Sunday in Japan | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 15, 1873

Sunday in Japan.

The Missionary Herald, of Boston, noticing the changes that have recently taken place in Japan, says that the numerous and ancient holidays are abolished, and Sunday substituted in their place. This is not so much of a change as it might at first seem, as it is only putting one heathen festival in place of another. The extract does not say whether the Sunday is to be put to its original use as a festival of the sun, or to the Roman Catholic use as a substitute for the Sabbath. As Japan is not yet, however, even nominally Christian, we are doubtless to have an example of the observance of Sunday in its original character as a heathen festival. The Herald says:—

“And now, to close the year, comes a list of changes, great and sudden enough to startle the sleep of a Rip Van Winkle. Japan has heretofore had a variable year, using the lunar months; but with January 1, 1873, she is to start even with the world, and keep with her hereafter. The numerous and ancient holidays of the empire, on which they worshiped at their temples and shrines, are all abolished, except New Year’s day, and the birthday of the Mikado; and Sunday is substituted for them. Officials are all to dress in foreign uniform, all the old laws are to be revised and printed in a foreign language, and all new ones are to be printed in the official daily newspaper of the capital.