From: geoffg@sco.COM (geoff galitz)
Subject: Re: Jews in Japan
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 20:40:58 GMT


In article <9uZgPB1w165w@valpso.hanse.de> tichauer@valpso.hanse.de (Manfredo Tichauer) writes:
>cohen@quartz.ciw.edu (Ronald Cohen) writes:
>
>> I will be visiting Japan in 1 1/2 weeks and am wondering about the
>> history of Jews in Japan, and also about kosher food, synagogues,
>> etc.  I will be in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sendai, and possibly Kobe.
>> There appear to be synagogues in Kobe and Tokyo.  Are any of the
>> member japanese or are they all foreigners?  I would appreciate
>> any information anyone has.
>> -- 
>
>From THE JEWISH TRAVEL GUIDE, 1992, published by The Jewish Chronicle, London
>ISBN 1-870216-10-5
>
>J A P A N
>=========
>
>Taking into account businessmen, students, and other professionals with their
>families in Japan for 3-5 years the Jewish population can easily run to a
>couple of thousands at any given time. Exact data on permanent residents are
>not available and there are very few longtime residents who make Japan their
>permanent domicile. Conservative estimate: about 600 individuals.
>
>KOBE
>----
>There have been jews in Kobe for more than a century. Today's Jewish population
>numbers some 30 families.
>During WWII Kobe's two sinagogues were destroyed. The Ohel Shelomoh Sinagogue
>(Orthodox) at the community centre was opened in 1970. There is a mikva on the
>premises.
>Sec.: Bruce M. Benson, Tel.(078) 222.3950 
>The centre is at 12/12 Kitano-cho 4-chome, Ikuta-ku (POB 639) Tel.(078) 221.7236
>M3H 3S4. Tel.: (416)
>
>NAGASAKI
>--------
>There are no Jews living in Nagasaki. The old Jewish cemetery is located at 
>Sakomoto Gaijin Bochi. The site of the first synagogue in Japan is Umegasaki
>Machi.
>
>OKINAWA
>-------
>While there is no native Jewish com. on Okinawa, there are normally 200-300
>Jews serving with the U.S. military on the island. Rgular services are conduc-
>ted by the Jewish chaplain at Camp Smedley D.Butler, and visitors are welcomed.
>
>TOKYO
>-----
>There are 160 Jewish family members of the Jewish Com. of Japan.
>Jewish Com.Centre: 8-8Hiroo, 3-Chome, Shibuya-ku, 150. Tel.: 3400-2559
>Fax: (03) 3400-1827. Pres.:Saul M.Shiffman.
>Beth David Syn. is in the Com.Centre premises. Services held Fri.evg., 7.00 pm;
>Shabat morn., 9.30 a.m. and on High Holy-days & festivals. Rabbi Moshe Silber-
>schein. Kosher meals available: advance notification requested.
>Israel Embassy: 3 Niban-cho Chiyodaku. Tel.: 3264-0911
>
>YOKOHAMA
>--------
>Inf. concerning the Jewish cemetery here may be obtained from the Jewish Com.
>of Japan, in Tokyo
>
>YOKOSUKA
>--------
>There is a Jewish chaplain at the US naval base here, and some religious ser-
>vices at the base are open to visitors. Further inf. can be obtained by calling
>(0468) 26-1911, Ext. 6773. Yokosuka is about 1 3/4 hours journey south of Tokyo.
>
>******************************************************************************
>
>I recommend this book to anybody who travels. I have this book constantly in my
>travel bag. It is edited every year but I buy it only once every 5 years.It has
>every kind of informations on Jewish places in almost every country of the world
>
>NOTICE: I know that there are some "over chochems" who will grumble that this is
>^^^^^^  not a place to make publicity for a book. They should better care about
>        the vocabulary used by some people during the discussions in SCJ: this
>        is a place to learn  and to make friends, and if somebody wants to teach
>        please do it in a kindly way. I myself have a lot to learn but I want to
>        be treated like a mensch and not like an idiot. This applies specially 
>        to mail writers like MC.        
>                 
>Well, Ronald, I hope that I could help you and other jewish Japan travellers.
>
>                                           Manfredo
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Manfredo Tichauer M.                       EMAIL : tichauer@valpso.hanse.de
>  Opitzstrasse 14                            VOICE :     (++ 49 40)  27.42.27
>  2000 Hamburg 60 - GERMANY                  FAX   :     (++ 49 40) 270.53.09
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


	Is this not a place for book references?  Perhaps I'm out of
line, I don't frequent this newgroup much, but I am interested in the
goings on here.

	There is a book called _The Thirteenth Gate_ (I believe) that
goes into detail about the travels of the author, in search of Judiasm
around the world.  There is a section on Japan, and even though I
don't remember it well, it leads me to believe that there may be more
Jewish families than the references above indicate.  Of course, I
could be wrong, it won't be a first.  :)

	The book did point out that the Japanese community is very
impressionable, and they often emulate other cultures.  The author
feels that many people in Japan began to emulate Jews around the
world, partially due to some form of remorse during WWII.
	The book also mentions that there is Jewish sect that believes
Jesus Christ actually went to Japan at one point.

	If anyone desires it, I'll post the details on how to find the
book (the book is at home).


	Something else I should point out.  Japan places an enourmas
amount of pressure on people to conform, so people in the Jewish
community in Japan, may not necessarily admit it in the open.  


-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------
I am not a Left Winger, nor a Right Winger, nor a Centrist.
	I am a Free Voter! 

geoffg@sco.com << or >> galitz@igc.org --------------------