Vol. 25# 3
Religious guidance in prisons - Rev. Kametaro Nakayama - continued from February
Wherever I go, I see many young inmates. Japan has twelve juvenile correctional facilities nationwide, and they always seem to be overcrowded.
Why is juvenile crime so prevalent? Some attribute it to the impact of war and the consequences of defeat. Undoubtedly, war has its effects.
Looking at the history of various countries, statistical data before and after wars suggest that war itself creates social causes for crime. However, some say that no country has as high a crime rate as Japan. In the past, Italy was regarded as a country with a high number of criminals, but now, people say that Japan has taken its place.
Before the war, there were 500,000 crimes annually. After the war, this number quadrupled to 2 million cases per year. Even though more than ten years have passed since the war ended, juvenile delinquency continues to increase each year.
Every time I visit prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, or reformatories and meet these young offenders, I find one common thread—these young people come from homes without faith.
There is no household without some form of religion, but having religion does not necessarily mean having faith. Immediately after the war, there were only about forty religious organizations, including Buddhism, Christianity, and sectarian Shinto. However, with the introduction of religious freedom, the number of officially recognized religious corporations registered with the Ministry of Education has grown to over 800. In addition, it is estimated that about 700 other groups engage in religious activities without official registration.
Despite the existence of so many religious organizations, why is there so little faith? Simply chanting sutras is not faith. Nor is it faith merely to press one’s hands together in prayer before a deity.
What Is Faith?
Faith means not only entrusting everything to Kami or Buddha, but also practicing the teachings of one’s religion in all aspects of life.
This extends to all areas of life—love between spouses, relationships between parents and children, work, politics, education, how one eats, how one handles money, how one bathes, and even how one rests at night. Every aspect of home and social life must be conducted according to the path of righteousness and with guidance from religious teachings.
Even if a household has a Shinto altar or a Buddhist altar and performs religious rituals, if the teachings are not practiced, it cannot truly be called faith.
The Importance of Religious Education
For a long time, the need for religious education has been recognized in Japan, but in reality, it has never been properly implemented.
In the first post-war session of the National Diet, a resolution on religious and moral education was proposed and passed. As a result, it was decided that, from the third grade onward, social studies classes would incorporate the idea that recognizing the finiteness of human life and believing in an existence greater than oneself fosters the right attitude toward life and contributes to character development.
However, religious education in schools is restricted by Article 9 of the Fundamental Law of Education. Despite its recognized importance, religious education is nearly nonexistent in school curricula, and students receive almost no religious instruction even in higher grades.
As a result, young people have become indifferent to religion, and there is even a growing anti-religious tendency to not fear God.
Rather than relying on schools for religious education, it is crucial to cultivate authentic religious education at home. Religious values and attitudes should be nurtured through family life.
Children Learn by Imitating Adults
"Children are a mirror of adults."
If a father bows in prayer before the household shrine every morning and evening, and if a mother lowers her head in devotion before the family’s Buddhist altar, even a toddler who does not yet understand Kami or Buddha will instinctively mimic their parents—pressing their hands together next to their father or bowing their head beside their mother.
This is an education that enters through the eyes. However, it must not remain a mere outward formality. A home must be a place where faith is genuinely lived.
"The soul of a three-year-old lasts a hundred years."
A child's early experiences shape their entire life.
"A child's first teacher is their mother."
"A child's first school is their mother's womb."
These sayings highlight the fundamental role of home education in character formation.
The Triad of Home, School, and Society in Education
On June 10, 1949, the Social Education Act was enacted in line with the spirit of the Fundamental Law of Education. This broadened the concept of social education to include both home education and broader social education. However, in Japan, education has traditionally been divided into three categories: school education, social education, and home education.
True human education can only be realized when these three work in harmony.
It is like a three-legged tripod—each leg is essential for balance. If even one leg is missing or shorter than the others, the structure becomes unstable.
It may be an overstatement, but one could say:
"School education shapes the mind, social education shapes the demeanor, and home education shapes the soul."
No matter how intelligent or attractive a person may be, if their soul is corrupt, they hold no true value. The home is where the soul is nurtured, and the mother is the teacher.
A Mother’s Love Nurtures a Child
At a PTA discussion, a woman once said: "I am uneducated, so I cannot properly educate my child."
But a mother’s role is not to oversee their child’s studies; it is to provide love. Every mother naturally loves her child. Even animals, such as dogs and cats, nurture their young by licking them, but this is merely an instinctive, biological affection.
One time, I went to a women's prison. There, I met a woman who was serving a 7 year sentence. She had such a kind face, and I wondered how such a woman could have been accused of something so terrible as to have to serve 7 years in prison.
This woman was on the streets after her husband passed away, and she felt sorry for her child who had to live such a poor life, so she committed family suicide.
The child died, but the mother survived. This wife was accused of murder and sentenced to 7 years in prison. The motive for this was a parental feeling of pity for the child, but this cannot be said to be true maternal love.
Mothers must not simply express love in a purely emotional, instinctual way. Love must be refined, deepened, and elevated.
What purifies love? What deepens it? What elevates it?
The answer is faith. Through faith, love becomes sanctified.
A mother’s love should provide proper moral influence, strong emotional impact, and lifelong inspiration. The love and prayers of a mother become a guiding light and source of strength for a child throughout their life.
In the realm of home education, the two most central elements are Kami’s love and a mother’s prayers.
To be continued in the next issue
Exercises for the Mind/Heart/Spirit |
011 Say 'Thank You' to your shoes |
How much will you be wearing them today? Without shoes, you cannot go anywhere nor meet your loved ones. Let us pay more attention as we will continuously be relying on them throughout the day. Once you can say, "I'll be counting on you again today," you're ready to go! |
Konko Church of Gardena and Los Angeles Announcements
Morning Service, Cleanup, Shinto-kai Meeting, (Hina-matsuri)
On March 2, morning service will be held from 9:00 a.m. After the prayer, the inside and outside of the church will be cleaned. The Shinto-kai meeting will be held after lunch. If you are interested, please join us.
Spring Memorial Service (KC Gardena and KC Los Angeles)
We invite you and your family to attend the Spring Memorial Service on March 9 at 10:00 a.m. Let us express our appreciation to the Mitama spirits of all believers and their ancestors. We are able to receive blessings every day because of their efforts and sacrifices they made for us.
Please write the names and dates of your family ancestors in the Mitama List form and submit it to the church.
Gardena Church Work Committee
GCWC will be held on March 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Los Angeles Church Big Cleaning
To everyone at the Los Angeles Church and the Gardena Church
We are currently cleaning up the church and the house, and thanks to your help, the work is nearing completion. We are truly grateful.
The final cleaning will take place on March 23rd and 24th at 9:00 am to 12 noon. If you have time, please volunteer to help us.
Favorite reading of Rev. Nakayama 's faith story. Thank you for sharing.