No, when you say "kamisama" in Japanese it generally refers to "God."

Also, what I mean is most Japanese Buddhists I've met are like "I guess I'm Buddhist, but I don't really care." It's not a big part of their life and they don't actively believe in it. There are definitely devout Buddhists but it just seems like most people are a bit more apathetic towards religion.

[quote="Marekenshin"]No, when you say "kamisama" in Japanese it generally refers to "God."

Also, what I mean is most Japanese Buddhists I've met are like "I guess I'm Buddhist, but I don't really care." It's not a big part of their life and they don't actively believe in it. There are definitely devout Buddhists but it just seems like most people are a bit more apathetic towards religion.[/quote]

My mistake then, still, what I said stands for possible meanings behind the use of god.

Also, the great thing about that is that Buddhism doesn't require much of anything, and depending on how you want to go about living, there are many different levels you can follow it.

That's like saying "Yeah I'm a Christian," but never doing anything active in the religion. You can be a member of a religion without actively caring about it is all I'm saying.

[quote="Marekenshin"]That's like saying "Yeah I'm a Christian," but never doing anything active in the religion.[/quote]

Like most christians?

Exactly. Most Japanese Buddhists don't really care about Buddhism, just like most American Christians don't actually care about their religion. The main difference is that Buddhism doesn't tell you as much what you can and can't do, as far as I know.

It's pretty obvious who Sawao prays to.


[img]http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Lights/8770/images/kamisama.jpg[/img]

Thread over.

^ That is what Japanese people mean when they say "kamisama."

Ya, I certainly agree that, from what we can glean from his lyrics leastwise, Sawao is of no religious affiliation. The older-than-age-old pastime of wondering "just what the crap is up with existence anyhow?" doesn't seem to be foreign to him either, however.

And to fuel discussion, here's be their '06 lostman go to city tour shirt (which i happily have in my collection :0)

[img]http://www.pillows.jp/image/goods/06_12t_shirt01.jpg[/img][img]http://www.pillows.jp/image/goods/06_12t_shirt01_b.jpg[/img]

it says 'lostman' again in smaller letters on the cross itself btw.

Using a cross without being christian is pretty brazen in the states, but I don't think christian symbols are as guarded in japan as in the states.

however, since sawao continually acknowledges god or gods, we can rule out atheism. But since he acknowledges gods in smile I doubt the god referenced in other songs is the christian god.

technically he could be really lax with his Christianity, but considering the minority of Christians in Japan, I doubt many, if any, were very lax. Minorities tend to take being a minority very seriously. And even the most lax of Christians I know in the states would never acknowledge multiple gods simply because they don't think of it.

Christian imagery in anything Japanese can almost always be put into the "just for lols" category. They think it's exotic and interesting just like pseudo-Buddhists in the US glorify wanky eastern bullshit.

@Camio: I think someone can say a phrase like "God-forsaken world" without really meaning that they believe in God. Just an example, but my point is that Sawao using references to religious things and God don't absolutely indicate whether he believes in anything or not.

I agree with Jomei. Japan throws around Christianity a lot. A perfect example of Christianity being more of a popular commodity than an actual religious symbol is the imagery and references noted in the anime, [i]Neon Genesis Evangelion[/i]. All of the religious diction, imagery and allusion allots to absolutely nothing; the creators even admitted that the only reason they used the Christian cross, or characters/canon from the Bible is because "we thought it was cool".

And it is.

I'm not saying that's why Sawao uses the word "God" in his songs, just to be cool... but it stands to mention that Japan isn't up on Christianity as a religion. Based off of how Sawao uses the word "God" in his songs, I think it's pretty clear that he isn't a very religious person... let alone Christian.

[quote="Jomei"]Christian imagery in anything Japanese can almost always be put into the "just for lols" category. They think it's exotic and interesting just like pseudo-Buddhists in the US glorify wanky eastern bullshit.[/quote]

Yeah, it's like how americans get tattoos of asian characters or taijitu while being neither asian nor taoist.

[quote="Jomei"]
@Camio: I think someone can say a phrase like "God-forsaken world" without really meaning that they believe in God. Just an example, but my point is that Sawao using references to religious things and God don't absolutely indicate whether he believes in anything or not.[/quote]

true but "more than in god I believe in you" doesnt mean much if you dont believe in some kind of god.

[quote="Utsuseru"]Yeah, it's like how americans get tattoos of asian characters or taijitu while being neither asian nor taoist.[/quote]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfHsaGh_nQg

[quote="Marekenshin"]No, when you say "kamisama" in Japanese it generally refers to "God."

Also, what I mean is most Japanese Buddhists I've met are like "I guess I'm Buddhist, but I don't really care." It's not a big part of their life and they don't actively believe in it. There are definitely devout Buddhists but it just seems like most people are a bit more apathetic towards religion.[/quote]

It all depends on what sect of Buddhism they are as well. The vast majority don't see Buddha as a god, it's only that's only the Therevada branch. If the main religious symbol isn't even considered to be a god, there's really no point in being devout or anything; nothing beyond just using their life as an example.