(Finished season 1, episode 6 of Avatar. George Takei as a bad guy and Kevin Michael Richardson as a good guy? Awesome)

 

[Gxg (G²)]

(Finished season 1, episode 6 of Avatar. George Takei as a bad guy and Kevin Michael Richardson as a good guy? Awesome)

Wait - you finished Season One but you're on Episode 6? Perplexed - do you mean you're on Episode 6 of Season 1 or something else?

 

[awitch]

Oh, I meant I've watched through the sixth episode of the first season.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Oh, I meant I've watched through the sixth episode of the first season.

Got ya - my bad for not understanding....

 

[Zoness]

What are your thoughts on Christian or Jewish imagery being used in Anime? I always find it really interesting when there is a significant presence of esoteric symbolism in anime. I think the poster child for this was Neon Genesis Evangelion. The show and the End of Eva movie. The reboot has a significant amount of it too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themes_of_Neon_Genesis_Evangelion#Religion

I'd say it has an amalgamation of Christianity, Judaism (Kabalah) and Gnosticism. It is also one of my favorite animes ever.

 

[awitch]

There was one series that I happened to catch one episode. Something about the Catholic Church vs. Vampires. It looked interesting (and violent), but didn't catch the name.

I did see Neon Genesis Evangelion, but I don't really remember enough about it.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

What are your thoughts on Christian or Jewish imagery being used in Anime? I always find it really interesting when there is a significant presence of esoteric symbolism in anime. I think the poster child for this was Neon Genesis Evangelion. The show and the End of Eva movie. The reboot has a significant amount of it too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themes_of_Neon_Genesis_Evangelion#Religion

I'd say it has an amalgamation of Christianity, Judaism (Kabalah) and Gnosticism. It is also one of my favorite animes ever.

A lot of the imagery in the shows often seems to be stereotypical views of Christianity rather than what Christianity actually teaches.....

 

[Gxg (G²)]

What are your thoughts on Christian or Jewish imagery being used in Anime? I always find it really interesting when there is a significant presence of esoteric symbolism in anime. I think the poster child for this was Neon Genesis Evangelion. The show and the End of Eva movie. The reboot has a significant amount of it too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themes_of_Neon_Genesis_Evangelion#Religion

I'd say it has an amalgamation of Christianity, Judaism (Kabalah) and Gnosticism. It is also one of my favorite animes ever.

Although the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion is rife with Christian symbolism, Biblical allegory, and sects are unique and have imagery and interpretations unique to them.strong evangelical imagery...I think it should be noted that there are lots of different sects of Christianity -- from Eastern Orthodox, to Catholicism, to the many Protestant groups, as well as groups that are considered to be more "fringe," or who mix Christian doctrine with aboriginal religious practices. And many of these sects are unique and have imagery and interpretations unique to them - things which are not often reflected in anime when it comes to giving a stereotypical view of what Christianity is about.

The same applies to the Jewish aspect of things. But as it concerns the Christian aspect of things, I do think it's wise to ask if the symbolism is consistent in its application as a specific sect of Christianity would interpret it..

But as another said best:

It’s not unusual to see Christian symbolism in anime. Some series even place a central focus on these symbols, though some (like Neon Genesis Evangelion or Toaru Majutsu no Index) controversially depict these elements. Instead, anime can be viewed through a Christian lens. Although the series may not refer directly to the Christian God or to Jesus, important themes in Christianity are ever-present in anime, including grace, sacrificial love, being just, seeking to do what is right, turning the other cheek, and finding that there may be a higher being in the universe.
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A lot of what occurs - even as there is explicit examples of themes present in Christianity being within Anime - really is connected to the expression of one specific version of Christianity presented that is a Western viewpoint...and often superficial. Other parts of it can be tied to the ways that Christians in Japan were often isolated due to Christianity not being allowed in certain points of history - if aware of the Kakure Kirishitans (more here, here and here )

History makes a difference - and one of the best places to go on the matter is Japan Anime & Christianity: Western Influences -Essortment Homes ....(Real) Christianity in Anime | Japesland/Christianity in Anime | Japesland and Eric's Prose Poems: Christology and Anime ...and others being Anime and the Misnomer of Christianity | - Beneath the Tangles

Also, as another well pointed out when it came to why certain things are as they are (for a brief excerpt):

What exactly is the connection between religion and these media formats? Firstly, I suppose we have to cover the bases and explain why Japan's fascination with Christianity is weird. If you consider that Christianity is a minority in this Asian country – often cited as 1% of the total population – wouldn't you start wondering why they are so taken up with this particular religion? Why does it feature in anime, either as part of apparel, the backdrop or even as part of the overall storyline? Well, there are a number of theories suggested by authors and anime fans in order to explain these inputs. Some believe that a religious ban by Tokugawa in 16th century might have contributed to Japanese folks not being in the know about the religion. This in turn would explain why there were few Christians in Japan. It would also explain, as is pointed out by Patrick Drazen in this article (a must-read if you are curious about depiction of religion in anime), why Japanese grasp of Christianity is limited to TV and media depictions and referrals. That would surely result in an entirely different take on something that was completely foreign to that land, right? That actually brings up the other theory. Many have noted that the view of Christianity in Japan is akin to other cultural depictions in Western media. The best comparison, noted amongst fans, was the portrayal of voodoo magic in Hollywood flicks which ends up as fancy little unknown art that has unlimited possibilities.
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[Zoness]

Interesting idea. The "foreignness" of Christianity to many Japanese people (a country that now identifies as majority irreligious) seems like the obvious element. It's fun to write about things that are distant and foreign, plus chances are your average viewing audience will be less offended about incorrect concepts being presented.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Interesting idea. The "foreignness" of Christianity to many Japanese people (a country that now identifies as majority irreligious) seems like the obvious element. It's fun to write about things that are distant and foreign, plus chances are your average viewing audience will be less offended about incorrect concepts being presented.

I tend to find it fascinating (when seeing how extensive Christianity was at many points in Japan's history - as shared before here in #17 ) that there is still a foreign aspect to it which colors what others present in the anime. Having something be distant gives a bit of an exotic aspect to things that makes it all the more appealing to others - even if not represented accurately, in the same way that others had a fascination with blacks/African-Americans in other nations outside of the U.S even though their presentations of them to their own people were often larger than life (or very clown-like) compared to who they really were in their home nation.

It does make you wonder if sometimes there's a bit of intentionality with bad representation due to where others feel that other nations that they associate with Christianity didn't represent Japanese culture well - specifically in eras of Christian Imperialism in nations and forcing others to conform economically while proclaiming Christ - and as with many things when it comes to resistance, art was used as a means to give voice to their pains......with anime serving as a means of protest.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Interesting idea. The "foreignness" of Christianity to many Japanese people (a country that now identifies as majority irreligious) seems like the obvious element. It's fun to write about things that are distant and foreign, plus chances are your average viewing audience will be less offended about incorrect concepts being presented.

What you say reminds me of how others - wanting to talk on real life events and seeing certain systems having aspects to them that'd be good for conveying their points in story - will tend to create differing versions of them that are close but not 100% accurate.....with the attempt not being based in hatred of the system which elements for representation were borrowed from, but instead based in trying to have new systems available that THEY could critique for the sake of their stories while the real systems themselves would be left in tact.

I say that in light of how many may get offended at the way that what seems to be Christianity (or other religions) are presented in ways not accurate and done for the sake of attack - when the reality is that it could also be that the representations are an attempt to create other religious systems to critique for the sake of story rather than getting others against the real thing in everyday life.

 

[Zoness]

I tend to find it fascinating (when seeing how extensive Christianity was at many points in Japan's history - as shared before here in #17 ) that there is still a foreign aspect to it which colors what others present in the anime. Having something be distant gives a bit of an exotic aspect to things that makes it all the more appealing to others - even if not represented accurately, in the same way that others had a fascination with blacks/African-Americans in other nations outside of the U.S even though their presentations of them to their own people were often larger than life (or very clown-like) compared to who they really were in their home nation.

It does make you wonder if sometimes there's a bit of intentionality with bad representation due to where others feel that other nations that they associate with Christianity didn't represent Japanese culture well - specifically in eras of Christian Imperialism in nations and forcing others to conform economically while proclaiming Christ - and as with many things when it comes to resistance, art was used as a means to give voice to their pains......with anime serving as a means of protest.

I was going to address this point but couldn't figure out a time to handle it, this seems an appropriate time. Even though Christianity has been seen extensively in Japan in the last few centuries, it is probably best associated with European Crusaders or American Imperialism. After all, rightfully or not, we absolutely stripped Japan and the Japanese people of their honor, dignity and self-respect by more or less vassalizing them with a new constitution as per the Treaty of San Francisco.

I think generations of Japanese people later (who had nothing to do with their ancestor's atrocities) see Christianity as one of the main mascots of the American threat in the Pacific. Many animes make the distrust of America abundantly clear, especially those of a more political and realistic nature (Ghost in the Shell: SAC is the first that comes to mind, specifically referring to America as "the American Empire").

All of this combined adds to the foreignness, and suspicion, of the position of Christianity in relation to Japan. There's a lot of politics associated.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I was going to address this point but couldn't figure out a time to handle it, this seems an appropriate time. Even though Christianity has been seen extensively in Japan in the last few centuries, it is probably best associated with European Crusaders or American Imperialism. After all, rightfully or not, we absolutely stripped Japan and the Japanese people of their honor, dignity and self-respect by more or less vassalizing them with a new constitution as per the Treaty of San Francisco.

I think generations of Japanese people later (who had nothing to do with their ancestor's atrocities) see Christianity as one of the main mascots of the American threat in the Pacific. Many animes make the distrust of America abundantly clear, especially those of a more political and realistic nature (Ghost in the Shell: SAC is the first that comes to mind, specifically referring to America as "the American Empire").

All of this combined adds to the foreignness, and suspicion, of the position of Christianity in relation to Japan. There's a lot of politics associated.

Although I understand where it is you're coming from, I do feel it's imperative to note that language is key when it comes to conveying ideas - for Christianity was not simply present in Japan over the last few centuries. It is truly ancient - and drastically different from the variations thereof which were about European Crusaders or American Imperialism. In fact, Japan's Christian history stretched through nearly 18 centuries

As said before, Christianity already made in-roads into Japan in the times of the Roman/Byzantine Empire and the Silk Road. I am reminded of how the Syriac church and Assyrian Church of the East made many inroads into Japan ( shared here/ here/ and here). Syrian Nestorianism in Japan is hard to avoid historically when it comes to the facts. There are also others to consider on the issue such as St.Francis Xavier (perhaps the greatest Jesuit Missionary to Japan, who traveled throughout Asia and spread the Gospel in revolutionary ways..prior to the massive persecutions that nearly wiped Christianity out in the areas he resided in and other things went down).

And as said before, when aware of what Japan did to other believers present when it kicked out all missionaries (due to the intrusion of others from Europe such as those from Portugal and other places not respecting the culture as others from the East did), it led to political situations based in isolationist stances and purging all forms of Christianity from its midst - all of that prior to the time of Industrialization when Japan was forcibly opened by the West/others who knew Imperialistic Christianity ....leading to the association of Christianity with the U.S and all other acts of the Japanese being dishonored.

But to forget what Japan already did to other innocent believers CENTURIES before when such was not present - that does not give a full picture of what Christianity was viewed as and how others were really treated. Even AFTER the U.S came to open up Japan by force, Japan was HIGHLY imperialistic toward much of Asia - including parts that were highly Christian - and they forced others (especially in Korea) to suffer/die if they didn't worship the Emperor or hold to Shintoism .....but again, prior to that, there was already an EXTENSIVE history of mistreatment of Christians even when Christians didn't do aggression to them

After Commodore Matthew Perry used gun boat diplomacy to force the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo to open its doors to trade, it was revealed that even after two hundred years of suppression there were still tens of thousands of practicing Christians in Japan. Many of the rites and rituals which had been taught to them by St. Francis Xavier and the other Jesuit missionaries were still in use but having been transmitted as an oral tradition they survived only in a highly mutated form - if aware of the Kakure Kirishitans (more here, here and here ) and them having to go underground to practice Christianity while also having many aspects of Christianity blended with much imagery/expression from what they saw in the cultures surrounding them from which anime has often derived its religious roots (i.e. Shintoism, Taoism, etc.) to survive - making their version of Christianity distinctly different from anything present in European versions akin to the Crusaders. With Japan's Hidden Christians, persecution appeared as early as the 1560s when an unnamed woman was beheaded for the crime of praying in front of a cross. And extreme cruelty took place that many never had to deal with. Prior to the event where the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki were crucified — a 12-year-old boy was among them — their right ears were cut off, and the prisoners displayed in carts - and the Japanese authorities executed over 4,000 people in a mere 30-year period - with thousands more being tortured, with methods ranging from snake and excreta pits to amputations, water torture, branding, upside down suspension, and suffocation among them....and when seeing that background, I am not surprised that thousands of converts would go underground after the banninbg of Christianity and consequently created a syncretic form of the faith.

We also (sad to say) have the history of Japan in other eras where it did exactly the same things many in the culture assume that Imperialistic Christianity or Crusaders did. We already have it where Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Korea twice in the 1500's, but was defeated both times - and although he wanted to invade China as well, he never made it that far. We see where Japan began meddling in Korea in the 1880's, which eventually led to the 1st Sino-Japanese War; and Japan declared war on Russia in 1904..and in 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria. In July 1937, Japan invaded China. In December 1937, Japan sunk the USS Panay on the Yangtze River. In 1939, Japan tried to invade the eastern Soviet Union. In 1940, Japan invaded Indochina. In 1941, Japan invaded Guam, Wake, the Philippines, Malaya, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand while in 1942 Japan invaded Burma, the Dutch East Indies, New Guinea, the Aleutians, the Solomon Islands, and attacked Australia. There are other instances besides this - and although of course not all Japanese were like that since many actually helped out others to have protection from others persecuting them, it'd be a bit of forgetting history to act as if Japan has been simply on the receiving end of abuse.

For there is no escaping the reality of how Japan came to dominate, albeit in a very Western mode of domination, much of Asia....

• STATISTICS OF JAPANESE GENOCIDE AND MASS MURDER
• Japanese Militarism | The Espresso Stalinist
• Targeted Outrage: Japanese Colonial Activity as Genocide: A ...
• Review of The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World ...
• Why Is the Twentieth Century the Century of Genocide? - Yad Vashem
• The Korean Genocide – Part 1, Before the US Occupation. | On Genocide...

As it concerns the OP, there is a reason why many think Legend of Korra often seemed to hint that the Fire Nation itself was akin to Japan when damaging many other nations due to wanting to spread its wealth to the rest of the world to "improve it" - in the same way that Japan did so in its own history of colonialism. For Japanese influences in the Fire Nation, I've heard the Meiji Restoration era, the Feudal eras, and Imperialistic Japan mentioned - but seeing the influences isn't difficult (more shared here and here).

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To me, with anime always showing other things negative with the West, I do think there may be a bit of political white-washing that can be present when seeing where it can easily be the case that others in the countries/cultures Japan critiques via anime could easily make shows depicting them in the same stereotypical ways that they may view others.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Originally Posted by Zoness

I was going to address this point but couldn't figure out a time to handle it, this seems an appropriate time. Even though Christianity has been seen extensively in Japan in the last few centuries, it is probably best associated with European Crusaders or American Imperialism. After all, rightfully or not, we absolutely stripped Japan and the Japanese people of their honor, dignity and self-respect by more or less vassalizing them with a new constitution as per the Treaty of San Francisco.
​

Although I understand where it is you're coming from, I do feel it's imperative to note that language is key when it comes to conveying ideas - for Christianity was not simply present in Japan over the last few centuries. It is truly ancient -

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I do hope that what I was seeking to convey came out the right way - in the event that what I noted didn't seem clear or if it seemed I was saying that Imperialistic versions of Christianity didn't harm Japan/influence their thinking. For again, when I consider Christianity in Japan, I don't see a history of one where it was anywhere close to always being imperialistic. It has a history of being deeply interwoven with Christianity - and in historical example when it comes to how much others love Samurai anime (be it Afro Samurai or Ninja Scrolls and others), I find it fascinating that there was Christian presence there as well. A Samurai mindset - where the concepts of Honor/Shame were a BIG deal (as with many things in Eastern culture) - and it wasn't seen as honorable to have malice toward your enemy even as you seek to defeat or restrain him - well, it is interesting to see how there were other saints who were Samurais (with Japan already having amazing believers in her history) - others seeing themselves as Christian Samurai's ...or who, in essence, consider themselves "Kurisuchan" (クリスチャン&#20365, or a samurai who has the mind of a Christian - or the mind of Christ. ..and serve the Lord. ....and outside of that, many have spoken on the ways Christ reflected the true ideals of what it meant to be a Samurai (more noted in Bushido, Seppuku, and the Shameful Death of Jesus Christ | lax-sea-nrt and Bushido | lax-sea-nrt ).

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You'd probably not see an anime made on that concept despite where such was present in Japan's background - but I digress. Again, in light of historical background on all sides, it'd be consistent for others to convey that properly when it comes to the anime/media ...

The same goes for anime made in the rest of Asia when it comes to seeing the ways that Christians acted - often acting not from a position of power but one of appeal/submission and sometimes being blessed for it while other times suffering for it ..from Japan to the Mongols and other ancient eras, as mentioned before:

the Silk Road is something which has helped MANY empires come to power and actually do well economically. Amongst the most powerful empires ever to change the world economically (and religiously as well) due to the Silk Road were the Mongols

• The Mongols and the Silk Road - The Silkroad Foundation

Last December I went to an exhibit at the Ferbank Muesuem of Natural History on Genghis Khan" (more here, here and here)....and it was wild learning on Genghis Khan being more than the stereotypical barbarian.

Apparently, from what I was able to learn with my friends/family, Genghis established freedom of religion and cultural expression in the lands he conquered, promoted a meritocracy and created the first efficient mail system...and he even popularized pants (much better for horseback riding). From an impoverished, illiterate and isolated youth, Genghis created a nation, a language, religious and political freedoms, a post office, Pony Express, diplomatic immunity, a network of international toll roads, and a host of other innovations in what was by far the largest empire in the history of the world. ...and in many respects, his empire was previous to other ones that were successful such as the Persian Empire (very majestic/beautiful and the envy of the West) when seeing how the Persians were often being beloved by their subjects for the ways they treated others/allowed a significant deal of multiculturalism and supported a policy of multi-religious views to flourish.


With the Genghis Khan exhibit, I really enjoyed it and seeing so many of the ways that the man/Mongolian Empire impacted the world - with many of the things we have today coming directly from that, be it paper money, forks, pants, eyeglasses, passports or national parks and many other things. Was tripped out seeing the ways that the Mongol Empire facilitated cultural, political, economic, and technological transfer across Eurasia and thereby helped to revitalize civilization in China, India, the Middle East, and Europe. It was even more of a delight for me to attend the exhibit on Genghis Khan in light of the ways that Eastern Christianity/ Church of the East greatly influenced the Mongol Empire (more discussed here /here/here/here/here/here /here/ here/ here/ here/ here/here & here in #84 ) - and I was really blessed seeing the multiple artifacts they shared at the exhibit on the issue of Eastern Christians - with it being the case that the Nestorians won many members of the Keralts tribe to their faith (and in the 13th century this tribe would produce Genghis Khan, the military leader who would unify the Mongol tribes ) and there were many Nestorian Christians in the court of Genghis Khan, including the wife of the khan himself. It was very amazing seeing how there were certainly Christian sects operating within the Mongolian sphere at the time in question, as the Nestorians had been converting Mongols since the 7th century and the Keraits, Merkits, etc., had large Christian beliefs. .and these Christians then intermarried with other Mongolian tribes - with at least two sons of Genghis Khan married Nestorian women...and the influences being so great that Genghis Khan also exempted Christian priests and scholars from paying any taxes.


But so much of what Khan did would never have been possible if Khan did not choose to utilize the Silk Road and what it offered. And while there in the exhibit, I was thankful realizing how the Silk Road (which many, from missionaries to merchants, used) was something that Ghenghis used in opening up trade between East/West (more at Mongols China and the Silk Road)

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[Illuminaughty]

Ninja Scrolls all the way.

That and Afro Samurai

 

[Supreme]

Although I understand where it is you're coming from, I do feel it's imperative to note that language is key when it comes to conveying ideas - for Christianity was not simply present in Japan over the last few centuries. It is truly ancient - and drastically different from the variations thereof which were about European Crusaders or American Imperialism.

As said before, Christianity already made in-roads into Japan in the times of the Roman/Byzantine Empire and the Silk Road. I am reminded of how the Syriac church and Assyrian Church of the East made many inroads into Japan ( shared here/ here/ and here). There are also others to consider on the issue such as St.Francis Xavier (perhaps the greatest Jesuit Missionary to Japan, who traveled throughout Asia and spread the Gospel in revolutionary ways..prior to the massive persecutions that nearly wiped Christianity out in the areas he resided in and other things went down).

And as said before, when aware of what Japan did to other believers present when it kicked out all missionaries (due to the intrusion of others from Europe such as those from Portugal and other places not respecting the culture as others from the East did), it led to political situations based in isolationist stances and purging all forms of Christianity from its midst - all of that prior to the time of Industrialization when Japan was forcibly opened by the West/others who knew Imperialistic Christianity ....leading to the association of Christianity with the U.S and all other acts of the Japanese being dishonored.

But to forget what Japan already did to other innocent believers CENTURIES before when such was not present - that does not give a full picture of what Christianity was viewed as and how others were really treated. Even AFTER the U.S came to open up Japan by force, Japan was HIGHLY imperialistic toward much of Asia - including parts that were highly Christian - and they forced others (especially in Korea) to suffer/die if they didn't worship the Emperor or hold to Shintoism .....but again, prior to that, there was already an EXTENSIVE history of mistreatment of Christians even when Christians didn't do aggression to them

After Commodore Matthew Perry used gun boat diplomacy to force the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo to open its doors to trade, it was revealed that even after two hundred years of suppression there were still tens of thousands of practicing Christians in Japan. Many of the rites and rituals which had been taught to them by St. Francis Xavier and the other Jesuit missionaries were still in use but having been transmitted as an oral tradition they survived only in a highly mutated form - if aware of the Kakure Kirishitans (more here, here and here ) and them having to go underground to practice Christianity while also having many aspects of Christianity blended with much imagery/expression from what they saw in the cultures surrounding them from which anime has often derived its religious roots (i.e. Shintoism, Taoism, etc.) to survive - making their version of Christianity distinctly different from anything present in European versions akin to the Crusaders. With Japan's Hidden Christians, persecution appeared as early as the 1560s when an unnamed woman was beheaded for the crime of praying in front of a cross. And extreme cruelty took place that many never had to deal with. Prior to the event where the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki were crucified — a 12-year-old boy was among them — their right ears were cut off, and the prisoners displayed in carts - and the Japanese authorities executed over 4,000 people in a mere 30-year period - with thousands more being tortured, with methods ranging from snake and excreta pits to amputations, water torture, branding, upside down suspension, and suffocation among them....and when seeing that background, I am not surprised that thousands of converts would go underground after the banninbg of Christianity and consequently created a syncretic form of the faith.

We also (sad to say) have the history of Japan in other eras where it did exactly the same things many in the culture assume that Imperialistic Christianity or Crusaders did. We already have it where Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Korea twice in the 1500's, but was defeated both times - and although he wanted to invade China as well, he never made it that far. We see where Japan began meddling in Korea in the 1880's, which eventually led to the 1st Sino-Japanese War; and Japan declared war on Russia in 1904..and in 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria. In July 1937, Japan invaded China. In December 1937, Japan sunk the USS Panay on the Yangtze River. In 1939, Japan tried to invade the eastern Soviet Union. In 1940, Japan invaded Indochina. In 1941, Japan invaded Guam, Wake, the Philippines, Malaya, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand while in 1942 Japan invaded Burma, the Dutch East Indies, New Guinea, the Aleutians, the Solomon Islands, and attacked Australia. There are other instances besides this - and although of course not all Japanese were like that since many actually helped out others to have protection from others persecuting them, it'd be a bit of forgetting history to act as if Japan has been simply on the receiving end of abuse.

For there is no escaping the reality of how Japan came to dominate, albeit in a very Western mode of domination, much of Asia....

• STATISTICS OF JAPANESE GENOCIDE AND MASS MURDER
• Japanese Militarism | The Espresso Stalinist
• Targeted Outrage: Japanese Colonial Activity as Genocide: A ...
• Review of The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World ...
• Why Is the Twentieth Century the Century of Genocide? - Yad Vashem
• The Korean Genocide – Part 1, Before the US Occupation. | On Genocide...

As it concerns the OP, there is a reason why many think Legend of Korra often seemed to hint that the Fire Nation itself was akin to Japan when damaging many other nations due to wanting to spread its wealth to the rest of the world to "improve it" - in the same way that Japan did so in its own history of colonialism. For Japanese influences in the Fire Nation, I've heard the Meiji Restoration era, the Feudal eras, and Imperialistic Japan mentioned.

​

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To me, with anime always showing other things negative with the West, I do think there may be a bit of political white-washing that can be present when seeing where it can easily be the case that others in the countries/cultures Japan critiques via anime could easily make shows depicting them in the same stereotypical ways that they may view others.

Actually some fantastic points, especially considering Japan's own murky history.

I'd be interested to know why Christianity hasn't had anywhere near the amount of success in Japan as it's had in other nations, like South Korea, the India and of course, China. Christianity has often been seen as foreign in those nations, yet they've blended Christianity to become a faith with its central tenets but with many added cultural practices.

Nowadays, many South Koreans, Indians and Chinese people would not see their Christian compatriots as following some foreign religion. I'm just curious why many Japanese still to have such views.