From: ohayon@jcpltyo.JCPL.CO.JP (Tsiel Ohayon)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Re: Japanese Antisemitism
Date: 11 Jan 93 10:22:25 GMT
Organization: James Capel Pacific Limited, Tokyo Japan

In article EXTDSM@LURE.LATROBE.EDU.AU (MADDISON,David) writes:
[DM] I remember reading somewhere that Japanese antisemitism is quite different
[DM] from "normal" western antisemitism. Because they think that Jews control
[DM] banks, the media, the governments etc they would like to understand how Jew
[DM] allegedly do this and assume this role themselves. At least nobody can laim
[DM] the Jews control Hollywood anymore, it's mainly owned by the Japanese!
[DM] Interestingly, the Japanese Royal Family is said to possess artefacts which
[DM] royal heirlooms, which contain Judaic symbology. There is even a Japanese 
[DM] who consider themselves to be Jews and who are descendents of one of the 
[DM] tribes. I am not sure about the Halachic status of these people but I think
[DM] it's questionable. These people also say some Japanese words are remarkably
[DM] similar to ancient Hebrew. I cannot remember the exact name of the book
[DM] I read this but it was about all sorts of Jews around the world, Indian Jew
[DM] Ethiopians, Japanese, Asian etc etc. It *may* have been called something 
[DM] "Jews of the World". If I get an opportunity I will go to my library and 
[DM] look it up.

[DM] David Maddison
[DM] Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Let me add my $0.02 worth. I am a Jew living in Japan now for over 4 years. 

Japanese antisemitism is not like what one can find in the west. Overall, the
Japanese know very little of the Jews and their customs. The Japanese read
many books and believe everything that is written (otherwise it would not
have been written). A few antisemitic books are published every year. They
usually are very childish books with very little research. It usually comes
down to the Jews control the banks, the media, and are responsible for most
of Japan's economic problems because the U.S are controlled by the Jews.
Most people I've talked to had never seen a Jew until they had seen me.
Very few can place Israel on map. Those who can, only know that Jesus was
born there and that the "neighborhood" is pretty violent.

As for the Japanese Imperial family, Princess Hitachi (not related to the
consumer electronics company :-)) is very active in JIWWO (Japan-Israel Women
Welfare Org), the local Wizo. Her brother in law Prince Mikasa speaks
fluent Hebrew and has assisted a Seder or 2 at the local JCC. Because he
is from the Imperial household he was never allowed to go to Israel.

There is a group of about 70,000 Japanese people here called the Makuya.
They mostly live in Kyoto and are Xians. These people believe that the
land of Israel should belong to the Jews (I wish jle and co would believe the
same). They run a house called Beth Shalom in Kyoto were all Jews are welcome
and can stay there up to 3 nights for free. They speak Hebrew and send
quite a lot of young people to Hebrew U. for a year or two.

If anyone is interested in a good books about Japan, please read the Fugu
Plan by Rabbi Marvin Tokayer. The author was Rabbi of Tokyo's Jewish
Community in the 70s.

Some Japanese even believe they are one of the lost tribes because they
are intelligent,  workaholics, like money and always succeed!

One Friday night, a Shinto-priestess walked into the shul and during the
community dinner talked about her book. She stated that the tables of the
law or 10 commandments were in her temple and that Moses' bones were also
buried in her temple. I must admit we do get a lot of loonies there, and not
just non Jews!

Tsiel
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