morning prayer & Meditation

"Test from History"
for
"Morning Worship & Meditation"
The 2nd Northeast Asia Christian Youth Exchanging Program"

at Hokyo-den, Kansai Seminar House
3 August 2000

This Noh stage, "Hokyo-den", was originally built in 1898 for the 300th anniversary of Hokoku Shrine. Hokoku Shrine was built in 1589 in order to worship Hideyoshi Toyotomi, one of the biggest "Shoguns", war generals, in the 16th century. However this shrine was destroyed when Iesyasu Tokugawa started Edo Period in the beginning of 17th century, because Ieyasu Tokugawa did not want to leave anything that reminded of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, his biggest rivalry.

Edo period was over in 1867. And in 1898, 32 years after Edo period, the Hokoku Shrine was reconstructed in Kyoto for the first time in nearly 300 years. In those days and today, when a big festival was held in a shrine, Japanese traditional performing arts such as Kabuki, Noh, Kyogen were performed for the cerebration of the shrine. And this Noh stage which we are in now was built for the stage of those performances in the 300th Anniversary of Hokoku Shrine in 1898.

Why is that Noh stage here in Kansai Seminar House, 20 km from Hokoku Shrine?

Most Japanese traditional architectures were built with woods so sometimes important buildings are carefully taken in to pieces and brought to other place and built again to the original figure. This Noh stage has changed its place a few times, and it was moved to this place 50 to 60 years ago (we don't know exactly when this was moved).

I am telling this story because I want you to know the origin of this Noh stage that gives you an idea why we are having morning worship and meditation in this Noh Stage for "The 2nd Northeast Asia Christian Youth Exchanging Program".

The 300th anniversary of Hokoku Shrine at which this Noh stage was originally built was more than religious festival. There was big support from Japanese government at the time. They wanted to make the festival huge and to get national attention for political reason.

This festival was the revival of Hokoku Shrine, and that meant also the revival of Hideyoshi Toyotomi whom that shrine was made to worship for. As some of you know, one of the most terrible things that Hideyoshi Toyotomi did was the invasion of Korea in the middle of 16th century. And at the time when this 300th Anniversary was held, that was in the end of 19th century, Japanese government was aggressively into the Imperialism. (Japan went war with China in 1894-5)

And the 300th anniversary of Hokoku Shrine was the best opportunity for the Japanese government to make Hideyoshi Toyotomi into a symbolic hero and to support their imperialst policy at the time, invasion of Asian countries. Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea was justified in the tide of imperialism. Heroism is the one of the best way to raise the morale of the country. So Japanese government supported the anniversary and made it into national festival. And this Noh stage was built and the biggest Noh performances of a decade were held in this Noh stage to draw more attention from Japanese people.

The festival of 300th Anniversary of Hokoku shrine was held 1888. And entering into the 20th century Japan went more aggressively into invasion of Asia and brutally killed so many Asian people under their imperialist policy.

And let me tell you one more thing that Hideyoshi Toyotomi did to Korean people. I am really ashamed of what I have to tell you. But this is the part of history that should not be hidden. At his second invasion of Korea in 1597, he did not actually went to Korea. He stayed in Japan. And he ordered his solders to bring back Japan ears and noses of Korean solders they killed in the war. At civil war in Japan in those days, the war master got the head of the enemy's war master whom he defeated in the war as a symbol of his victory. And in this war, I repeat, HEDEYOSHI ORDERED HIS SOLDERS TO BRING BACK JAPAN EARS AND NOSES OF KOREAN SOLDERS WHOM THEY KILLED IN THE WAR.

According to some documents, the number of those ears and noses that Hideyoshi's solders got from Korean solders were nearly 30,000. Other study says that it was over 100,000. With all of these ears and noses, Hideyoshi made "Mimi-zuka" ("Mimi" means "ear", and "zuka" means a grave, so it's "ear grave"). "Mimi-zuka" was his way of showing off his power to general public and filled up his satisfaction.

But Japanese government in the early 20th century emphasized that "Mimi-zuka" is symbol of Hideyoshi's mercy for mourning of the soul of Koreans. That may have been the case, but today most scholars have so many documents in Hideyoshi's days proving that it was not the case and it was Japanese government's propaganda for creating the image of Hideyoshi as a hero with a merciful heart. However, the very reason that the grave was called "ear grave" though there were more noses than ears is the good proof of Japanese government's cunning strategy since the image of cutting off one's nose was much more cruel or inhumane than the image of cutting off ears. We will go to Mimi-zuka on Friday's afternoon as our first stop of the field trip and we will have a moment of prayers.

Now finally I have come to the point of this talk which was titled "Test from History." As I explained, this Noh stage had a sad and terrible history in its origin. Of course this building is not the main instrument for Japanese imperialism in early 20th century. But this is the one of the symbols of "art misused for political reasons". We, Nippon Christian Academy, didn't know the origin of this building until 1996. That means that Nippon Christian Academy did not know it when we purchased this property in 1965. But the important thing is that now we know its history. And next question is what we should do with this. That is, I think, our "Test from history."

Since I found out the history of the building, I wanted to do something in this Noh stage to liberate itself from its unfortunate history and bring it back to a new life. In 1998, when the great poet who fought for the demodemocratization of Korea, Mr.Kim Ji Ha, came to Japan for the first time in his life, we had a big welcome party in Kansai Seminar House. Then I told him and Mr. Kim Yong Dong, and Mr. Kim Ming Gi who came here with him about the history of the Noh stage and my ultimate dream of having some kind of Korean performing art here. It will be wonderful that the play by Mr. Kim Ji Ha or Mr. Kim Min Gi or concert by Mr.Kim Yong Dong or Mr.Kim ideal/original form.

And this morning worship & meditation is another "my wishing be answered" I sincerely believe that this is a very important moment for Nippon Christian Academy which was given "Test from history" or in other words, "Test from God". In this program under the theme " living together in peace" with people from Korea, Taiwan, Myanmar and Japan, I hope this Noh stage which used to be an instrument of raising the Japanese people's morale into the invasion of Asia and killing off so many Asian people is now given other task or hope.

Sometimes we are put in circumstances or given things that we are not directly responsible for but need to atone for. None of us Japanese here support what Hideyoshi did to Korean people 400 years ago or what Japanese army did in Asian countries during the war period. What they have done should not be forgotten and there are people who are still suffering from the consequences and memories of those events. So as Japanese, we should not close our eyes to the fact nor ignore the past. Sometimes the events in history are forgotten. Especially if it is something so shameful, we may repress itself and eventually forget, then repeat the same mistake again in the future.

So I think that this Noh stage was in a sense our "cross", reminder of our sin. And like Jesus' love for us that put Himself on the cross gives us the hope, if we can change this symbolic building of human brutality in the war into the building of love and peace, we may pass the test from history or from God. Now with wonderful Chistian friends who have gathered in Kansai Seminar House, and here in Hokyo-den to talk about peace among ourselves and beautiful unity and harmony that we can bring to the world, and most of all, to pray together sincerely, I believe that there will be bright and blessed future ahead of us.

Tadashi Takahashi
Nippon Christian Academy Kansai Seminar House

"Test from History" for "Morning Worship & Meditation" The 2nd Northeast Asia Christian Youth Exchanging Program" at Hokyo-den, Kansai Seminar House 3 August 2000
	This Noh stage, "Hokyo-den", was originally built in 1898 for the 300th anniversary of Hokoku Shrine. Hokoku Shrine was built in 1589 in order to worship Hideyoshi Toyotomi, one of the biggest "Shoguns", war generals, in the 16th century. However this shrine was destroyed when Iesyasu Tokugawa started Edo Period in the beginning of 17th century, because Ieyasu Tokugawa did not want to leave anything that reminded of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, his biggest rivalry. Edo period was over in 1867. And in 1898, 32 years after Edo period, the Hokoku Shrine was reconstructed in Kyoto for the first time in nearly 300 years. In those days and today, when a big festival was held in a shrine, Japanese traditional performing arts such as Kabuki, Noh, Kyogen were performed for the cerebration of the shrine. And this Noh stage which we are in now was built for the stage of those performances in the 300th Anniversary of Hokoku Shrine in 1898.
Why is that Noh stage here in Kansai Seminar House, 20 km from Hokoku Shrine? Most Japanese traditional architectures were built with woods so sometimes important buildings are carefully taken in to pieces and brought to other place and built again to the original figure. This Noh stage has changed its place a few times, and it was moved to this place 50 to 60 years ago (we don't know exactly when this was moved). I am telling this story because I want you to know the origin of this Noh stage that gives you an idea why we are having morning worship and meditation in this Noh Stage for "The 2nd Northeast Asia Christian Youth Exchanging Program".
	The 300th anniversary of Hokoku Shrine at which this Noh stage was originally built was more than religious festival. There was big support from Japanese government at the time. They wanted to make the festival huge and to get national attention for political reason. This festival was the revival of Hokoku Shrine, and that meant also the revival of Hideyoshi Toyotomi whom that shrine was made to worship for. As some of you know, one of the most terrible things that Hideyoshi Toyotomi did was the invasion of Korea in the middle of 16th century. And at the time when this 300th Anniversary was held, that was in the end of 19th century, Japanese government was aggressively into the Imperialism. (Japan went war with China in 1894-5) And the 300th anniversary of Hokoku Shrine was the best opportunity for the Japanese government to make Hideyoshi Toyotomi into a symbolic hero and to support their imperialst policy at the time, invasion of Asian countries. Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea was justified in the tide of imperialism. Heroism is the one of the best way to raise the morale of the country. So Japanese government supported the anniversary and made it into national festival. And this Noh stage was built and the biggest Noh performances of a decade were held in this Noh stage to draw more attention from Japanese people. The festival of 300th Anniversary of Hokoku shrine was held 1888. And entering into the 20th century Japan went more aggressively into invasion of Asia and brutally killed so many Asian people under their imperialist policy. And let me tell you one more thing that Hideyoshi Toyotomi did to Korean people. I am really ashamed of what I have to tell you. But this is the part of history that should not be hidden. At his second invasion of Korea in 1597, he did not actually went to Korea. He stayed in Japan. And he ordered his solders to bring back Japan ears and noses of Korean solders they killed in the war. At civil war in Japan in those days, the war master got the head of the enemy's war master whom he defeated in the war as a symbol of his victory. And in this war, I repeat, HEDEYOSHI ORDERED HIS SOLDERS TO BRING BACK JAPAN EARS AND NOSES OF KOREAN SOLDERS WHOM THEY KILLED IN THE WAR.
According to some documents, the number of those ears and noses that Hideyoshi's solders got from Korean solders were nearly 30,000. Other study says that it was over 100,000. With all of these ears and noses, Hideyoshi made "Mimi-zuka" ("Mimi" means "ear", and "zuka" means a grave, so it's "ear grave"). "Mimi-zuka" was his way of showing off his power to general public and filled up his satisfaction. But Japanese government in the early 20th century emphasized that "Mimi-zuka" is symbol of Hideyoshi's mercy for mourning of the soul of Koreans. That may have been the case, but today most scholars have so many documents in Hideyoshi's days proving that it was not the case and it was Japanese government's propaganda for creating the image of Hideyoshi as a hero with a merciful heart. However, the very reason that the grave was called "ear grave" though there were more noses than ears is the good proof of Japanese government's cunning strategy since the image of cutting off one's nose was much more cruel or inhumane than the image of cutting off ears. We will go to Mimi-zuka on Friday's afternoon as our first stop of the field trip and we will have a moment of prayers.
Now finally I have come to the point of this talk which was titled "Test from History." As I explained, this Noh stage had a sad and terrible history in its origin. Of course this building is not the main instrument for Japanese imperialism in early 20th century. But this is the one of the symbols of "art misused for political reasons". We, Nippon Christian Academy, didn't know the origin of this building until 1996. That means that Nippon Christian Academy did not know it when we purchased this property in 1965. But the important thing is that now we know its history. And next question is what we should do with this. That is, I think, our "Test from history." Since I found out the history of the building, I wanted to do something in this Noh stage to liberate itself from its unfortunate history and bring it back to a new life. In 1998, when the great poet who fought for the demodemocratization of Korea, Mr.Kim Ji Ha, came to Japan for the first time in his life, we had a big welcome party in Kansai Seminar House. Then I told him and Mr. Kim Yong Dong, and Mr. Kim Ming Gi who came here with him about the history of the Noh stage and my ultimate dream of having some kind of Korean performing art here. It will be wonderful that the play by Mr. Kim Ji Ha or Mr. Kim Min Gi or concert by Mr.Kim Yong Dong or Mr.Kim ideal/original form. And this morning worship & meditation is another "my wishing be answered" I sincerely believe that this is a very important moment for Nippon Christian Academy which was given "Test from history" or in other words, "Test from God". In this program under the theme " living together in peace" with people from Korea, Taiwan, Myanmar and Japan, I hope this Noh stage which used to be an instrument of raising the Japanese people's morale into the invasion of Asia and killing off so many Asian people is now given other task or hope. Sometimes we are put in circumstances or given things that we are not directly responsible for but need to atone for. None of us Japanese here support what Hideyoshi did to Korean people 400 years ago or what Japanese army did in Asian countries during the war period. What they have done should not be forgotten and there are people who are still suffering from the consequences and memories of those events. So as Japanese, we should not close our eyes to the fact nor ignore the past. Sometimes the events in history are forgotten. Especially if it is something so shameful, we may repress itself and eventually forget, then repeat the same mistake again in the future. So I think that this Noh stage was in a sense our "cross", reminder of our sin. And like Jesus' love for us that put Himself on the cross gives us the hope, if we can change this symbolic building of human brutality in the war into the building of love and peace, we may pass the test from history or from God. Now with wonderful Chistian friends who have gathered in Kansai Seminar House, and here in Hokyo-den to talk about peace among ourselves and beautiful unity and harmony that we can bring to the world, and most of all, to pray together sincerely, I believe that there will be bright and blessed future ahead of us.
Tadashi Takahashi Nippon Christian Academy Kansai Seminar House