Faced by force and science when Commander Perry came, Japan, in order to save herself from foreign colonisation, had had to concentrate all her attention on force and science.  She had concentrated her attention with signal success.  But naturally she had had, in the process, to slacken her hold somewhat on the spiritual life.

“Always remember how difficult the Japanese find it to know which way to take.  Their whole basis has been shaken and on the surface all has become chaotic.  Ten years hence it will be possible to take a just view.  There is much reason for high hopes.  For one thing, the burden of old thought does not rest so heavily on us as might be supposed.  We are very free in many ways.  In the matter of religion Japan is the most free nation in the world.  If England were to become Buddhist it would sound strange or exotic, but Japan is free to become what she may.”

“There may be a great difference between one of our temples and shrines and an English church,” Yanagi proceeded, “but I cannot believe in the gap which some people seem to see yawning between East and West.  It is deplorable that the world should think that there is such a complete difference between East and West.  It is usually said that self-denial, asceticism, sacrifice, negation are opposed to self-affirmation, individualism, self-realisation; but I do not believe in such a gap.  I wish to destroy the idea of a gap.  It is an idea which was obtained analytically.  The meeting of East and West will not be upon a bridge over a gap, but upon the destruction of the idea of a gap.

“In future, religion cannot be limited by this or that sect or idea.  Religion cannot be limited to Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism or Mahomedanism.  Uchimura says that it is the essence of Christianity which has the power to rescue Japan from its chaotic state.  But the essence of Buddhism can also contribute some important element to the future of Japan.  The notion that the essence of Christianity and the essence of Buddhism are far apart is artificial and prejudiced.”

One day some weeks later I walked with Yanagi on the hills.  He said:  “The weakest point in the Japanese character is the lack of the power of questioning.  We are repressed by our educational system.  And so many things come here at one time that it makes confusion.  What is so often taken for a lack of originality in us is a state resulting from an immense importation of foreign ideas.  They have been overpowering.  Many of us have no clear ideas on life, society, sex and so on, and you will find it difficult to get satisfactory answers to many questions which you will want to ask.”