*ARCHIVED OCTOBER 2007 // CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT DATA
Japan (click here to view a satellite map)
Japan, East Asia
Population: 127,417,244
Christians: <1%
Dominant Religion: Shintoism
Persecution Ranking: Not Ranked
Political Leader: P.M. Junichiro Koizumi
Religious Freedom in Constitution: Yes
"One of the great myths of modern missions is the hardness of the Japanese people to the Gospel," says Floyd McClung, formerly with Youth With A Mission. "In reality, there is a curiosity and interest in Western things in the heart of the Japanese, which is a natural doorway to sharing the Gospel of Christ." This is especially true among the youth who are leaving many cultural norms and trying new things. Traditionally, 84% of Japanese are Shintoists and Buddhists. To them, the world is highly spiritual, "animated by thousands of gods."
There are over one million Believers in Japan and they are free to worship as they choose. However, recent developments in the national government have sparked concern that Christians could be subjected to persecution as they have in past times. One reason is the reinstitution of bowing to the flag and the singing of the national anthem in elementary schools throughout the nation. The practice is technically considered optional, but teachers who have refused to lead their class in this observance have been dismissed. Japanese who leave their traditional religion to follow Christ often meet with strong disapproval from their families and pressure to return to the ways and beliefs of their upbringing. A great opportunity for English speakers who want to love and serve the Japanese is to go and teach English, something that is highly desired in Japan.
Prayer points:
 Pray that God will bring leaders of Japan to Himself through encounters with genuine followers of Christ.
Pray that the youth, in their openness to new things, will be led to Christ.
Pray that the Spirit of the Lord would lead Japanese churches into styles of worship and ministry that are meaningful and culturally relevant to their friends and neighbors.
Pray for Japanese Christian Believers to find ways of serving their communities and in so doing, demonstrate the love of Christ.
LORD God Almighty, we ask You to bring new life to the nation of Japan through the multiplying of Christian Believers. May You send many workers who will love and disciple Japanese youth, filling the void they feel with the love of Christ. We ask You to stir Japanese Christians to persevere in prayer for their families, neighbours and leaders. We pray that Jesus Christ may be known and loved throughout the land. Amen. |
