2025 Year in Review

 

Another year of serving in Japan has come and gone. It is time to once again reflect upon the last year. Here is the theme verse of this year:

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9 KJV

This year has been characterized by carefully plowing and planting gospel seeds in the rocky spiritual soil of Japan. At times it does not seem like much is happening, however God is always working even when we cannot readily see every detail. We have been reminded continually by stories of Japanese people hearing the gospel decades ago and finally accepting it in their old age. We have continued to meet people in our local community, form relationships, and share the gospel slowly. In a country that is the furthest away from the West culturally it certainly takes considerable time to communicate new concepts found in the Bible. In the last year many Japanese people have come to visit the mission, and for that we are thankful. A few have decided to continue relations by attending the Sunday children's school. Here we have been using opportunities to teach free English and Bible lessons to children. We have also used this opportunity to teach Bible lessons to the parents attending. We also continue to consistently teach many adults English using the Bible throughout the week. The Bible is such a foreign concept to Japanese people, whose identity is deeply shaped by their culture, that it can seem completely alien to them. So, it is not surprising that it can take a long time for them to understand what is being communicated.

Many centuries ago their ancestors chose to reject God and taught their children to do the same leading to the situation that they find themselves in today. In a culture that has no concept of sin the first obstacle is always communicating what sin is and why it is an issue. The next issue is to communicate who God is to them, and their need to establish a relationship with Him. The people seem to understand that they have a void in their life, but are uncertain about how to find true peace. The final issue is encouraging them to follow through with making peace with God even if the group is opposed to God. Unfortunately, they appear highly skeptical of anything outside of the norms acceptable to Japanese society. This culture has taken every measure conceivable over many centuries to shield itself from God. However, it is not completely impossible to reach them, as we have been able to lead a few Japanese people to the Lord this year. Using biblical example, to us it seems as though the camel cannot pass through the eye of the needle, but to God nothing is impossible.

We have also been able to do various outreaches to the many foreign groups living here in Japan. Many foreign people here in Japan and online appear to be far more open to the gospel. This year with online ministry outreach alone we have personally led 171 people to the Lord. Through these experiences I have had a lot of interactions with Muslims enough to write a book on the matter called, “Four Paths out of Islam”. In the last year I have personally encountered Muslims from Indonesia more than any other time living in Japan. Japan itself is at a crossroads of deciding on what to do with the influx of foreigners as well as the critical issue of population decline. From the time that I came here in 2014 to now the population has gone from 127 million to 123 million, and that is even with the increase of foreigners moving here! Many Japanese people desire to return to the old ways while others realize that the old ways do not have solutions to modern problems.

This year many foreigners have visited Japan as tourists after many campaigns to promote Japan have been pushed for years by the government. The result has been over 40 million people coming to visit Japan this year. The Japanese people seem to be fatigued in general by the influx of people visiting. Rapid exposure to various cultures has caused many people from a historically isolation-oriented society to become increasingly fatigued with foreigners in general. An already overburdened public transportation system seems even more overwhelmed with tourists flowing into certain populated areas. The media has also consistently blamed foreigners for all of Japan's problems. In reality only 3.2% of the nation consists of foreigners. In the past Japan has traditionally closed itself off from foreign influx at various times, leading to isolation. In recent days it seems like the Japanese people want to make it more difficult to live in Japan, and more costly to visit Japan. As the Japanese economy declines more the average person is having a hard time paying the bills. When they see foreign people coming to Japan, traveling around, eating expensive foods, and having fun they become increasingly bitter. They have told themselves for years that their system is the best, but are faced with the hard reality that things are not perhaps as good as they have been taught to believe. Will these cracks in the system demonstrate that no system made by man can create a utopia on earth? For some looking for the truth these cracks will be what is needed to consider God in their lives, for others these cracks will mean that they need to try harder to maintain the system already in place. Systems will fade, but only God remains. We hope and pray wherever this is reaching you around the world that you have a Blessed New Year!

Group Circles

 

As understood by those who have spent any length of time trying to understand Japan knows, it is considered to be a group culture. It is said that this culture was developed out of necessity from living on a dangerous island containing a scarcity of vital resources to support life. Valuing the group over the individual became necessary for continued civilizational survival. Over time from Confucian influenced ideas Japan's unique Bushido culture was developed. In it are a few important tenants described as follows from this video :

1) Keeping harmony is the top priority. It is more important than progress or development or truth.

2) People have an advanced ability to read the air (sense the mood) and sense relationships between people within the group.

3) Each person will try to act good and be polite to not stand out, regardless of what they are truly thinking. (Less honest, more two faced)

4) People will automatically trust the people in their community, because there is hardly any merit in betraying or creating disorder within the group. (strong organizational power)

5) People will be extremely exclusive against outsiders, because the common rules and system of the group won't be applied against strangers. (low communication skills)

These Bushido concepts help to form the invisible set of rules that all Japanese adhere to. They are primarily taught through the education system and are enforced by society as well as the home. In many regards to be Japanese is to adhere to these principles without question. Those who follow these tenants closely are highly valued, whereas those who do not are by others shamed. Those who can control the group through their powers of persuasion yield the greatest authority. Every group has different morality yet still generally adheres to these invisible Bushido principles. The benefits are high social trust, social harmony, and low crime. The downsides being no truth, low compassion, low moral courage, and little progress. Safety and adherence to the rules are more important than freedom. For the sake of social harmony Japanese people can wear multiple “masks” depending on which group they are dealing with. When continuing in this manner it would be easy to get lost and forget what is true and what isn't. It is a reason why it is difficult for Japanese to have free conversations, to think outside the box, or to mature in general. To lose one's identity in a web of confusion would not be hard to do here. Japanese people do just that by escaping the strict societal rules with alcohol, sex, gambling, and entertainment.

Many Japanese people see the flaws in this system and are at odds about how to fix it. Inevitably, many like the man in the video above will double down to try to revive Bushido traditions hoping to seek a utopia. However, the very definition of insanity is to try the same thing over again expecting different results. To continue on that path would also be following pride that leads to destruction. The solution is not more strict adherence to the man-made traditions set forth in Bushido in the hopes of cultural redemption for a broken nation, but for each person to embrace a loving relationship with their Creator through Jesus Christ. Harmony needs truth. Jesus Christ is that truth.

Law versus Reality

 

As of the writing of this blog, I have lived in Japan for eleven years now. Coming from a Rule of Law country where laws determine the rules rather than arbitrary decisions from groups or individuals, over time I was surprised to see how things actually work in practice in Japan. Though Japan is considered a rule of law country, its core societal beliefs can be traced back to three concepts: No God, No Ultimate Text or Truth, and No Contracts. These core beliefs impact their view of truth, daily life, and the role of the law greatly. Before World War 2 Japan was ruled by an ancient god-emperor setup. After defeat it was reluctantly transformed into a Westernized style government complete with an Americanized constitution guaranteeing certain rights which brought with it a Rule of Law type system. On all outward appearances Japan is just that, a Rule of Law country. The Japanese people have come to tolerate or even appreciate living under this type of system as long as it does not interfere with their cultural norms. However, when it comes to enforcement of laws, often time Japan is very much a system based upon subjective ideas that have more to do with maintaining harmony according to group specifications. In short, the local official determines the enforcement of the law. Often times when consulted local officials will give very different answers! It may also be why Japanese people are known to take a very long time meeting in groups to discuss important matters before making any decisions. A careful harmony-based risk aversion society beneficial to the group is in place.

On paper the law indicates that everyone should wear Bicycle Helmets, but virtually no one does as there is no enforcement. On paper taxes, medical insurance, and governmental fees must be paid, but in reality it is said that only 63% of foreigners living in Japan actually do so. This has been a cause of societal angst. In many cases Japanese do not really know what to do with foreigners because it is expected that the foreign person should know what to do without being told what to do. The idea is that societal rules should be understood over time by living here. The group mentality influence is so great that it is very difficult if not impossible in some ways for a Japanese person to think outside of it and consider other ideas. In many cases they literally do not understand foreigners, which has become an issue in an increasingly internationalized world. No issue is more problematic than that of the issue of child abductions. On paper Japan is part of the Hague Convention for International Child Abduction which requires children to be returned to the country where they lived in mostly, but in reality it is not enforced, so one parent can take children to Japan and keep them for good. This has been a continual complaint for many years as many children have been abducted by one parent and never seen again. The enforcement of the law often times will be to benefit the Japanese person or group rather than the truth. The allegiance is to the group rather than the truth, to maintain harmony in the community, not necessarily to accomplish justice against the 'evildoer' in the name of truth.

This all goes back to the unwritten societal core beliefs of No God, No Ultimate Text or Truth, and No Contracts. Logically, these core principles become the objective truth for Japan even though they reject objective truth! If there is no God, then the government or group become the ultimate authority. This pattern is seemingly repeated throughout history for all societies that reject God. If there is no ultimate text or truth, then the subjective dictates of the group determine what is right or wrong. If there are no Contracts then the written agreements really mean nothing, or they can be changed arbitrarily. When Rule of Law concepts clash with Japanese Culture it will be the culture that wins out in the end in Japan. Rule of Law does not mean anything without an objective truth and moral basis to enforce the law behind it. A society that is made in its own image that does not allow for God, is what the Japanese have made for themselves. Unfortunately, in the West as societies reject God, Rule of Law, is also rejected, which leads to similar situations. Many Western countries still have a sizable portion of the population that adheres to Christian principles. In Japan there is a visible Christian minority that hovers around one percent of the population. Surprisingly, many Christians are in upper levels of Japanese government! Perhaps society as a whole rejects God, however there are many of those in leadership that acknowledge the need for God in order to get wisdom to govern. Let us pray for the Japanese people to break through the fog of subjectivity so that they may come to Christ! There are many unforeseen and foreseen benefits of a society whose people are governed by a Bible based world-view.

Time

 

Growing up in America in the 90s my stereotypical idea of the orient was that of the Zen Buddhist image of peace, serenity, and harmony. When I first came to Japan I expected life to be very much along those same perceptions that were impressed upon me. However, when I arrived I found Japan to be very different from my Zen Buddhist conception. Outwardly the people were very quiet and respectful, but the reality of their daily lives did not appear to be that way. In Japan, especially Tokyo, people are very busy or rather tend to give the appearance of constant busyness. From a young age life is very planned and scheduled to the greatest detail. For most it is expected that at a young age one should be placed into a ideal preschool, then kindergarten, then elementary school, and so on with the ultimate goal being entry into the inevitable competition that leads to never-ending upward mobility. By the time one becomes an adult life becomes so planned that one must carry a calendar around at all times to schedule meetings with friends or family weeks ahead of time. Such is the reality of modern Japan. But, how did it get to be this way?

After World War 2 came to an end the Japanese people set about to reconstruct their country while discovering their new identity in the modern world. Written into their constitution was the solemn pledge to become a pacifistic nation which set them on the path to seeking greatness through economic means, and such they did. By the time the 80s came around Japan was number two economically only to the United States. From a young age Japanese people were put into a system that sought to prepare them to become corporate samurai; to give their life for the company. Hence, the company became number one. It was not until the 90s that the economic bubble burst leading to widespread despair. The hope of constant upward mobility ended abruptly. Yet, up until recent times the Japanese have continued on their path to producing corporate samurai. What other options were their? Now with mounting financial issues, family breakdowns, health issues, population decline, and general future uncertainty the Japanese people find themselves at another crossroads to determine their future. It is all coming down to life priorities.

To past generations the company was clearly the main priority. Now that Japan is a seemingly wealthy country with complex issues the company does not seem to be the main priority any longer. Perhaps family, hobbies, or even God are starting to be considered as relevant to daily life. After observing the realities of Japan's past, this current generation seems to be a lost generation seeking new purpose. The promises of godless capitalism seem increasingly empty to them. In a world where everyone appears busy, safe, and with life scheduled to the Nth degree; people are disconnected from one another, but what can be done? For many the solution is denying reality through some various form of escapism. Yet the senses can only be dulled for so long. For a small number willing to see, hope comes from God through the gospel message. In a world where time is gold, will there be a few brave souls willing to invest their gold into eternal returns? In the meantime I will take out my calendar and schedule a meeting with anyone here willing to learn about God.  

The Impact of Limited Space in Tokyo

 

If you have ever looked up the statistics on the world's largest cities, then you would understand that Tokyo is the largest as well as most populated city in the world by far with close to 38 million people. In land area comparison, Tokyo is about the size of Puerto Rico or the U.S. state of Connecticut. With this huge population comes the issue of finding property for the purpose of meeting with groups of people. Often times housing for living purposes or business purposes though expensive can be used for meeting places. Naturally, the further one moves away from the city the cheaper properties become. Sometimes it is possible to find cheap places to rent or even abandoned places to buy, however these properties have their issues as well. With cheap places comes a lack of space, far distance from public transportation for access, and lack of parking for vehicles. Often times to even have one parking spot is very fortunate. With abandoned places comes extensive regulations for remodeling, various taxes, as well as further regulations for what the property can be used for. All of these various issues become such a nightmare that often times abandoned properties are left alone indefinitely. However, with God's help these obstacles can be overcome.

When it comes to church many times people will meet in their homes, away from the city, or buy an expensive property and building to meet in if allowed by regulations. The Japanese church that we were working with paid one million US dollars to buy a parking lot area (for a patch of dirt about 30 small car spaces), and another million to build a building. Often times Japanese will not allow for foreigners to own property let alone use it for a church, which is where some challenges come in. In Tokyo most community center areas have a lot of space, but will not allow for any religious use for any reason (unless for culturally specific Japanese religious type practices). Because Japan has many cults, they are very skeptical when it comes to anything that they consider an outside religion. In Japanese thinking there is no difference between a cult or a religion that is not “native” to Japan. Even though Christianity has been in Japan over 200 years (some evidences show that it even arrived before Buddhism) it is still considered foreign. Often times, only through established relations with people can trust be gained to rent a property. Many times in Tokyo start-up ministries will come and go taking a high risk approach of renting an expensive building and trying to fill it up with people only to have to abandon the project when people do not come or will become successful enough to continue. In a country with close to 1.2% “Christian” (including all that are considered Christian by broad defintion) population the risk is high since it takes a lot of time for Japanese to consider God. However it is not impossible. With such a low percentage of Christians most of the ministry work here consists of planting and watering spiritual seeds. A lot of “harvest” occurs with Japanese after many years of ministry or with foreigners who are not part of the native culture.

These are some of the perspectives that we have gained from living here for years, and is one of the reasons why we have opted to take the approach of building a core group of believers first before acquiring or renting a property strictly for church use. It may or may not work out as Japan has traditionally been a hardened nation to the gospel. However, God is good and is always working even when we cannot see it. Fortunately, we live in an area where we can meet people in person in public places or over the internet to establish relations with. Please pray for this nation as many like-minded missionaries attempt to reach the people here!

The 10-40 Window

 

Now that we have been back in the United States for three months we have had opportunity to visit with many churches to speak about Japan. One thing that I am somewhat surprised about is that there are still people that do not know exactly what the “10-40 Window” is. With that in mind I have decided to write a blog post on the 10-40 Window.

What is the 10-40 Window? Quite bluntly, from an American Christian prospective it is the area of the world that has the greatest population (4 billion) with the most needs, least Christian population, highest Christian persecution, and most neglected for missionary activity. From 10 degrees latitude to 40 degrees latitude, from Morocco in the West to Japan in the East, the 10-40 Window can be located on a map. It comprises of the Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist dominated countries. From this link , under the 'map view' option, we can see exactly the reality of each country in the 10-40 Window.

How did this happen? Somewhere along the line in the past after the great flood someone's ancestor rejected God, choosing rather to worship created beings, and passing that knowledge down to further generations. Along the way knowledge of God was lost. In some cases idolatry has gone on for hundreds if not thousands of years, further strengthening the demonic power in these areas to this day.

Why are there so few missionaries in this region? Most of these countries are considered, “closed-countries” in which any kind of outside influence is either strictly prohibited or met with extreme punishment including death. Other countries are so far removed by distance, language, and education that an attempt to spread the gospel takes great resources, time, and sacrifice to accomplish with little immediate fruits exhibited. It is said that five cents out of every one hundred dollars spent on missions goes to this region! There is little glory yet great risk involved in going to this area of the world. Unfortunately, given the type of modern Christianity formed in the west, namely “me-focused” gospels, very few in up-and-coming generations are willing to sacrifice greatly to reach these areas, nor do they care to.

What can we do? We can pray for these regions that God would raise up people to reach them. We can also support legitimate missionaries working in this region. Whereas the Western missionaries have failed in this area, many Asian countries such as South Korea, Philippines, and India have raised up many missionaries to start works in many of these countries. Satellite TV, Internet, and Western Educational resources have reached a great many people in these regions directly and indirectly as well. God is working even through Covid-19 circumstances.

I encourage anyone reading to do some research on the 10-40 Window. Start praying for countries in this region and see what you can do to help.