Land of the Rising Son
Reader jde of the Regruntled Tokyo Bureau sends a legend of Jesus’ burial in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
According to the local legend, Christ first came to Japan, aged 21, during the reign of the 11th emperor, Suinin, and landed at the port of Hashidate on the Japan Sea coast. Apparently, he settled in Etchu province where, under the tutelage of a great master, he studied Japanese language, literature and various other subjects. The Legend of Daitenku Taro Jurai (Daitenku Taro Jurai was the name Christ is said to have later taken) claims that at the end of his 11-year stay, Christ returned to Judea, aged 33, where he taught about the “sacred land” of Japan. But, unfortunately, “Christ’s teachings about Japan were considered too radical,” and he was condemned to death.
The New Testament teaches Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, rose from the dead after three days and later ascended into Heaven. However, according to the legend of Herai, Jesus escaped this fate, and instead his brother Isukiri was nailed to the cross and died. Christ, meanwhile, fled with his disciples and went into hiding, carrying locks of the Virgin Mary’s hair and his brother’s ear. After an arduous journey across Siberia, Christ finally returned to Japan and settled in Herai where he changed his name, married a Japanese woman called Miyuko, fathered three daughters and lived to the age of 106.
It sounds like a tall tale, but no stranger than stories of burning bushes, the parting of the Red Sea and water being turned into wine.
I’ve heard of Jesus spending his Missing Years in India, and there is a competing grave in Srinagar. There are also stories of Jesus in southern France, some of which are used in The Da Vinci Code. Jesus in Japan is new to me. I am reminded of two American phrases: “George Washington slept here” and “Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb?”