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[For links to various sites about Japan, click here, then scroll to the bottom of the page.] Japan is an economic superpower and therefore one of the richest nations on earth. It has a population of 127 million, of whom 30 million live in greater Tokyo. Approximately 1% of Japanese are Christians, about half of whom are evangelicals. It is difficult to determine what percentage of Japanese people are Buddhists and Shinto. Most Japanese people are both. It is often said that 85-90% are Shinto and 75-80% are Buddhist. This is the relative mathematics of religious pluralism. The low percentage of Christians in Japan makes it one of the most gospel deprived countries in east Asia, ranking it with North Korea, Mongolia, and Macao. The primary barrier to the gospel is the nation's drive toward social conformity sourced in its prior commitment to harmony over truth. These values of harmony and conformity are Confucian in origin, but have been intensified through contact with Japanese culture. One must be like everyone else in one's group (family, company, school, etc.). Personal identity is formed within the group. To be outside the group is to be insignificant and almost non-existent. Believing in Jesus Christ breaks societal harmony and is considered non-conformist because so few people in Japan are believers. New believers therefore face what is unthinkable for most Japanese people: exclusion from family, friends, and co-workers. This fear of being ostracized prevents many Japanese people from believing the gospel. Selected Informational Sites About Japan (content not necessarily endorsed): Description of Japan by Overseas Missionary Fellowship BBC News: Country profile of Japan Country Study of Japan (Library of Congress) (thorough and academic) |
