Christianity in Japan

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Christianity in Japan is among the nation's minority religions in terms of individuals who state an explicit affiliation or faith.

In 2022, there were 1.9 million^[1] Christians in Japan.^[2] In the early years of the 21st century, between less than 1 percent^[3][4] and 1.5%^[1] of the population claimed Christian belief or affiliation.

Although formally banned in 1612 and today critically portrayed as a foreign "religion of colonialism", Christianity has played a role in the shaping of the relationship between religion and the Japanese state for more than four centuries.^[5] Most large Christian denominations, including Catholicism, Protestantism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Orthodox Christianity, are represented in Japan today.

Christian culture has a generally positive image in Japan.^[6] The majority of Japanese people are, traditionally, of the Shinto or Buddhist faith. The majority of Japanese couples, about 60–70%, are wed in "nonreligious" Christian ceremonies. This makes Christian weddings the most influential aspect of Christianity in contemporary Japan.^[7]