My research focuses on symbols in Christianity. Symbols give visible form to the power of faith, something otherwise invisible to our eyes.

Many people tend to see the cross as a sign that announces the existence of Christianity. However, the Christian cross is actually a symbol, signifying God’s grace which supports our life. In this regard, symbol and signs are actually different. A sign is like smoke that warns of a fire; the smoke lets people in the area notice the occurrence of a fire.

Christian symbols invite conversations with God. Christians resonate with God through the cross. They reflect on their own lives in the process of connecting with the life of Jesus Christ. Besides the cross, the smoke rising from the thurible is also a symbol in liturgy: We pray, “God, please accept the smoke that has burned my thoughts.” The power of symbols is that they invite us into conversations with God.

More than mere information, symbols point toward the depths of life

Religion is not the only area that has symbols for dialogue. The exchange of business cards, for example, conveys the trustworthiness of a company or organization, past experience and skills of the owners, and a willingness to work together. In Christianity, symbols encourage willingness and the yielding of the self to others.

For example, in Christian weddings, a diamond engagement ring is not a luxurious sign expressing “Will you marry me?” Diamond or not, the person accepting the ring will sense the courage, firm trust, and beautiful love of the person making the proposal. Accepting the ring also means accepting the other person’s love, faith, and life. Of course, the beauty and firmness of love is more strongly expressed by a diamond ring. But a dialogue from dialogue from the bottom of the heart—the sharing of an invisible promise and resolve—takes place through the ring itself as a symbol.

Why do humans create symbols in the first place? It is because all of us have mystical parts in our hearts. Deep within our hearts, there is a part that only we know and a part that even we ourselves do not know. Humans need symbols to express these parts, and use these symbols to communicate with ourselves and with others. Christianity elevates this universal aspect of humans to the point of conversations with the transcendent existence of God.

The ability to connect with symbols is being tested in a digital society

Letters, words, and sentences are also symbols, and books can allow us to have deep conversations. However, in modern society, where increasing digitalization means communication via devices has become commonplace, a new concern has emerged.

Even when working in adjacent rooms, communication is made through emails or text messages without a knock on the door. Yet these short messages are not enough to read someone’s mind. They may be convenient, but repeated use reduces deep conversations between humans. As a result, conversations turn into signs.

Communicating through symbols leads us to the deeper aspects of humanity. Love, hope, and faith are all invisible. All the things that form the foundation of human existence are invisible. In modern times, where all phenomena can be shared instantly through images and videos, I hope more and more people will learn that not everything can be seen with our eyes.

Humans are not machines. There are many mysterious aspects that we cannot fully explore. I believe that, even in a digital society, it is not impossible to understand the mystery of human existence  through the power of symbols.

The book I recommend

“The Bible: The New Interconfessional Translation with Deuterocanonical Books”
published by Japan Bible Society (in Japanese)

Books are also symbols, and no book is more symbolic than the Bible. It is filled with mysteries of the relationship between God and human. It is a fascinating book in which characters talk about the deepest existence that is invisible to the human eye. I read it deeply when I was in high school, and I still enjoy reading it today.

Interviewed: June 2025