Ayu and Religion
 

Im just curiose... where does Ayu stand on Religion?... is she anythin? or somethin? because ive seen pictures of her ptaying but i dont knwo if they were just publicity shots so.. can anyone lemme know?

i thought she was christian, well i read this in anothr post somebody made..im sure one of us knows...just not me :D

CAtholic???

im thinking catholic?

imma thinkin dat its catholikk kuz onli catholic would wear crosses n stuff.. n plus they believe in maria, which is the theme of ayumi'z song M

I dunno. Don't Christains wear crosses too? Those 2 religions have always confused me because they are so similar to each other. There was a picture of Ayu that I posted and her nails had diamonds in the shape of a cross on them. If I'm not wrong, she had a black hood on?

Christian is a general religion. If you believe in Christ than you're already a Christain. Catholic is a christian religion for example. But Catholics pray for saints like Maria for example, while many other christian religions don't. If Ayu made a song called M, it means "Maria" so it is a song that refer to the catholic religion. Also the same happens to Free&Easy cause the song refers to Joan of Ark (Joan Darc was burned by the church in the past but was later turned into a saint...weird LOL). And some of the pics from Free&Easy has Ayu as a nun. Nuns as far as I know only exist in catholicism. Which means the main religion she has mentioned in her songs was the catholicism and not the general christianism. But that doesn't exactly say what her religion is. What I think: It would be quite schizo if she used this religion to express through her songs if she didn't believe on it. There has a strong evidence that Ayu at least admires the catholic religion but that wouldn't mean she is catholic though. The crosses stuff though don't bring much evidence cause crosses are wore by anyone in this world...it's just like the Yin and Yang symbol...a lot of people don't even know what it means and still wear those as a necklace (like SurrealDreams mentioned in the other thread ahhaha)

I believe that Ayu is Catholic...

Isn't it like Japanese people aren't that strict on religions? Like Christians also go to Shinto temples to pray or the other way round. That's what I read somewhere.

I don't think she's a religious person. I haven't read an interview with her where she mentions her religion, or that she belives in a god.

Her crosses might be a fashion thing. And, as ImpactBreaker already mentioned, crosses aren't owned by the Christian Church. Just because you're wearing a cross or incorporating Christian things in your MVs or lyrics, doesn't mean you're Christian.

Recent statistics shows Japan's religions are like this -
Shintoism 93%, Buddhism 74%, Christianity 1% (most Jpanase consider themselves to be both Shinto and Buddhist).

I don't believe Ayumi is christian or catholic. This is an excerpt from an article translated by Isaac Hiew:

She found out about Maria from a story a friend told her. If she was christian or catholic she would already know all about her.

I think Ayu is interested in characters like Maria and Jeanne D'Arc for two reasons:
1) She is attracted to them as female 'role models' or examples of unique, strong, etc women.
2) Like other Japanese she is fascinated by western things. For example, 'christian' style weddings, celebration of christmas, and wearing of crosses are very popular in Japan even though most people don't understand what they mean or believe in them. They just do it because it is trendy, like using engrish slang.

Oh this article helps to understand what was behind the M lyrics! I didn't know anything about M cause I still didn't know Ayu the time she released that single. Thanks for the info nmskalmn!:)

Likewise, the Yin-Yang stuff in the western world.

hmm so teh possibility of her being catholic/christian has dropped right lol?.. mabey she is.. but like most singers/actors.. dont really show it... cuz i have seen pictures of her praying like i said * mabey it was teh one that seh was a nun i still dunno*.. and i didnt know about the M lyrics either nmskalmn nice reaserch :)

so we really dont know what she is just that she wrote M because she thinks of them as role models and she is interested in western stuff.

I think she is either Buddhist, Shintoism, or Daoism.(people seem to have forgotten about that one)

Buddhism.. coz most pretty pony~pretty pony~pretty pony~ are Buddhist

i don't think ayu is a christain, in fact i even doubt if she has a religion or not

most ppl in japan, even though if they ain't christian (which they ain't 'cus itz a VERY small popular in japan that are christians), like St. Mary or Jesus etc 'cus itz just a representation of the western culture in their eyes and many of them welcome western culture....especially for young girls & boys

so even though she sees mary or st joan de arc as her role model, doesn't necessarily mean shez a christian

besides, from my japanese teacher, itz extremely rare that a japanese would be a christian...

i think if ayu was a christian she would probably feel like she was balspheming when she dressed up as Maria and abused her powers...
i agree with what skal said... nice research m8...

i like ur info nmskalmn....now i'm clear...thncxzealot...

Ahh... the ol' Ayu-religion debate ... :rofl

As said many times before this, the fact that Ayu wears a cross or sing about "Maria" doesn't mean she's Christian, just as surreal said with the Yin-Yang stuff. It's all just symbolism for the PV and nothing more, so unless Ayu one day announced she was Christian or was seen going to a Christian chruch, I don't think she is, but then again, ... without prove, there is no definate truth yet...

ahh so its a mystery?? nooooo i have to find an ayu stalker.. or something....

well, i dunno... i hope she's christian but she prolly isn't... *sigh*

Not most.. most are non-religious

Most of the Japanese population are non-religious, but they still celebrate different holidays and rituals from Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity. Much like atheists still celebrating Christmas, Easter, etc. Christianity is appealing to the Japanese because it has so many symbols and images that represent the religion (the cross, Mary[Maria], angels, etc).

So, I highly doubt Ayu is christian/catholic/etc, it really makes no difference to me and won't change how I look at her.

hmm maybe she believes in HERSELF! wearing a cross doesnt mean u have to really believe in something. i mean u can wear it for a trend or fashion.. u know? i have a pair of cross earrings 'cause dey look cool not cause im actually christian or catholic :)

Backstage at Stadium Tour 2002 she was wearing a "Jesus died for you" tshirt (I thought this was pretty funnny.)
She definitely believes in SOMETHING, because she was having a prayer circle with all her dancers and musicians before going onstage. But my Japanese is bad so I couldn't tell what they were saying.

Do u think Ayu is catholic ?
 

i wonder what religion is she ?
she has song called M which is stand for Maria (only catholic worship virgin maria)
she sometimes wear cross necklace, and not a while ago i saw a pic Ayu was wearing a t-shirt written "Jesus died for you"

Ayu can never be Budda I study this Religion alot and I don't she would have there beliefs. Im guessing Shinto maybe?

I'd said a mixture of Buddhist and Shinto like the majority of Japanese.

On a side note... the Dalai Lama stayed at my mom's house.... TWICE!

eek old thread, oh well. I don't think Ayu is Catholic just because she made the song "M." I agree that she might be a mix of Buddhist/Shinto

btw, Catholics don't worship Mary, they venerate her :)

It's kind of doubtful that Ayumi is Christian or Catholic because most of the people in Japan identify themselves as Buddhist/Shinto.

As for that "Jesus Died for You" shirts, look through old Japanese fashion magazines. It was a HUGE trend, meaning it has nothing to do with religion. The same goes with crosses.

japanese arent exactly buddhists, they have their own religion, which i think is called shinto or something. it is derived from buddhism but it is not exactly buddhism

Is Ayumi Christian or Catholics?
 

Is Ayumi Christian or Catholics, because she's quite often wearing the cross and i'm not sure whether she is christian or catholics...? :rolleyes

No more religion topics! Please! :weep

no kidding, they make me want to hide under my bed!

..I don't get why it's such a big deal to people? Eevee only believes in the religion of God. :cool

Maybe people just want to know what religion she is, so they can obsess themselves more by copying that too? O_o

Hahaha :) AYU is Zoroastrian so IIIII am Zoroastrian!!!

OMAHGOSHERZ!!!!11 ME 2~~~

lmao I havent thought about that.

I seriously wouldn't doubt it. :shakehead

i believe that she is a catholic

^highly unlikely, isnt it less than 1% in Japan? I dont know, it was dicussed somewhere in this thread...

Wait! She's famous so she's probably a scientologist!!!

That wasn't necessarily a prayer circle. I've been in many productions and there's always been a "power circle" type thing were we mentally rev up for the show and sometimes physically and vocally warm up as well.

I love how this topic keeps getting resurrected, lol. Ayumi or anybody wearing a shirt with Jesus or wearing a cross means nothing for the most part. I could put on a Jesus shirt and I actually own crosses but it doesn't mean I'm Christian.

Also, I dunno if it was someone in this forum who smartly brought it up, but Ayumi learned about Maria from a friend. This means, she wasn't brought up Christian at all. Conversion is possible but doubtful.

^True dat, I have a cool old bible, but I'm not christian.

She's probably a mixture of shinto and buddhist like the rest of the country :)


Haha this topic will never die.

..maybe she doesn't even have a religion. I don't. Well I still believe in God and Jesus, but I don't believe in dogmas. Maybe it's possible that Ayu just likes crosses and doesn't really follow anything.

I forgot to mention that PicklesCookies comment is so on the mark for some Ayumi fans. I've seen blogs of people who were like, "Whatever religion Japanese people are, I'm going to convert to." I was like, "Whaaaat?" Stupid.

I was going and reading through old Ayumi articles (circa 2000) and in one she says a cross was given to her when she met her stylist (yes, she has one, it's not all her) and has the "A" logo on the clasp because it was made to order. That appears to be the first time she ever mentioned or wore a cross. And it's filed under fashion accessories.

I love everything Japanese, because it's Japanese. I'm going to accept it without any questioning whatsoever. It must be the best because it's Japanese. ^_^

Why do people even care? Religion is something personal.

As for the cross necklace, it's not because you wear a cross necklace that you are a catholic. My friend wears one but it's really just for the style.

That whole fashion thing is pretty confusing. O_o

I believe Ayumi is just like the normal japanese religion saying goes:

"Born Christian, live Shinto, die Budhist"

I feel she doesn't take religion THAT seriously, maybe she'll casually go to a shrine, there's always New Years. But she's not some sort of religious fanatic like a ton of Americans.

I've also noticed that crosses and churches are a sort of fad/fashion statement. It's more of an aesthetic thing rather than it's religious counterpart meaning.

Americans aren't the only ones who are religious "fanatics." Basically every country in the world is.

I agree. My friend just thought the cross necklace was cute and beautiful, so she bought it.

I sure hope you were joking.

..you can't be serious. O_o

Yeah, I was a bit taken aback by that comment as well. A song is titled "FAIRYLAND" and immediately someone jumps to Paganism. Of course my mind immediately jumped to: "Wow, Ayu's been getting drunk in gay bars more often than we thought! :)" But that's a different topic. :)

If Phantoma is reading this thread, why does that title make you think of Paganism? And even IF Ayu were a pagan, does that change your opinion of her music? Or really, this question is to everyone - no matter what religion Ayu is, would it change your opinion of her songs and songwriting? To me, it would have zilch effect, so why does it even matter?

Also for those that were saying they like everything Japanese no matter what it is, just because it's Japanese - I hope your kidding. :rolleyes

I want to quote too many people, but it gets too laborious, so I'll paraphrase.

Japanese teens wearing crosses is like Ameican Teens wearing ankhs. jewlery is jewlery, you see crosses all over the place in japan. it means nothing, especialy not the bling bling crosses they wear.

I cant speak for all buddists, but I know japanese ones pretty well. buddhism in japan isn't a religion. It is a culture defined by a strong respect for their elders. western society came to japan, and saw them doing things that looked like praying in places that looked like churches to things that looked like Idol gods. so we gave it the label of religion, but it realy isn't and I'm suprised that association hasn't been corrected yet. I know plenty of christians in Japan who still participate in all of their buddhist culture without any problem. I bet Ayumi isn't christian, she may or may not participate in buddhist culture, but she's probably like the rest of japan: Agnostic.

what was the statistic shared earlier on? 78% buddhist 40% shinto 1% catholic? If you look at "japanese religion" for what it really is, 99% of Japan doesn't have a "religion".

"Like I always said, theres nothing a good agnostic cant do if he doesn't really know if he believes in anything or not" - Monty Python

I follow ways of Buddhism, but I don't consider it a religion. :shrug I wear an ankh around my neck everyday :laugh It just looks nice. :) I've always figured that Ayu probably isn't in one religion. I dunno, maybe she prays and stuff, but doesn't exactly live life by the book. Much like Eevee.

I thought she was for sure a Buddhist.. but that's just what I heard. ^^;

Ayu's Religion
 

I was wondering because in the Forgiveness lyrics thread...the cardinal sins were mentioned...is she catholic or just a christian...in Japan...when people are Christian, are they mostly Catholic, or is it like in America where there are many denominations of Christians?

Chrstianity isnt popular at all in Japan, as you'll see in the above threads, buddhism and shinto are by far the most common.

yep, most Japanese people arent that much into religion.. When I went to Japan, my foster parents there said that Japanese people just celebrate New Year and Christmas, but they're not Christians. They said it was easier that way! Thats so cool..

agreeing with bakuhatsu..... Japan=multicultural SUCKING country ^^ it sucks up everything that looks interesting :D when it comes to ayu I don´t think she have anything/anyone she believes in, just a feeling ^^

She was wearing a shirt one time that said 'Jesus died for you'

I thought that weird if she wasn't religious... If so I would say Catholic because I hear that alot of Japanese are Catholic if they aren't buddhist...

'course she did wear a hat that said mother********* on it @_____________@ Someone needs to fire her translator!!!!!!

She also wears clothing with cannabis leaf designs. Does that mean she smokes marijuana?

Japanese doesen't seem to take symbols and stuff as "seriously" as westerns.. Luckily. If it's pretty or cool, it's good. ;)

I have that impression too, from anime particularly. It seems like in Japan Christian/Catholic iconography is just seen as another cool set of symbols, not something sacred and off use for entertainment purposes.

^ their attitude is vital for a happy life look at us, the none Japanese.. :weep We take everything seriously, some of us get bashed up by parents if we dont..

Like her idol, Madonna. Not many people, even the press. know about her religion. So, they are constantly questioning her religion.

I thought Madonna's religon was highly publicized, her Kaballah thing.

her kaballah thing is highly publicized...along with half of the other celebrities she pulled into it....Britney Spears, Ashton Kutcher...etc.

XD! yeah, christians wear crosses too..I mean, i'm SUPPOSE to be a christian, and i get catholic and christianity mixed up..
Anyway, it seems like ayu is kinda like a christian-catholic something..i never though really...exept with "M" a little...but "MARIA" is different than "Mary"
and actually, Bakuhatsu's post made a LOT of sence ;)

I think 1% of Japan is catholic or something. o_o I don't know the statistics. D:

This is just from what I read ages ago in a similar thread and I'll just say it again. xD
Wearing crosses and western symbols are very popular in Japan, it's a fashion thing. As you know, many Japanese are interested in western culture. It's like how Western people buy Buddhas and wear Ying Yang without knowing what they really mean. o_o So Ayu is just interested in western culture (which explains "M" with the western wedding and church in the PV), and she's just following trends too I guess. XD

Yeah, that's because Madonna is publisizing her religion : /

The question is, you guys wouldn't hate Ayu if she were a certain religion anyways right? She doesn't bash any of them... so she's cool in my book :)

lol, Everyone wears a marijuana leaf shirts! Although it's a littler weirder for people to be wearing 'Jesus' shirts if they don't beleive in him... But it could be possible... and I wasn't saying she is religious in any way! I was just pointing out an oberservation...

Does anyone remember why she wore that 'dirty langugae' hat @____@ It mortified me! Poor AYU!

I have never heard that she mentioned about any religions. So I think she is not into any religions like many Japanese. But not being into any religions is not the same as not being religious at all, because there is Shintou in Japan. The main characteristics of Shintou are
1. There are many many gods in nature.
2. To wish good harvest and prosperity.
3. To value purity very much.
Shintou is in the base of Japanese culture and I think many Japanese are unconsciously Shintoic (if this word is correct). Why do the Japanese love nature? Because we think every life is important. Why are the Japanese good at manga and animation? Because we have been much interested in nature and the motions of the outer world. The easiest way to realize Shintou is to watch "Princess Mononoke" directed by Miyazaki Hayao.
And please pay attention to the point 3. To value purity (especially in a mental sense) is similar with the teaching of Christianity. Pure love and self-sacrifice is praised much in Japan just like in Christian countries. Some of you had said that Japanese young generations are attracted by Western culture. But I'd like to go farther to say that Japanese culture has had many similar points with Western culture from old days. It's much easier for us to understand Western culture than to understand Indian or Arabian culture, for example. And that's why all the movies of Miyazaki Hayao were laid in Europe and Japan.
I think I am a Shintoic person and attracted by Christianity at the same time. And I suppose she feels of herself similarly.

wow good explanation masa!! :) yeah I think I'm also a Shintou based person and I believe in the 3 characteristics of Shintou, however I'm also a Hindu and the main characteristics are similair to Shintou - I would say that Shintou and Hinduism are kinda similar - "There are many many gods in nature", "To wish good harvest and prosperity", and "To value purity very much". I believe in many gods and in prosperity and purity.
I also think that Ayu may believe in Shintou

She's christian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i saw her wearing a shirt with "JESUS LOVES YOU" written on it !! (stadium tour/backstage)
either christian or catholic .. i guess !!

I'm as sure as I possibly can be without asking her myself that Ayu's not a christian. I have a shirt with buddha on it, but I'm not buddhist ;) (it says 'for good luck rub my tummy!')

LOL I saw a shirt like that in USA. I think exact wording - .-;; But I didn't buy it haha.

^haha the USA's where I bought it :) Maybe we went to the same shops in san fransisco!

Well I found in one of those Department stores, but in New Jersey.
KOHL's was its name I believe. I had alot of those funny shirt types.

isn't it wierd how other religions aren't really important when you don't know about them...what i mean is...like how corybobory said above that he has a budda shirt but he's not buddist...i wonder what a buddist person thinks when they see it, or if you had Vishnu or some other god on your shirt, i wonder how people of the other religion feel and think...do they think we are being disrespectful? or is it the same when us christians see Ayu wearing a shirt that says "Jesus loves you," we don't really think anything of it...
:confused

I believe it is a bit disrespectful, to take a religion, and turn it into fashion. It is really quite common now.

I also noticed that in Stadium Tour 2002 as well, during one of the rehearsal off shots, there's one of those Christin fishies on the guy's keyboard, the other guy and not Shingo.

Nah, I dont find it offensive.. it makes religion more fun and bearable and commercial!! ^^

I think it's disrespectful. It bothers me when I see people (including Ayu) using religious symbols as fashion accessories, even if I don't believe in those symbols. This is one of the things about Hamasaki that I dislike.

i'm sure she's either christan or catholic ..!!!
- M (the song) -> MARIA (even the MV took place in a CHURCH)
- White Christmas , Itsuka no Merry Christmas -> Ayu sang 'em on christmas
- No More Words -> AYu did sing it w/ dozen of children as her backing vocal (just like other christian songs style ..w/ the bell ringing here and there .. u know) ^_^;;
- She wore a shirt w/ "JESUS LOVES YOU" written on ! (i put 'em up awhile ago)
- CROSSes here and there .. !!
- The MV of "FREE & EASY" (i read it from the previous post)

that's just my opinion , though!

Everyone sings Christmas songs o_O

:yes

Speaking of that, i hate how celebrities are now using that Kabbalah as a fashion sense. I know a few friends who so Kabbalah, and everytime they see like Madonna, or Britney Spears using it as fashion it pisses them off. And it should, its liek commercializing a belief. I mean they have aKabbalah energy drink now o_O and then they take pictures of leik Madonna drinking it. Or for example Tom Cruis's whole Scientology crusade. its a celebrity religion. Its just the few "elite" celebrities who do it, this girl from school who was in love with Tom Cruise just got into it because he was in it, theres just something wrong here.

As for Ayu, i dunno... thsi thread is really old :laugh

I dont find it offensive when people wear the "Jesus loves you" shirts, i dunno why. I mean, maybe if they do to make fun of it knwo what I mean? But like I've seen the Buddha shirts too, and I dunno it seems disrespectful, I dunno. But Christians dont get offended easily, unless you KNOW ist being made fun of.

yeah usually the fishes are more Christianity, I dont really see many Catholics with it. :shrug and I havent really seen em used as fashion or anything.. so.. there could be a chance ya know?

btw.. teh little fish lol, its called an Ichthys..

o_O Oh haha thanks for the info!

yeah, i wish! but she's prolly not Christian... only 1% of Japan is Christian and she's prolly just wearing that shirt cuz she thinks itz funny or cute or trendy or sumthing...

do people here realize that christianity and catholicism are the SAME? catholicism is a form of christianity. christianity is broken up into two parts, protestantism and catholicism. i'm neither, but i just wanted to point that out cause it was bugging me. :D

So what? What does singing White Christmas and Itsukano Merry Christmas have to do with being Christian? Neither of those are church songs by any means. Almost everyone in Japan celebrates Christmas, but not many are actually Christian. It is possible to enjoy Christmas just for the sentiment of it and not be Christian at all.

-It wasn't No More Words that she sang, she sang Close to You. And once again, just because she has a chorus of children singing - how does that mean she is Christian? Several Japanese singers have performed like that.

The Jesus Loves You shirt was a big fad in Japan at that time.

And all the crosses are simply for fashion.

Ayu has never expressed a comment about her religous beliefs, but if anything I would guess she is agnostic.

didn't i write "that's juz my opinion "
and .. 'yup' she sang "close to u" (my bad..) :D

??? explain it then .. :headache

there is no way to explain .. when everyone juz doesn't want to believe it :tired

Of course it is just your opinion. I was simply pointing out some bad logic. Mostly that anyone singing a Christmas song, must be Christian. :)

And I don't think anyone can "explain it" because Ayu herself has never said anything about it. I said that I would guess that Ayu doesn't believe in any one religion at all for several reasons but the main one being that from my experience living in Japan, that seems to be the way most of the country is. Also take into acount that Ayu has not just used Christian imagery before, but imagery from several other cultures. What makes Christianity the more prevalant one? Just because it is the Western one? Also, Masa wrote a good post about why Ayu probably doesn't center around any one religion.