I have, over time, posted many images of old religious activities in Japan, several with captions somehow having the Japanese putting "God in a Box", or being "Basket Heads from Mars". To some Westerners who are sensitive (and defensive of) the religious and cultural aspects of Japan, such blunt captioning or phrasing (with overtones of belittling another's religion) sounds a bit mocking. Further, it makes me come across as arrogant, smacks of condescension, implies a nationalistic aloofness, hints at undercurrents of racial prejudice, and perhaps, comes across as a disrespectful diluting of a long and deep cultural heritage of Japanese faith. For those that feel that way about my descriptions of Japanese religion (and my equally ridiculous and sarcastic comments about my own native Christianity), please go suck on a lemon, and get over it. Thank you ! This is not about race or religion. It's about CULTURE. Just ask the Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos --- and those of other nations scattered throughout Asia --- about the deep and abiding "Religious Faith" of the Japanese. These long-time observers of the "Superior Race" and the old "Co-Prosperity Sphere of East Asia" will be happy to bring you up to speed on the subject of what happens when Government and Religion start sleeping together...to the detriment of all. Asia is currently breathing a collective sigh of relief since the "Land of the Setting Sun" was de-fanged (de-militarized) as a result of WW2. Now, Japan is everybody's good buddy, and America's best friend in the Far East. Sometimes, it's good to stick your little gods in a box --- and keep them there (for your own personal amusement. of course) ! Fortunately, Japanese ZEN Buddhists agree with me completely, knowing that what I think and say are only the thoughts and words of a grasshopper sitting on a rock that isn't really there....etc etc. Someday, I'll tell you about the time I was invited to speak to a group of Soka Gakkai believers gathered in one of their "Culture Halls". I completely flamed the entire organization. So, did they tar and feather me, and run me out of town ? Heck NO ! They put me on their lecture circuit, and I wound up doing a "Friar's Roast" of their leader --- Daisaku Ikeda --- at many more "Culture Halls" ! Now that we've got that out of the way, check out the guy in the picture. He's got............ GOD IN A BOX !!! Starting tomorrow, I'm going to read Dale Carnegie's book, "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE" ....and then burn it. PLEASE SEE COMMENT #5 BELOW. IT SUMS THINGS UP VERY WELL. For more about the photographer of this great old image (and NO comments about religion) please see : www.t-enami.org/ ******************************************* For the MOTHER LODE of T. Enami photographs here on the Web --- all CC rated for your creative use --- see this Flickr collection : www.flickr.com/photos/24443965@N08/collections/7215761388... RANDOM SOBA : www.flickriver.com/photos/24443965@N08/random/