Religion in Anime

Kayson Carlin

Bowling Green State University

April 9, 2018

 

Animated movies have been made in nearly every major country with a film industry. The technique of moving drawn images progressed differently in parts of the world, but none quite as uniquely as Japan. It even has its own name, to which everyone knows exactly what is being described – anime. Unlike the common western idea that all animated pieces are meant for children, anime is intended for any age group whether it be housewives or salary men, and is widely accepted. From emulating Walt Disney’s early cartoons to exploring modern socio-economical issues, anime has evolved to become the most popular medium used today in Japan. It’s no surprise then that many aspects, including religion, can be seen clearly in movies and series, as well as inferred through metaphors.

Since anime is a Japanese visual medium, it makes sense that it would contain references to the traditional Japanese religion, Shintoism, both subtly and overtly. Shintoism and its practices are evident in everyday life in Japan; whether it be visiting temples on holidays, providing offerings to roadside shrines, or simply carrying around an Omamori or Good Luck charm. These same things can be seen in many anime, reflecting real life while giving nods to Shinto beliefs. Some anime, however, focus explicitly on Shintoism, creating stories around the religion. One such anime is Kamisama Hajimemashita (Suzuki 2012), known in English as Kamisama Kiss. In it, a homeless girl named Nanami Momozono meets a land deity (tochigami) after saving him from a wild dog. In response to her kindness, he blesses her with some of his power, and tells her she may live in his shrine. He then disappears, leaving Nanami to figure out how to be a proper deity with the help of various spirits and yokai.

Kamisama Kiss not only displays Shinto themes in the setting, but is continued throughout the storyline. In the beginning, Nanami is a weak kami with little power because hardly anyone believes in her. As a matter of fact, hardly anyone knows she exists at first, which threatens her own existence, as kami gain their power through the beliefs and prayers of their followers. Slowly her divine power increases as she helps more people, granting their wishes, and performing rituals. In one particular scene, Nanami must purify the grounds of the shrine as it becomes polluted with a thick miasma due to her absence (Swale). This is in accordance with Shinto beliefs such as the accumulation of negative energy when things are not looked after properly, including sacred objects and the environment.

Supposedly in stark contrast to the pagan-like Shintoism, is the Western religion Christianity (and Catholicism as a sub group). Anime has an almost bizarre obsession with Christianity when it comes to including this religion, by either representing it with dark undertones, or portraying it as over-the-top ridiculous. In the latter, it is rarely serious in terms of it’s connection with God, the Bible, and various practices. Instead, it simply includes it as characterization. For example, in Chrono Crusade (Moriyama 2003), the main character Rosette is a blonde-haired, blue eyed, Catholic nun. Usually Catholic nuns wear extremely conservative robes, and follow a strict set of morals set by the Bible and church. Rosette, on the other hand, wears a long dress with slits running up the side of her legs, drinks alcohol, and is prone to violence. These examples are only a few when looking at the overall anime itself.

Chrono Crusade takes place in 1920’s America, following a young woman named Rosette Christopher who travels the country exorcising demons while searching for her long-lost brother. She is supported by the Catholic church, and finds companionship in Chrono, a friendly demon she befriended when she was young. This anime has an explicit Christian background, even though there are some aspects which deviate from common belief and practices. This is evident in the mere existence of the demon Chrono, who supposedly aids the church, when in reality, anything or anyone demonic would be immediately denounced by Christians. Other Christian elements are also present, such as the use of holy water against evil beings, and the presence of the Twelve Apostles.

On the other end of the spectrum when it comes to Christian representation is Neon Genesis Evangelion (Anno 1995), which is famous for it’s religious symbolism and imagery, such as the Tree of Life being shown in the opening credits (Thouny). While the story itself centers on teenagers defending Tokyo from supernatural beings by piloting giant robots, certain aspects draw upon Christian mythology. The background for the series begins when mysterious, supernatural beings known only as “Angels”, suddenly appear over Tokyo, destroying much of the city. Shortly after, explorers discover an ancient artifact nearly identical to the Angels, beneath the Earth’s crust, and dub it “Adam”. From this artifact, scientists developed bio-engineered robots to fight the Angels, naming them EVAs. This is a reference to the Biblical story of Adam and Eve, in which Eve is made from Adam. Towards the end of the series, it is revealed that another artifact had been found much earlier than Adam, and contained the genetic code of humans. This artifact is referred to as Lilith, named after Adam’s first wife in Jewish myth, and is kept nailed to a cross resembling the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Redmond). Like Jesus during his execution, Lilith is also speared in the torso by the Lance of Longinus, or Holy Spear, as stated in the Bible.

Other references to Christianity can be seen in the supernatural creatures, Angels. Angels can take a wide variety of appearances, from humanoid forms to gigantic wheels with eyes, to floating decahedrons. Each Angel also has a name; Zachiel, Ramiel, Israfel, Iblis, etc, referring to biblical angels, and angelic beings in the Qur’an (Thouny). Upon defeat, they explode into “holy light”, leaving behind the image of a cross in their wake. These instances further the connection to Christianity.

Despite being one of the three main religions in Japan, Buddhism is an uncommon theme in anime. Most representation comes from secondary characters who fall under the Buddhist monk archetype, such as Miroku from InuYasha (Takahashi 2000) and Shima from Blue Exorcist (Katou 2011). These two do not display a connection to Buddhism through their words or actions, instead just using it as a label. One of the only explicit representations of Buddhism in anime is Saint Young Men (Nakamura 2012), featuring Gautama Buddha as a main character. The movie follows Buddha and Jesus Christ as they vacation in Japan, living together as room mates. Within the narrative, there is reference to Buddha when he lived as a human on Earth, about his perseverance and asceticism. He can also be seen glowing when he says something pious, while his face turns into the image of the “Laughing Buddha”, commonly pictured in Zen Buddhism. In one scene, Buddha and Jesus go to Tokyo Disneyland to ride a rollercoaster, although neither of them have been on one before. Jesus is excited to try it, however Buddha has serious doubts because it’s frightening and dangerous. As they fly down the first hill, there is a close-up of Buddha’s reaction on the ride; his right hand is positioned in front of his face while his left hand is resting under his chest. This is called a mudra, specifically the Abhaya mudra (Lotus Sculptures). This pose is used to invoke protection peace, and most notably, to dispel fear. Essentially, Buddha is attempting to calm his fear of the rollercoaster.

Through these four anime, different approaches and representation can be seen in regard to religion. East Asian religion such as Shintoism is casually referenced and alluded to, while Western religion such as Christianity is often a main focus or setting. Other religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam are hardly represented, if at all. The reason for this is not yet certain, and may include things such as target audience, or simply lack of familiarity when concerning Hinduism and Islam. All of the aforementioned examples portray religion in either a positive (Kamisama Kiss, Chrono Crusade, Saint Young Men) or a neutral light (Evangelion). It’s evident that East Asian religion will continue to play a part in anime for decades to come.

 

 

Bibliography

Lotus Sculptures. Buddha Mudras: Hand Positions of the Buddha. n.d. Web. 19 April 2018. <https://www.lotussculpture.com/mudras.html&gt;.

Redmond, Dennis. “Anime and East Asian Culture: Neon Genesis Evangelion.” Quarterly Review of Film and Video 24.2 (2007): 183-188. Web.

Swale, Alistair. Anime Aesthetics. Waikato, New Zealand: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. Print.

Thouny, Christophe. “Waiting for the Messiah: The Becoming-Myth of Evangelion and Densha Otoko.” Mechademia 4 (2009): 111-129. Web.

Wasylak, Katarzyna. “Need for Speed: Anime, the Cinematic, and the Philosophical.” Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 35.4 (2010): 427-434.