What if Japan had Jews living there when European first

Jason222

Banned
Let say Jews faith successful survival what effect had on World history I am no way suggestion super longer number more suggestion few thousands Jews living Japan European Christian first show up.

I think Japan response still been close door policy or worst. Jews Europe face much worst maybe in Americans as well.

Reasons it very simple Japanese JEws likley adapt Japanese culture include find justification for rituals suicide and much more war like or welling fight. Rabbi in Europe looking them not practice religion right. Jews putting down presser to Emperor Japan adapt close door policy might challege Jews defends themselves Europe which could lead Japan allow Jews merchants in and out.
 
Let say Jews faith successful survival what effect had on World history I am no way suggestion super longer number more suggestion few thousands Jews living Japan European Christian first show up.

I think Japan response still been close door policy or worst. Jews Europe face much worst maybe in Americans as well.

Reasons it very simple Japanese JEws likley adapt Japanese culture include find justification for rituals suicide and much more war like or welling fight. Rabbi in Europe looking them not practice religion right. Jews putting down presser to Emperor Japan adapt close door policy might challege Jews defends themselves Europe which could lead Japan allow Jews merchants in and out.

Jason222? OMG, where did u come from? :eek::p
 
Lost Tribe Threat or Later Settlements/Conversions

Somebody has been reading to much into that what if Japanese are part of the 'lost tribes.' :rolleyes: If many Japanese shogun reaction to Christianity as a minority is any indication any Jews would have been driven out, forcibly converted to Buddhism and Shinto or just mass killing of the males while women and children become indentured servants which also results in cultural genocide. If you want to move it back much earlier then there would be butterflies that we would not fathom nor see a significant difference today in, maybe its indeed OTL.;)
 
A few months ago I've watched a video in which some Japanese self-called historian claimed the Japanese are descendants of Jews.

Anyway, Jews are first recorded in China during the Tang Dynasty. From there, it's not that hard to get them into Japan. The only question is why would any Jew stay in Japan at that time for more than a few months? And why would several thousands would? Perhaps some Japanese official or something takes a liking to the Jews and invites them to come and settle in Japan?
 

NothingNow

Banned
Eh, the Shogunate's reaction to Christianity had far more to do with the political effects of Christianity.
Having even a sizable (>10,000 people) jewish population would not cause any similar problems. They'd probably just partially displace the burakumin or find some other economic niche to settle into, and that'd be it pretty much.
 
By what mechanism would Judaism spread to Japan in the first place?

There is one vaguely plausible mechanism...you've heard of the Kaifeng Jews, right? Jewish communities existed along many of the major trade routes of the medieval world, and Jews were often involved in trade of that sort, so what if the community in China had been a bit larger and stronger (say, by reaching China earlier, perhaps)? It's not totally implausible to suggest that part of this community might become involved with trade with Japan, and eventually settle themselves in Japan. They could form the nucleus of a probably very small Jewish community located in one or more of the major trade cities.

Most likely they would be largely assimilated into Japanese culture like the OTL Kaifeng Jews, but traces of Judaism might survive, and explicit Judaism might at least survive long enough for early Portuguese and Spanish traders to discover them, also like the Kaifeng Jews. It's possible they might be persecuted and wiped out along with Christians should events pass similarly to OTL, but it's also possible (and likely, considering other Jewish communities) that traces would, as above, survive those efforts.
 

Kaptin Kurk

Banned
Ghengis Khan live another 35 years, (There have been a handful of pre-modern rulers simply blessed with good gentics. Although highly unlikely, an Egyptian Pharoah lived to be 99. Get his genes to Ghengis somehow, and wow, what a world.) Europe is conquered by his horde. No divine wind protect Japan from Mongol conquest. In the following century, travel between the East Coast of France Japan for merchants is expensive, but relatively safe, and extremely profitable.

Jews do it, and even after the Khanates inevitably fragment, Jews are established as traders throughout asia. They become heavily influence by local culture, but never completely absorbed.
 
The Radhanites or other Jewish Merchants from 500 AD onwards expand their trade network beyond the Tang Dynasty to include the Goguryeo / Balhae, Korean Kingdoms and Japan, thereby establishing Jewish communities there in the process.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhanite

Other ideas include the Tang Dynasty lasting longer or the Khazar Empire surviving along with scenarios that make sure trade routes remain stable and safe for much longer until an event that brings about the alternate Age of Exploration.
 

Jason222

Banned
There is one vaguely plausible mechanism...you've heard of the Kaifeng Jews, right? Jewish communities existed along many of the major trade routes of the medieval world, and Jews were often involved in trade of that sort, so what if the community in China had been a bit larger and stronger (say, by reaching China earlier, perhaps)? It's not totally implausible to suggest that part of this community might become involved with trade with Japan, and eventually settle themselves in Japan. They could form the nucleus of a probably very small Jewish community located in one or more of the major trade cities.

Most likely they would be largely assimilated into Japanese culture like the OTL Kaifeng Jews, but traces of Judaism might survive, and explicit Judaism might at least survive long enough for early Portuguese and Spanish traders to discover them, also like the Kaifeng Jews. It's possible they might be persecuted and wiped out along with Christians should events pass similarly to OTL, but it's also possible (and likely, considering other Jewish communities) that traces would, as above, survive those efforts.
Problem argue that Japanese turn on the Jews in Japan if they living centuries before European arrive. Is that reason Japanese turn on European were following. Fact Christian must covenants were poor people were part uprising against the Japanese Empire the Spanish support. Unless the Jews going out blue support a the Christian uprising in Japan. Japan unlikely turn the Jews.
 
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