by Jon Konnerup
Japan is considered to be the largest unreached people group in the world, with less than one percent of its 127 million populace believing in Jesus. The Baptist Bible Fellowship International has had missionaries in Japan since our founding in 1950. From the beginning, our missionaries focused on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. Sharing the Gospel in Japan has never been easy — even after hundreds of years of missions — yet our missionaries and the Japanese pastors and their churches refuse to retreat. Instead they continually search for new outreach opportunities.
The Difficulties
One of the most challenging difficulties for Western missionaries to overcome when introducing and spreading the Gospel in Japan is the mastery of the Japanese language. There are two alphabets containing 46 letters each, Hiragana and Katakana. Their written forms bear no resemblance, but their pronunciations are identical. In addition to these two alphabets, there are Chinese kanji, or characters, in the Japanese written language system. In the Japanese dictionary, there are over 50,000 different kanji. It is estimated, in order to read a Japanese newspaper, one needs to comprehend about 2,000 basic kanji. Regardless, the Western mind, which is accustomed to a lifetime of studying and writing using only 26 letters, has no point of reference to which it can correlate and thus memorize such a massive amount of letters. Furthermore, Japanese phonetics is very different from that of Western language, which only adds to the tremendous language barrier. Language is a bridge to the heart, and if one cannot do well in Japanese, missionary work will prove to be most challenging.
Another difficulty missionaries to Japan encounter is the financial hurdle. Japan is possibly the most expensive mission field in the world. Most missionaries to Japan avoid discussing the financial aspects of their ministries when visiting churches because of the misconceptions that can occur when specific dollar amounts are mentioned.
All missionaries experience cultural adjustments, but adjusting to Japanese culture is particularly challenging, especially for the typical American mindset. It is much like putting a square peg into a round hole. If missionaries come with a willingness to learn and extend graciousness in areas that are not absolutes, they can learn to lead in this country and enjoy a strong, thriving ministry.
Aside from the usual difficulties missionaries face in spreading the Gospel in Japan, its history and culture are often at odds with Christianity. Japan’s history includes an isolation period of 200 years and decades of Christian martyrdom which had a very profound effect on the spreading of the Gospel.
In spite of the contrast, Japanese have eagerly embraced many aspects of Western culture ranging from fads and philosophies to baseball and scientific methods. So why not Christianity? Minoru Okuyama, director of the Missionary Training Center in Japan, offers one explanation. Upon being appointed as director in 2010, he addressed attendees of a global mission conference stateing, “Japanese make much of human relationships — more than the truth. Consequently, we can say that as for Japanese, one of the most important things is harmony; in Japanese, Wa.” He went on to say, “The Japanese are afraid of disturbing the human relationships of their families or neighborhoods even though they know Christianity is best.” Chinese and South Koreans, by contrast “make more of truth or principle than human relationships.” More than anything, the Japanese people place value on acceptance … acceptance by one another. If they exclusively embrace Christianity, they essentially deny who they are, Buddhist/Shintoist Japanese, and are consequently regarded as unacceptable to their people. It is therefore difficult for Japanese to move away from traditional practices of Japan and become Christians.
Pastor Hiroshi Saito of Tokyo Bible Baptist Church says, “Most of Japanese care what the neighborhood people, relatives, or family believe so they follow the majority. If the majority goes to church, the people will go to church.” Consequently, if most people don’t believe in the Bible of Jesus Christ, it is difficult for the Gospel to penetrate such an averse mindset.
Missionary James Smith writes, “The key for missionaries is to recognize these difficulties and fully rely on God and the power of the Gospel to change people’s lives. Also, as a missionary to Japan, you have to be realistic and know you will most likely not have the kind of numbers you would elsewhere. At the same time, you have to hold on to the truth that the Gospel changes lives, and it can break the hardest of hearts. Ultimately, the devil is behind the resistance to the Gospel. He has the Japanese people right where he wants them.”
THE JAPAN BBF
The JBBF was one of the first religious fellowships recognized under the new law decreed by General Douglas McArthur. It is a fellowship comprised of approximately 93 independent Baptist churches and their pastors. Each local church is active and has a vision to reach every city, town, and village. Reverend Yusuke Saito was the first missionary sent out by JBBF to Okinawa in 1971, and he is still there spreading the Gospel. JBBF is corporately sending out seven missionary families to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Uganda, Hawaii, and a restricted access country. They also support home missions by starting new churches under the authority of the local church. Most of the Fellowship’s pastors are graduates of Japan Baptist Bible College, which was established in 1954. It offers a four-year degree for full-time ministers and workers, a two-year degree for church workers, and a one-year diploma for church workers. Since 1954, the JBBC has awarded degrees to over 250 graduates.
MORE LABORERS NEEDED IN JAPAN
Since Japan is the largest unreached people group in the world, it definitely needs more missionaries. Yes, it is a difficult field. However, just imagine, when you walk out your door every day, everyone you encounter is possibly unsaved and therefore a potential candidate who needs to hear the Gospel, receive Jesus as Savior, and be changed forever.
Missionary James Smith states:
First, Japan needs missionaries who come with a long-term strategy. They must be well trained in the Bible, ministry, and cultural anthropology. Counseling would be a benefit as well.
Second, missionaries to Japan need to come well-supported. The cost of living is expensive in relation to rent, food, and utilities.
Third, they need to come with a vision of long-term ministry. In other words, unless God leads in a dramatic way, plan to invest your entire lifetime in Japan.
Fourth, rather than being personally tutored, missionaries to Japan need to attend a good Japanese language school. Planning to formally study for at least two years is a wise way to think.
Fifth, plan to not only spread the Gospel to the masses, but have a good plan for discipleship. Many Japanese might agree to accept Christianity, but their faith will probably not take hold in their hearts if they are not taught the truths of God’s Word.
Finally, above all things, know you are called to Japan. Some days that is all you have to cling to in order to have the motivation to remain.
Pastor Hiroshi Saito says, “The tough veteran missionaries are now getting older. They need someone who can receive the baton. The new generation of missionaries needs to be strong theologically and stable mentally with a strategy to be patient and endure. I would also say, please do not cut the support for those who are on the battlefield. And please support new missionaries who will be tough soldiers for Christ.”
FROM JON KONNERUP
In September 2015, I participated in the 30th anniversary of one of BBFI missionary Ken Board’s churches. I also spent time with our other missionaries to Japan — the Wyatts, Kings, Smiths, and Lavern Rodgers. In a country where the average church size across all denominations is 23, these missionaries have done an amazing work. They have led many to Christ, discipled them, and trained them for church leadership. It is because of their efforts, your prayers and financial support, coupled with the work of the Japanese pastors, the light of Jesus is shining in Japan. They have a vision to reach every city in Japan and send as many missionaries as they can beyond their islands.
May we pray, not only for new missionaries, but also for our current missionaries and the Japanese churches and leaders. In spite of the difficult nature of reaching Japan, I believe God is still calling people to reach the Japanese. He can still soften their hearts and save them from their sins!
Special thanks to missionaries Ken Board and James Smith and Pastor Hiroshi Saito for assisting with this article.