Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Tomb Of Christ

As many of you know, there are many many strange things in Japan. Many of these things are quite famous online, but this is one that I don't think that many of you will have heard of. It's the Tomb of Christ. Yes, that Christ, Jesus Christ. In the town of Shingo, Aomori, Japan there is a legend that in the missing years of Christ's life he came is Shingo to study religion. Then he returned to Judea for the events of the New Testament. When Christ was arrested his Japanese brother Ishikiri took his place on the cross and Christ returned to Japan. He then settled in Shingo, had a family, and died at 103 years old. I'm not sure to what degree this is actually believed in Shingo but I don't think that it is well known in Japan, because the Church folk had never really heard of it. It really was out in the country too. There were a few signs and a museum that was closed, but no Tomb of Christ gift shops or anything of the sort.
This is the first sign you see for the tomb of Christ. Apparently it has a dance.
This is the Tomb of Christ. Whatever I was expecting this was not it.
Read the above.
The Tomb closest is the tomb of Ishikiri.
I'm Jesus, Samantha is Jesus' Japanese wife, and Stephanie is his child.
Group Picture.
Me.
This sign says Christ's Tomb. Look at it closely you will notice that the Tomb of Christ is brought to you by Coca Cola. Yes, Coca Cola sponsors the Tomb of Christ.
To be honest it was a very strange experience. It would have been just a lovely park if it didn't call itself the Tomb of Christ. However, the atmosphere created by the Tomb of Christ and Ishikiri along with the odd but very serious plaques created such a strange feeling. The final straw in making it one of the most bizarre places I have ever been is the cutout thing where you can be Christ and his rice farmer family. I'm glad we went because it will be great to tell people the story of Christ's Tomb in Japan.

4 comments:

  1. ....WOW. I like how his brother "casually" took Jesus's place.

    And what does this do to Mormon beliefs? Did he have time to go to both Japan AND the U.S.?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I guess that he commuted but next time I see a Mormon here I will ask them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Didn't the crucifiers notice Ishikiri wasn't Jesus? Major shortcoming on their part.

    I don't know, that is definitely strange

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, konnichiwa, caleb san. Tezuka desu.
    How are you doing in Japan? I heard about this blog from one of my students. I did not know you were in Japan! You should have told me!!!!
    Well, I know about this Chris's tomb. I have never been there, but one of my friends took some pictures there and gave them to me. It is strange, but I believe something spiritual happened there, and that is why people made his tomb there. Interesting...

    ReplyDelete