Is Christianity Doomed to Fail in Japan?
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- čas přidán 29. 01. 2024
- Why are there so few Christians in Japan? In an island nation where the gospel reached its shores centuries ago, Christianity has just seemingly never been able to grow. In this new three episode series from Radical, Steven Morales explores the religious history of Japan and its tenuous relationship with Christianity.
Michael and Yumi: www.mustardseed.network/hiros...
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There's a young lady in our church (in Davao City, Philippines) who feels called to Japan. Please pray that we'll be able to send her, and that she'll be fruitful.
She's in our prayers here in Oregon, USA. God bless her and work through her
@@Theletterdee thank you!
Amen! I'm feeling call to Japan too, but maybe in a different way. Please pray that God would continue to work in my life and open up opportunities for me to witness to the Japanese in the unique way that God has for me.
Nah
@@Pfyzer
May GOD'S blessing be upon you.❤
As a Japanese Christian I can testify that there is nothing more devastating to faith than wealth, health and safety, filled with fun things to do and to be preoccupied by the things of this world. Sinfulness of man naturally pulls people away to the shiny things of this world and young people nowadays just are not interested in being redeemed because they don’t feel like nothing is lacking. But at the same time, these people are slowly dying because their spirit is dying of hunger. God bless those missionaries who are laboring for the Lord in Japan. May God please send the Holy Spirit to burn the distractions of the world so mankind may look up to the Lord.
You've said it all!!!!!!!
Speaking as a young person, this is exactly it.
Truly spoken. God bless you!
This is ridiculous, japan is low crime, health, prosperous, etc because it is a blessed people who have a traditional culture of their own to fall back on if needed. Let’s not pollute Japan with foreign desert deities for low trust people.
Holy tradition has a lot to offer Japanese youth; established Christians have a hard time understanding what it is though, especially protestants.
THE WAY will find a way.
I just got back from a trip in Japan, where I ministered and preached and I saw 7 people receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 16 people healed and 2 people who were atheist before give their lives to Jesus! God is moving in Japan!!
so amazing!
which organization if I may ask?
greetings from Germany
God is moving to East Asia, there will be around 295 million Christians in China by 2030, but God bless you🙏✝
Not unless you’re speaking in an unknown tongue which if I’m reading right this person is a Pentecostal of sorts so I do tend to believe this…
@@itdudeyt I have the videos
And pictures of the people who accepted Jesus and videos of the people who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues.
May God bless you, and stretch your faith!
@@idontknowwhattowritelol amen I believe it!!! There is a window of opportunity 🙏🏽🙌🏽🔥
After being an atheist, I had a spiritual awakening which prompted me to explore religions and Buddhism was the first religion I explored. I was meditating in a Zen temple in Kyoto Japan, and visiting Buddhist temples so sure that Buddhism was the truth.
I was in an art gallery in Kyoto with an exhibition about love and there were paintings about Christianity which I felt a supernatural love in my heart. I felt compelled to tell these American tourists I “randomly” (I became friends with them because I felt there was a divine force telling me I should be their friend) met in Japan my experience, and I travelled to Osaka just to tell them and they told me that it is Jesus. And I just knew then and there that seeking God’s love is much greater than seeking nirvana and enlightenment and couldn’t deny Christianity anymore.
Christianity might be dead there but it’s the country I found Christ. 😅
Praise the Lord! I'm so happy for you!❤🎉
That is awesome!!! ❤
"And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake."
Genesis 18:32
Beautiful grace from God, thanks for sharing.
There is orthodox Christianity un Japan
Every tribe, every tongue, every nation, every land ❤
Amen.
No
@@Alanboss777 I'm truly sorry you haven't felt the love of Christ I pray you feel God's love 😚 ❤
@@Alanboss777no matter the pushback of opinions, the truth IS TRUTH and life will ALWAYS be life in and ONLY in Christ Jesus.
@@RezTheKingHe is so loving he will drown the world and even drown unborn babies! GOD LOVES YOU❤️❤️😍🥰😘💖
I’m in an area of Japan where I’ve been blessed to know more than one long-founded church, and while the numbers of Christians in Japan 🇯🇵 are modest, they’re full of vigor and dedication to God as much as any other people devoted to Him. I’m very blessed to be here with the company of many other Christians and Japanese pastors no less.
God bless you. Yes, Japanese Christians tend to be dedicated - praise God!
That is wonderful to hear!
The Catholic church has existed in Nagasaki for over 500 years.
@@deacondavid63deacon, that is stretching the English language pretty far.
@@earlysdayou really should read the history of Catholicism in Japan.
I’m Japanese who got saved while I was in the US.
Living in Japan as Christian isn’t easy. I mean you won’t get attacks or persecuted by others because of your religion but loneliness distracts you so much when you live in Japan as Christian. Personally I felt that way. Most my friends of Japanese Christian ended up in far away from God but I believe God won’t let them go. He always send someone to help them so I have been praying for them to come to Jesus again.
Pray for missionaries who are in Japan and may God fulfill their works.
❤
The reason why not succes in japan, coz missionary bring Gospel in western culture. They must learned that how japanese easy accepted budha, coz blended in their culture. If missionary introduce Lord Jesus as perfection of Budhiso and perfection of samurai, japanese will able easy to get it. Coz Lord Jesus teaching pararel to Budhiso. About Honour , Honest , Brave , Dignity and Loyalty.
God bless you, Jaj.
Saved from what exactly? Going to hell for not believing that some dude called himself the only god 2024 thousand years ago?
@@Kol-jy4mp No, christian must spread Gospel is mean good news. And good news is mean become solving problem in society and community..
I'm a Christian and I studied in Japan for 5 years. I've mingled with the people, and I've stayed with the church there. There are active churches but somehow, the angle from which the gospel could penetrate into the hearts of the Japanese has not yet been found. It has always been a mystery to me because the Japanese Christians that I've met have been the most wonderful and Christlike yet. I wasn't able to do much because speaking about the faith in Japanese is a whole other ballgame compared to taking a degree entirely in Japanese. So I felt that I have missed many opportunities there.. but God will surely use me wherever I go, so I will trust in Him.
Let us pray for Japan for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to be on them, and on all ministers serving our living God who is truly worthy of worship. Everyone deserves to know the God who truly loves them.
And thank you so much for your video. Its extremely well produced and I'm sure God has blessed many people through you. I will keep you in my prayers.
I am a Canadian who is half Japanese. I was born in Japan in 1954. My mother was Japanese and became a Christian in 1966 through the witness of Japanese Christians living in Calgary, Alberta. My mother's aunt was living in Tokyo during WW2. Because of the American bombing of Tokyo she dove unto a pond to escape the heat. She contracted tuberculosis. While being in hospital waiting to die she claimed that Jesus Christ appeared as a burning white light and healed her. What thing I am not clear about is if that was the point of her conversion or if she knew the Lord prior to that. She lived until 1978. My mother went to a Japanese Sunday School that was run by a German missionary but she did not come to Christ until 1966. One good thing about Japan and Germany being on the same side during WW2 was that it allowed a German missionary to go to Japan. My mother was a true believer but she hated her father and was a bitter woman all her life. She never became a Spirit filled believer. I have relatives in Japan that I pray for everyday.
If you see the level of mindfulness of the Japanese, you will realize that they are far ahead of the rest of the world mentally. Their practices through Shintoism and Buddhism have given them a mindset that is disciplined, harmonious, and peaceful. This is something Christians in the West generally don’t have (in contrast western christians are narcissistic, self righteous, and violent. And they refuse to open their mind to the other views of the world which are all in essence the same God). I say you have a lot to learn from the Japanese in terms of humility instead of imposing your religion and arrogance onto others. They don’t need others’ religions because they are already far more advanced. The world could learn something from the Japanese. Learn to be humble, listen, and learn from others instead of forcing yourself onto others. I have been to Japan and can see the Holy Spirit so strongly in the people there. Learn to see the Holy Spirit in others instead of arrogantly thinking that you and your ego will bring it to them. God is already there
Let a nation have it’s own identity
@@Kol-jy4mp With Canada it's too late. Canada is a country without a soul. We are completely dominated by American popular culture. The one good thing about Canada is that it is more peaceful and has a better standard of living than the country that most immigrants came from. Still some immigrants treat Canada the way a baseball player treats triple A baseball. They come to Canada, make good money, and then move to the USA because they can make even more money there. Plus in many places the climate is better.
@Kol-jy4mpThry can do what they see fit, but we will go into the world and preach the gospel as GOD COMMANDS of us, and make disciples. 🙏 The overwhelming majority of japanese are on their way to hellfire!
My father met my mother while a missionary in Japan, so I guess you could say I’m a product of Japanese missions. It’s a hard ground to till but the Japanese make great disciples once they’re committed. Please pray for my people.
Amen!
Will do, brother!
Please let Japan be itself
Another Shamgar 😊
Thank you for sharing! So encouraging to see how the Lord is moving in difficult places.
I'm watching this in my Tokyo apartment, doing full time ministry in Japan. The words of the lady towards the end were so encouraging, and I'm so thankful I heard them. I'll say, the strange thing is that spiritually and with sharing the gospel here, it's not difficult in a visible opposition way. On the outside, especially modern day, it's so comfortable living here. The historical analogy talked about in that movie Silenced is perhaps a truer picture: Japan is like a swamp where the seed of the Gospel just won't grow. My experience in ministry so far, and I think it's an accurate small piece of the whole picture, is often this dull pain of slowness and this spiritual void/desert, that often makes me feel and wonder "where is everything?". The enemy has sieged this country spiritually, and it's quite perceivable. Make no mistake, I've seen God work in people's lives here myself, but it's slow and easy to miss, if not vigilant and looking for it. I often have the feeling of "I need to be doing more" and for sure, sometime that's true, but also, there's a reality that things are just very slow here spiritually. What the lady said reminded me that I'm doing my dream job here, I have the great privilege of finally being here after so many years of wanting to, and that the challenges that exist here are so worth it. Jesus is worth it.
Praying for you!
I hope the "enemy" remains stronger than you.
God bless you, Aaron. I've been here nearly 3 decades, and the heart soil is flinty. However, there is a large reservoir of goodwill towards Christians, and I believe at the end time many of them will see that they need Christ, and there will be an explosion of Japanese turnng to Christ.
@@_blank-_The Enemy is stronger than all of us Christians, but we depend on Christ alone, and He is infinitely stronger. His victory will come!
Jeremiah had a very "unfruitful" ministry too! Doesn't mean he wasn't still a faithful prophet of the Lord! Praying from the US for our brothers and sisters all over the world! ❤
This is so touching.
Lord, please send labourers!
Go
Yes , please !
I've been laboring here for almost 3 decades, and the soil is flinty.
But I believe the day will come when the Japanese repent, wake up, and follow Christ!
Please don’t
@@earlysdaRepent for what and to the same dude who would say he is morally superior and Ordered mass-killings, ordered the kidnapping of virgins, ordered the stoning of unruly children, ordered the enslavement of “the heathen who surround you,” wiped out all human life except his friend, had a vast majority of his children tortured forever for finite crimes, inventen anti-semitism and anti-Satanism, tortured Satan for opposing tyranny, killed a bunch of kids for making fun of his bald friend, condones the rape of child-brides? So loving 🥰
What an encouragement! I'm a new missionary in Japan (its been 3 months) and this video touched my heart and reminded me why I came to serve in Japan ❤🇯🇵
Isaiah 52:7
[7] How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!
I hope you are real and fear God
Wow! My wife and I just moved to Japan for the same reason, we got here in October! 頑張りましょう！ 💪
Just curious what Christian tradition are you apart of?
@@user-yr6qt1gn2i Christians tend to have more kids than non-Christians. If there are more Japanese Christians it will help the Japanese population especially when combating homosexual tendencies that hurt the fertility rate of a nation.
Personally as a Christian from India, I find this notion of being Japanese as being Shinto Buddhist and to reject Shinto Buddhism as rejecting Japan quite ridiculous because Buddhism originated from my country India and was spread to the countries of East Asia particularly during the time of King Ashoka whose children were sent to Asia as missionaries preaching about Buddhism. So the Japanese's original beliefs must have been Shintoism which got mixed up with Buddhism to form Shinto-Buddhism. At a deeper spiritual level, I believe that there are pincipalities and powers at work here in the spiritual realm working against the Gospel just as in the Northern and Central part of my country that are keeping the people blind to the truth of the Gospel and prone to rejecting it.
Christianity is dead. They have made Christianity extinct in for 3 centuries now😂
Christians are not Indians
Yes, Buddhism is not indigenous to Japan. Even in Shintoism, there are gods believed to have foreign origins. However, Christianity differs because it cannot easily amalgamate with other belief systems. Buddhism does not prohibit its adherents from practicing other religions or holding different beliefs. A Buddhist can be atheist, theist, or agnostic. In Thailand, for instance, many Thai Buddhists worship deities they revered before Buddhism's introduction. Buddhism often integrates local beliefs, allowing many Buddhist societies to preserve their ancient traditions even after conversion.
Christianity, on the other hand, is strictly monotheistic. Most Christians believe in exclusive devotion to Christ; they cannot engage in practices involving other figures. Thus, to embrace Christianity, one typically must renounce previous beliefs. Shinto-Buddhist syncretism is integral to Japanese culture. Even atheists or those without religious beliefs often participate in these traditions to maintain cultural ties, despite lacking personal faith. Consequently, Christianity cannot integrate into Japanese identity due to its inherent exclusivity.
@@Akira-dm3tj So which form of Buddhism is followed mostly in Japan?, the one that takes Buddha as an ordinary man with good values who never claimed to be god (Hinayana) or the version of Buddhism that sees him as deity (Mahayana)?. I can see why Buddhism integrates with other beliefs since it originates from another Asian country India, also because it is not an Abrahamic faith like ours which requires exclusivity of faith in the God of the Bible alone.
Still to say that going to a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist one to be considered culturally "Japanese" is like taking it too far from a cultural standpoint in my opinion because Buddhism is not native to Japan and you also admitted that some Shinto beliefs are not from Japan. So why can't a person who is of Japanese origin and is a Christian cannot be considered Japanese culturally if he/she merely embraces the dressing sense and food habits and other minor non-spiritual cultural details of being a Japanese person?. If someone is going to say that going to a Shinto/Buddhist shrine even if he/she has no such beliefs is Japanese, that means that if I as an Indian go to those places without having Buddhist or Shinto beliefs, I should also be considered to be Japanese right?, still we all know that non-Japanese are considered to be "Gaigin". Is it because of the Japanese conformist culture which requires every cultural check box to be ticked to be considered culturally Japanese?.
Nationalism in Japan made Shinto and Zen-Buddhism ingrained parts of Japanese identity
I'm japanese. I'm surprised you didn't mention Shinto, which is deeply ingrained in the daily lives of the Japanese people, surpassing Buddhism in its historical roots spanning thousands of years. Despite this long history and its integration into daily life, many Japanese are not consciously aware of Shinto as a religious practice, often considering themselves non-religious. For instance, the belief that gods reside in various aspects of the world is prevalent, allowing for coexistence with other religions like Christianity without actively denying their deities. It's rare to encounter individuals in Japan explicitly declaring their faith, aside from occasional unwelcome encounters with cult recruiters. This contributes to a perception where actively practicing Christians engaging in church activities might be viewed by many as somewhat akin to cult-like behavior in Japanese society.
Shinto religion is Japans identity
Spot-on point about Shinto being the foundation of Japanese society.
@@Your_real_dadyes and that makes Japan a more unique country
@@Kol-jy4mp yes
It’s not only japan but many parts of the world in the past has this view of god or god’s residing in everything.
And most of dieties that are worshipped today were the ancient beings that existed way before the ancient flood.
Father put Japan on my heart to come to serve in the Kingdom of God.
I’ve been in Japan over a year plugged into the body of Messiah with a church in Tokyo.
I obeyed in faith and submitted my entire existence to Him. He has been faithful to provided everything to make this happen and all the Glory is His.
HalleluYah!!!
Let Japan have it’s own culture, there is much more to that country than spreading a book
@@Kol-jy4mpthe ‘book’ is about a living God 🤍 if you doubt maybe consider asking Jesus directly, he will show you he is real
@@BeaWeston Maybe consider asking him on why would he drown innocent unborn children with the rest of 99% of the world just because other people are evil?
Do you believe in the trinity?
@@Kol-jy4mpWhere do you think Buddhism and Kanji come from? How does a Western religion threaten a pre-existing imported Eastern religion that isn't even followed by more than 10% of Japanese anyway?
Also btw, if Japan doesn't open up (which will seed major changes far greater than any religion could) then they won't have a functioning sovereign country by 2035 given the birth rate and current demographics.
The testimony of how the lady got called to go to Japan is amazing!!! This video is amazing!
Catholics in Sri Lanka experienced a similar persecution in the 17th century, by the Dutch. Luckily for us an Indian priest from Goa, worked alone in secret for 18 years and revived the faith. We have 7% Christian of whom 6% are Catholic. Praise the Lord!
There are a lot of bad things that happened between Roman Catholics and Protestants in the past.
"The five solas of the Reformation, which distinguished the Reformers from the teachings of Rome, include sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone)."
My goal is to become a Christian mangaka in Japan and show people about God.
God Bless You!
As a ambitious manga writer
May the Lord bless your mine your confidence your wisdom and your love for Christ Amen 🙏
do you have a website or something?
working on it rn@@rx0102
Would love to connect
The Holy Spirit is FAR AND BEYOND greater than any difficulties we face as we share the Gospel. As long as there is one person following His leading, Japan can and will come to know Christ.
Of course, ALL of us should do the same - "the fields are plenty but the workers are few."
Indeed!!! ✝️🤲🕯🇯🇵
Luke 10:02!
just a view days ago i booked a flight to tokyo to join a church there. because god talk to
me through a dream. my family and i will stay there for 3 weeks and see what the lord will do! thanks for this amazing video!
I married a Japanese man. We have been together ten years, and two years ago I became a born again Christian. It’s been really hard. I speak Japanese and have tried to explain but there is a barrier for sure.
When we finally went back last year for the first time in 5 years to see his family I saw Japan in a completely new light. Before I saw the temples and shrines as beautiful cultural accomplishments but now I saw the darkness that had covered the eyes of the Japanese people for years.
Japanese people do things out of tradition, and not necessarily belief. My heart pains for the Japanese nation. I attended a church and I definitely felt the presence of God but it was almost exclusively all foreigners. Only one or two Japanese people were there. It was a bilingual church though. This year when we go back I want to attend a Japanese speaking church.
So many lost souls, and I pray that God may use me. All it takes is one seed.
I will definitely be watching that movie Silence with my husband soon.
Some people just aren’t christian. There is not much to think about. They may be lost souls in your eyes due to your beliefs, but they have been living a pretty good life with their own religion.
There is the Japanese orthodox church and at least a Romanian orthodox parish in Japan
Seeing the holy sites of a nation’s people and claiming to see “darkness” that has “blinded them” has to be one of the most disrespectful, colonizing thing I’ve ever heard.
Why you care about people's beliefs?
Japanese people are honorable, and they honor their mothers and fathers well. If one had top marks for keeping the ten commandments, Japan would be top tier for sure... with the one exception: the first. If you miss the one question on the exam that is 100% of the grade, do the subsequent detail questions make up for it? Sadly, no.
Perhaps it would be useful to connect the concept of honoring the Creator of the universe as Father and His only Son which He sent to reconcile us back to His family? God bless and keep you sister. He makes paths straight through impossibilities.
I really appreciated and was surprised to see “Japan” and “Christianity” in one video on CZcams. I am still on the journey of Bible in year and not baptised yet but I feel the presence of the LORD everyday. I don’t live in Japan but I remind myself about my history lesson about those Japanese Christians were murdered horribly and not much foreigners know about this so I appreciate you bringing this up to light. God bless you
God bless you hiroki as you study the Holy Bible. Jesus is real and wants to save you from your sins. :)
@@dontoverdoseoncopium machuuu, No, that didn't play a factor. The US ended the war that Japan started.
@@dontoverdoseoncopiumthat’s not about that at all. Portuguese came to Japan and started preaching the Gospels. Nothing to do with Americans
Orthodox Christianity is alive in Japan. ❤️☦️❤️
Im glad
The way God used the scripture in the book of Ester to communicate to her is mind blowing to me. The word of God is alive and speaks even today!
I’ve been praying for Japan ever since I got married there. We visited my husband’s grandparents gravesite and it was so sad to see how many people died without Jesus!
I’ve felt called to pray and intercede ever since.
What is impossible with man is possible with God!
He gave me this verse in Isaiah 66:19 “And to the distant islands who have not heard of my fame nor seen my glory.”
He’s coming!! ❤
Thank you so much for this series on Japan. Such a mysterious land.
God bless Japan!
Im going to add you guys my prayer list :) if you dont care
Silence is based on a book by a Japanese Catholic, Endo Shusaku, who wrote many other books about Christianity and Japan
Thank you for mentioning the Catholic church mission in Japan, most at times when non-Catholics speak about missions, they tend to forget the churches' role in evangelization of the world.
yeah, the Catholic Church has always being the one making the biggest efforts to convert the world
That's because the Catholic church has also been incredibly destructive with a hidden motive of subjugation. Their history gives other Christians a bad name.
Yes! It was really nice to hear, though I wish St Maximilian Kolbe was touched upon, especially considering his monastery that survived the blast in Nagasaki! But I deeply appreciate the recognition of St Francis Xavier and the many early missionaries who came to Japan (and of course many martyrs both foreign and Japanese)
Wow. This mini doc was absolutely phenomenal. Video production, scripting, editing were all on point too. Not many Christian channels have this sort of quality content. You guys are leading the field. Instant sub from me. Look forward to seeing more.
Nice video, but the take on the abombs was mistaken. Actually, they were judgments from God.
My daughter and family live in Japan. She went there out of college to teach English as a second language in this small coastal village called Hagi, 16 years ago. While there, she found a church and was also connected to a gospel choir. Now, she lives close to Nara. She and her husband and my grandchildren attend church and also minister at the local train station. Singing songs to spread the good news. The church they attend are also connected to a Bible College and those who are involved in housing missionaries who come to Japan to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Christ is alive in Japan. If you can, yes, be a part of the mission fields wherever God plants 🪴 you. I can't wait to see your next installment of this series. It is so good and informative. God bless you and your staff. 🙏🏾 oh,
and may God bless the Japanese mission fields.
What Christian tradition is she a part of?
@fernandoperez8587 the church she attends is part of the JEC Japan Evangelical Church community.
I''ve been to 2 churches in Nara. The churches in Japan are getting older and there are no young people coming up. But I still believe many will come to Christ in the end days!
@@vickieminter6475 oh cool awesome
Just stop trying to make a whole nation believe your religion
Our all powerful and wonderful God will not forget Japan.
Lively and humble people.
Praying for Japan!
I studied with Japanese people. We used see them in lunch breaks they were are seniors.
There were a handful of samurai that even converted to Christianity, particularly one Japanese officer that stood over Osaka at the end of Sengoku.
Seeing these locations again was chilling. Last August, I was able to make my pilgrimage to that very monument shown in the intro. There is a museum nearby that thoroughly details the persecution and perseverance of Japanese Christians, alongside the fascinating culture of the hidden Christians which is sadly dying out. I must've wept countless times while inside. My heart goes out to the city of Nagasaki and the people of Japan.
Then Nagasaki and Hiroshima got punished years later for their treatment of Christians.
Hirado area has many good ancient Christian sites and a museum on them too.
Hirohito was allied to Adolf Hitler who was a very avid occult member that slew both Jews and Christians
Yumi is speaking so purely, straight from her heart. Love to be listening to her!
We’re based in Japan and I was wondering when you were going to drop the Japan episode. I’ve seen snippets in your other videos. Your production quality is immaculate, and your hard work and dedication to quality shows! Thank you for your dedication to the vision you have and please keep going!
Hi Brother,
I shared this one with Pastor Marcel. We are ramping up our production at JKC of testimony videos and a television format interview show. We’ve done a handful of pilot episodes that haven’t been uploaded yet, but hopefully this week the first episode will be released.
God bless you and your family!!!
Pray that all the world may become Christian and usher in a golden age, let Gods kingdom come on earth as in heaven
For some reason, the way this video was filmed it felt like I was in Japan with him and he was talking to me. That really made me want to pay close attention to what he was sharing.
That is called great storytelling.
We have a Filipino Christian church who have been minitering in Japan for 5 years now and our church is starting a daughter church also there this year. But I think they are mostly outside the main cities.
I just went Japan for 15 days and experienced the culture and people and I am just very excited knowing that if they accept Christ how much more will they flourish 😊
Michael clearly went to the Matt Chandler school of talking with your hands :)
Thanks for the video - very informative!
Perhaps a Sicilian grandmother?
😂😂
If you are used to attempting to talk to people in English who don't speak English so well, the hand movements come naturally. Japanese people who think I don't speak Japanese too well use their hands a lot too. Since I am not as kind as I would like to be, I sometimes say "What's up with the sign language?"
That verse from the book of Esther is powerful and I wish many foreign students can come to know and understand this; being in another country with so many unreached people groups is an opportunity to share the gospel and labor in the Lord’s vineyard. God did not only make a way for us to go study but also go make disciples of all nations. God bless and strengthen you Yumi and husband, thanks too Radical for the videos. Remain blessed ❤
Haman was as evil as Adolf Hitler for trying to slay the Jews in Persia as Hitler did in Europe
Hey which verse?
Me and my husband are in the works of becoming missionaries and are praying and feeling led to Japan. Japan needs more workers!
Yes they need more laborers! But all countries including America and the west Europe needs them as well! Jesus is coming back soon, we need more laborers!
Please come to Japan and lead these poor, lost, mostly kind peope to Jesus.
Found you! Praying! 🙏❤️
Just don’t, they don’t care
@@earlysdaIf you want true poor and lost people, go to a third world country because the Japanese have their stuff together
Th quality of this video is no joke.
Okay but on a separate note this channel has no business having this good of editing. Seriously top notch editing and videography
I wish I knew a way to connect with Yumi or that other man. It’s so encouraging to see hope for Japan. My mother and grandmother (who are Japanese) still live there and like she said, it’s hard to communicate the gospel in Japanese and the context of it. I’m fluent in the language but l think MANY can agree, how to talk about the gospel in Japanese is HARD.
There are fine, genuine Christians in Japan. They came to the faith and stayed, despite the opposition, not because some cultural tradition, but because the got to know the True Love and Peace in the Living God. I believe the seeds sown will give a larger harvest in the future. Japan is not forgotten, God sees the desperate need.
( I might add that my country used to send many missionaries to Japan, and they were able to bear fruit, starting churches. schools etc.. there is a deep affection towards that nation in my heart.)
Thank you for making this video. I was , just like the woman in the video, raised in typical Japanese family practicing Jōdo Shinshū but got saved 9 years ago. I am now a pastor of a church based in Osaka and have seen many people got baptised in the water and in the Spirit. Praise the Lord.
One of the things I discovered from my own experience as a Japanese Christian is the concept of god in Japan is significantly off.
The phrase that best represents the concept of god in Japan is probably "goriyaku shinkou" (a faith for blessings). Even those who are not followers of Shinto may visit shrines for Hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year). Most people probably go, hoping for a year without illness or disasters, and perhaps to have their wishes granted.
In other words, they believe in gods for their own benefits. This "goriyaku shinkou" akin to using gods for one's own benefit like the genie in Aladdin's lamp, is one of the concepts that most obstructs the restoration of the relationship with the true God.
The ironic thing is that visiting a church on New Year's Day is entirely Christian. New Year's Day is the Circumcision of the Lord, the Octave of His birth. Christians around the world assemble to commemorate His birth and circumcision. In fact, this is why January is reckoned by us as the first month of the year (the Romans reckoned January as the eleventh month and March, the month of the Vernal Equinox, as the first). Let them make their New Year's shrine visits, not to the houses of graven images, but to the House of the Living God, to worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
Thank you for this video, I was able to learn history about Christianity in Japan and more appreciative that I am saved. It is hard to share the gospel in Japan but I do feel that a lot of good work is happening among Japanese Christians. My husband and I are both Japanese Christians and feel miraculous and thanksful. Thank you again for your video, very touching and encouraging.
The video was incorrect about the abombs, and could have done better telling about 潜伏キリシタン、but was generally very good.
Excellent video, really well done and informative. Im inspired to go there one day!
You can start #learningJapanese now!
What an encouraging video, I pray that the ground in Japan will become softened and that we will see a great harvest in Japan!
In Shintoism, which people don't believe in like a western "religion" is. But is engrained in every part of Japanese society bnd belief system, the concept of infinity and the number 8 is so important. In discussing the symbolic importance of the number "8" in Shintoism, seen in concepts like 八百万の神 (Yaoyorozu no Kami), 八咫烏 (Yatagarasu), and 八岐大蛇 (Yamata no Orochi), it's crucial to recognize its association with infinity and its significance in Eastern philosophy. The Kanji form of "8"、八 suggests openness and infinity, a notion originating from China. And the number "8" in it's written form, originated in India and Hinduism, on its sideways symbolizes infinity, blending mathematical, spiritual, and existential meanings.
A foundational argument in Shintoism is that if gods are infinite, they don’t start with an ‘A’ and end with a ‘Z’; there are no boundaries to what can or cannot be considered divine. This logic suggests that humans, stones, or even the bones of dead fish cannot definitively be said to lack divinity, reflecting a belief system without strict separations between the sacred and the mundane.
Therefore, if you want to spread Christianity in Japan, you would have to prove that God is infinite, while also proving that there is only one God at the same time. This is really difficult to do. (If God is infinite, how are rats not a part of that infinity? If they are, God is not one. If they aren't, God is not infinite.) This is why it is so hard to penetrate the Japanese belief system. Because Abrahamic religions don't really focus on "infinity", they focus more on "almighty".
I have good friends who labored in Japan for many years faithfully seeing some come to follow Jesus. Continue to pray for the Japanese people. "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Praise God!
you should have talked about the eastern orthodox misionarys in Japan with saint Nikolay, Nikolaido cathedral, and more
he's a protestant (no hate involved), he won't dwell deeply into discussions regarding orthodoxs, given the theological differences (i think its a miracle to see them even mention St. Francisco Xavier, or the Catholic Church)
I loved her testimony! So powerful! Thanks for another incredible episode serie!
Japan has around 10’000 orthodox christians. St Nicholas the missionary to Japan established the church there
Me and my daughter had a desire placed so strongly in our hearts suddenly by the Lord to go to Japan starting mid last year and now we understand why. If anyone has any info or advice on how to start, or have any community etc contact in Japan that we could possibly talk to understand more about things going on, it would mean so much if you could share. 🙏🏻❤ and if i could kindly ask for prayers for me and my family for this too, i would truly appreciate it so much 🙏🏻 thank you and God bless always!
A Franciscan monastery built by St. Maximilian Kolbe survived the nuclear bombing.
Praying for Japan. 🙏🏽 The Lord gives me heart for this country.
Japan is wonderful a place and I am grateful that they make so many Super Mario Bros. games so families can enjoy them. One good thing about Japan they make games like Mario Kart and Mario Party for family friendly fun.
Hi. I'm a foreign missionary in the Japanese rural area. I'd just like to share my own reflections in response to this video. First off, this is really well produced and I guess that's a nice "hook". The content goes over true things about the state of Christianity like how Japanese tradition and culture is very different from Christianity, and that Christianity is seen more as a "foreign cultural religion". That is definitely one reason why a lot of Japanese locals just don't mind Christianity. I also like the interviews done here showing both western and native Japanese perspectives of Christianity. I wish there were more personal stories like that to show what the native Japanese actually think of Christianity. One important thing I'd like to add is that the traditional kind of Evangelism just doesn't work here in Japan. You can't just give tracts, stop a local, share the wordless book or whatnot then expect them to just convert. Long-term discipleship is the key here. Short term missions just won't work if you want a real.impact or contribution. The missionaries and pastors here who are really passionate about reaching Japanese locals devote their WHOLE LIVES in discipling. There are many Japanese who would regularly attend Bible studies for 10 years but would still not call themselves Christians because of societial pressure or influence. That's just one example. And I believe that's okay. They should not be pressured to convert right away because of the factors mentioned in this video. Western Evangelical Christianity is so much about the numbers. I personally believe that there are many non-professing Japanese Christians, more than the supposed 1%. They have Christ in their lives but they are just not openly professing. I believe unless we (foreign missionaries) stop imposing western Evangelical expectations to Japanese Christians, there are so many more possible ways to reach them and disciple them as Christ followers. The churches that we minister to in our town has so much potential but in general, Japanese local churches are constantly shrinking because there are less and less younger generation who continue being Christians. There's so few pastors too, many are in retiring age.
If you are lead to pray for Japan, pray for more pastors here. Local Japanese pastors and workers are much needed. My hope is that the Japanese could see our God, not as a Western foreign idea, but One who is very much the same God for the Japanese. That our faith is not just western, that it can definitely be lived out among the local Japanese.
Japanese Christians should be Catholic
I believe in the “invisible church”. God bless you for your calling to serve Him.
Even in Africa, some believe Christianity is the white man’s creation. I think we need to remind them, the white man left his gods too, Zeus was one.
I’m a Christian living in Japan. You can call me a tent maker here. While i’m a full time worker, I help with reaching out to Japanese people, connecting them to the church. Language is my biggest challenge and it’s just, Japan is too peaceful, modest and reserved.
It seems that they’re either too busy with work or too capable of living on their own that they don’t feel like they need a savior. It was hard being a missionary here.
I feel I have been called to Japan to preach and teach the Word to the people. This has been on my heart for years, but I believe the Lord is confirming in me now that the time is coming. Please be in prayer for me as I take this step of faith to serve and obey our Lord.
Graveyard of missionaries? Do we not believe in a God who makes the dead to walk?
And in a Church whose seed is the blood of the martyrs?
My husband is a Japanese pastor. We have seen many people come to Christ and be baptized. There are pockets of Christians everywhere and churches are in every neighborhood, but many churches are dying because they are set up very poorly. They put a lot of burdens on the young people and can be very legalistic or lukewarm. It's very sad. There is not much Christian involvement in society outside of a few organizations but I have noticed that Japanese people are open to learning about Christianity. My husband's family is Buddhist and are very connected to it. They are afraid that if they leave Buddhism, their dead relatives will not be cared for in the next life. We have been gradually teaching them that this is simply not the reality. For one thing something that is true to Japan has to be true to the whole world, but it isn't. Original Buddhism doesn't even agree with what the Japanese believe. They believe in reincarnation, not soul care in the afterlife and ghost visits on obon.
Alexandre de Rhodes a French Jesuit arrived in Japan about 500 years ago. He was expelled from his church and went to Vietnam. There he latinized the Vietnamese writing and propagated the Faith. God bless him.
That movie by Martin Scorsese is based off of the book by the same name by Japanese author Shūsaku Endō.
It’s so fascinating to see Japanese authors and monuments talking about Christian martyrdom.. praying that Gospel takes root there (and everywhere) in a big way. Come Lord Jesus!
Japan is a bit like 1st century Rome or it was certainly when the era of Sengoku or warring states came about in the late 16th century, a campaign that ended in the wake of the 17th century. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Tokugawa tried to end Christianity once and for all. Just like Emperor Nero when he ruled over Rome.
The first Christian missionary arrived in Cambodia in 1555. Over the next 150 years, before they gave up, less than 20 Cambodians converted. Interestingly during that time period one of the largest Christian communities in Cambodia was made up of Japanese Christians fleeing persecution.
At the time no one would convert without the king's permission. Things are different now.
What a video! Such a message. Than you for sharing the Gospel around the globe! 🙏
Great shooting and editing btw. 💯/ 💯.
HEAVENLY FATHER AS IN BEGINNING YOUR SPIRIT OVER WATER WHERE DARKNESS AND DESOLATION BUT YOUR WORD MADE IT NEW SO ONCE AGAIN IN JAPAN IN JESUS CHRIST NAME AMEN
I’ve worked as a seasonal missionary abroad for 6 years now and spent 2.5 months working in Japan. While working there in 2019, my group and I went to where the Tsunami hit in 2011 we encountered many pastors and church leaders, like Michael in the video, who initially came as volunteers, and felt God call them longterm. One of them said before the Tsunami there were only 4 or so churches in the community, and now there’s about 12!
I also have a good Japanese Christian friend who is currently running a Japanese-English bilingual Bible School that just started two weeks ago and will run for 9 months! There are 5 Japanese Christians doing who are learning in depth about the Bible in order to equip more local churches with deeper understanding of the Word! God has a huge heart for Japan. Keep it in your prayers!
Love from Ethiopia 🇪🇹❤️, Love from your orthodox brothers
Wow, this video is really high quality. I hope more ppl get to watch this. Thanks for showing us what our brothers and sisters are doing over in Japan!
“i cannot be silent now” is so powerful.
The production quality on this is incredible! Thank you for all the hard work on it! 🙏
Found out about the missionary Francisco Xavier from Samurai Champloo. With some research you realize how much damage persecution can do. Think the Kakure Kirishitan even ended up mixing Christianity with Shinto because there was no one left to teach them.
Kakure mostly mixed with Buddhism, but yes, some Shinto too. There were also "Senpuku Kirishitan" which were different from Kakure.
If you do som research you can actually see how much damage christianity has done in the world to.
@@grimlundgrim, Only our Creator - Jesus Christ, can cleanse us from our sins, give us true freedom, and also give us eternal life.
.
Don't you want eternal life with your Creator - Jesus Christ?
May God have mercy on those who were not properly taught. Even so, the Faith survived through oral teaching, and the remnant recognized the missionaries when they returned because of the signs passed down from their ancestors with the promise that missionaries would return one day. Though none of them had ever met a priest, nor known anyone who had, still they remembered what their ancestors told them about how to recognize a priest and that their brothers in Christ beyond the sea would return to Japan when they were able. A few snuck in during the early years of the persecution, but they were martyred.
I haven't finished the video but so far I'm very impressed with the quality of this video! Seeing other Chrtistian creatives using and sharing their gifts is so inspiring, thank you!
I dont think its completely doomed to fall personally. Yes, it still might not be popular years from now, even decades, but bro, there is still such an opportunity to spread the gospel. For some reason, besides the culture, and beauty ive been feeling somewhat spiritually attracted there to spread the Gospel. and i learned last week less than 2% of japan is christian. Even if it means sacrificing myself for Christ, if it brings one single life to the kingdom of God, praise be to Him. I hope to be doing missionarry work there soon
God bless you, Michael. Japan is around 0.8% Christian, and dying.
A survey years ago of beliefs in Japan showed that 80% believed in Buddhism, 80% Shinto, and around 40% Christian.
I mean it WILL work out, at least everyone there will hear His Word, because when every living being hears about Jesus and His sacrifice for us in the cross will He return to this earth.
Let’s CONSISTENTLY add Japan to our prayers. Prayers are powerful.
While at the plane to return to the Philippines, I got the chance to talk about Christianity to the 2 Japanese women beside me. By the power of the holy spirit I got 1 to be interested and encouraged to go to a church at the Philippines. I trust God she went to the church. She was very thankful for the rosary I gave her as a gift.
God is working. Through us, Let God use us to fulfill His will and lead other nations back into His grace. That nations would get to feel, embrace, and be lavished in the love and Goodness of our God.
Most Japanese are Irreligious. They might accept your rosaries but it's not a guarantee they will accept Catholicism 100%.
For worst, they can use it as charms and luck.
But we knew Jesus works in mysterious ways and I hope that Japanese woman will find Jesus Christ in the near future.
I have a soft heart for Christians in Japan. My prayers are with you. May Christ the Savior bless and save all who need eternal life with him.
Thank you Saint Nicholas for bringing Orthodoxy to Japan!
Orthodoxy doesn't save, believing in Jesus does 🕊️
@@Steven-hq3goThe Orthodox believe in Jesus. So what is your point exactly?
Praying for the nation of Japan ! Thanks for these videos. It helps me to understand how to pray for Japan and how to bless the Japanese people and all my brothers and sisters in Christ there!! Keep making these videos. I want to fall in love with this nation with God's heart. Hopefully one day I get to go there and be a part of the Ekklessia Rising in Japan!
i pray also for the revival in japan. i am indonesian, i love japan. Gbu all
❤❤❤
Wow! Such a well-done and insightful video. I can't wait for the next episode. Please make videos like this one more countries!
the way i see this; the super "christian" nations in this world have the most undisciplined citizens, disrespectful people and uncompromising corrupt politicians--taking advantage of the voting tax paying public. meanwhile in Japan the not so "christian" nation have the high respect to other people, polite and MOST disciplined citizens in the world. but hey, this is just the way i see it. peace yah all.
I’m interested in this… I’ll have to watch this later! I’ve hosted 29 Japanese exchange students… love them..
These documentary videos are so high quality. Your work guys are amazing. Keep up the good work!
From what I hear, in 1945 the city in Japan that had the most Christians was Nagasaki. We all know what happened to that town!
Pray for Japan
What you do is incredibly important bro. May God continue to bless you for throwing light on these issues. As Christians we tend to get complacent and yet wonder why the Lord has not returned yet, meanwhile the gospel has not reached many (because even the internet can be censored) as many times, you cannot know what you're missing until you're exposed to it in the first place...or can't know to choose something until it is presented as an option for "How would they know unless someone tells them and how will someone tell them unless they themselves have recievedthe message and the burden?" Thank you Radical.
If you are Japanese or in an area that is very heavy with nonbelievers, then hear me out.
I decided i would pray every single day at least once, for an amazing testimony to share with people. In my heart, i believed i would have kept praying for the rest of my life, if i had too. So after 8 months or so, God gave an AMAZING testimony that is very real... Then, that event strengthened my faith to the point that i started getting amazing prayers answered very often because i quit doubting... and was alinged with the Bibles instructions.
Then, i started copying and pasting my testimony all over these CZcams comment sections and sharing it with people id meet... Im telling you, it adds up and sharing your testimony gets easy to do... Especially if its online. THIS way of reaching the masses is so effective and easy...
Hey I have had a deep love in my heart for Japan for about a year now and your video has finally helped me to understand why. I dream of going there someday, thank you for this video
Don't ignore the fact that missionaries in the 16th century enslaved and carried away Japanese people.
This is the biggest reason why Japanese people doubt Christianity.
Good point! Yes, I believe Christians need to go to that country humbly and let them know that even though some missionaries misrepresented Jesus, Jesus is the most beautiful savior who doesn't have a racist or greedy bone in His body!!
I've watched it from YT too but from what I understand it's the Japanese empire selling their own people to the westerners. (It's same with African elites selling their own slaves to the Americans)
Adding insults to the injury, the westerners bite it too.
prayers for Japan--thank you for information to pray effectively
Who whoever architects the sound/music for this video is doing a SERIOUSLY good job!
If you read this, please say a prayer for me and my family of four as we prepare to move from Texas to Japan to share the gospel later this year.
I love how professional this video is! Good job
Can't wait for the next part. Thanks for this series.
started with the episode 3 but came back to see the first 2, this is high quality content. Thank you guys for doing this. The last girl crying after knowing what God was calling her to do for her country and her family was so real🤍 -Also really love all the history lesson!!!
I'm Christian Japanese but many People thinks that cult.😢
When you're talking to a _Paulian_ ...
Q: Who is God?
A: Jesus
Q: Is Jesus the son of Mary?
A: Yes,
Q: Who is God?
A: Jesus
*God Jesus was born from the mother he created (Mary)
Q: Is Jesus a born son?
A: Yes,
Q: Who is his father?
A: God
Q: Who is God?
A: Jesus
*God Jesus is the father of God Jesus and the creator of the mother he was born from her the son of his wife
Q: Is Jesus the servant of God?
A: Yes,
Q: Did Jesus die on the cross?
A: Yes,
Q: And for whom did he go up?
A: To God
*God Jesus was crucified & ascended to God Jesus
Q: Is Jesus a Messenger?
A: Yes,
Q: Who sent him?
A: God
Q: Who is God?
A: Jesus
*God Jesus was the messenger of God Jesus. God sends himself as a Messenger of himself
Q: Did Jesus pray when he was alive?
A: yes,
Q: Whom was he praying for?
A: For God
Q: Who is God?
A: Jesus
*God Jesus worships God Jesus himself
Q: Does God have a beginning?
A: No
Q: So who was born on December 25th?
A: Jesus
Q: Who is God?
A: Jesus
*God Jesus is eternal before everything but he was born in 25th Dec
Q: Where is God?
A: In heaven
Q: How many Gods are there in heaven?
A: God is only one.
Q: Where is Jesus sitting?
A: He is sitting on the right of God.
Q: Is Jesus a God?
A: Yes
Q: So how many Gods are there in heaven?
A: Only one God
Q: Where is Jesus?
A: He is sitting to the right of God.
Q: So how many gods are there in heaven?
A: Only one god. Still
Q: Is Jesus a God?
A: Yes
Q: So who many seated gods are there?
A: Only one God?
Q: Where is Jesus?
A: He is sitting next to the god.
Q: How many gods are in heaven?
A: Only one.
Q: Are they sitting on the same chair?
A: These words are understood only by the one who has the holy spirit.
*so.. God sacrificed God to God in order to save God's creation from God. God prayed to God for help but God didn't help God, and God killed God with help from humans. And that God is a father of himself and the mother of himself and the son of mother he created at the same time. He is also eternal but his birthday is...? ~🤡~
This is a very major misunderstanding of the trinity. Yes, God,Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all have the same power and essence. But they are all individual persons within that essence. The Father created us, Jesus saves us, and the Holy Spirit become part of our life once we believe and transforms us. Hope this helps!
Beautiful video. Since I can remember there is some special place in my heart for Japan to get to know Jesus and His love. Can't wait for more videos from this country. Thanks so much!
I've done missionary work with Michael and Yumi in Hiroshima. They're amazing and wonderful people. Their mission and their vision are wonderful. Love this video for showing them and what Japanese Christians and Missionaries go through. 9:31
Awesome video Brother! Very informative and the visuals were amazing. God bless