Why is Japan so hard to reach?

Christianity is legal and has been in Japan for centuries.

How, after all this time, are they still one of the least reached countries on earth?

  • Largest Unreached People Group

  • Million Unreached People

The answer is complicated...

The question is why, after the Gospel has been in Japan for hundreds of years, is it still considered an unreached people group?

It's complicated, but it might help if I start by clarifying how Japan differs from other cultures.

In North America, we value individualism. This is true of other countries closer to Japan like China and Korea as well. “Be true to yourself” and “Follow your heart” are the mantras of our day. 

This is not the case in Japan. The Japanese value uniformity, family ties, and tradition as some of the highest values in their society.

So, when the first Christian missionaries landed in Japan, there was some interest, but it very quickly became one of the only “different” things in society. People who became Christian’s would be ostracized by their communities, and persecution followed. 

The church DID grow

If you want to take a deep dive into the history of Christianity in Japan, I recommend watching Hard To Reach: Japan featuring Radical’s Steven Morales.

Even though persecution remained steady for decades, in 1873, Christianity became legal.

Pockets of Christian’s began to appear and grow strong. The Christian’s who had learned to survive violent persecution began to share their faith and missionaries were allowed into the country. 

For the next few decades, one particular Christian community in Japan grew and thrived.

In a place called Nagasaki.

Nagasaki was considered a safe port by Portuguese traders who had originally landed there. This paved the way for missionaries to come in the early days of the Japanese church. With the onset of World War II, the largest community of Christians in Japan was located in Nagasaki.

And so, on Thursday August 9th, 1945, the “Fat Man” bomb was detonated over the city, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. One of the only buildings to remain standing was a cathedral. It still stands today.

Decades of difficulty

The point I would like to make is the effect this had on the Gospel in Japan. Because America was viewed as a “Christian Nation”, it turned many away from the idea that Christianity is a good thing. Combine that with the strong apprehension towards that which is new, Buddhism and Shintoism have retained a strong presence, while the growth of the Church has been slow.

That’s not to say Christianity has made an impact. There are between 1-2 million Japanese Christians. But it is slow growth. There is a strong trend towards Buddhism, atheism, and a number of cults in Japan as well. 

All this means there is opportunity in Japan for Christians to find those who are searching and hungry for the hope found in the Gospel of Jesus.

Stay tuned for Japan 1.3 when we will explore the difficulties and opportunities Christians face sharing the gospel in Japan.

Jesus is going places, and He wants you to come.

$5 from every coffee order from Kingdom Coffee project supports the spread of the Gospel in Japan and Places Like it

Shop Coffee