Unreached of the Day: Japanese of Japan

Japanese of Japan
Racially, culturally, and ethnically, the Japanese are one of the most homogenous people groups in the world. They identify themselves in terms of biological heritage, birth in Japan, a shared culture, and a common language. Shintoism is the native religion of Japan. It is rooted in animism. Its many gods or spirits are known as kami. Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. Today, most Japanese claim to be both Shintoist and Buddhist. Traditions of Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism have all contributed to Japanese religious beliefs and practices.

Ministry Obstacles
Material wealth and creature comforts often have a deadening effect, obscuring a person's spiritual needs.

Outreach Ideas
Much prayer is needed to prepare the hearts of the Japanese for the Gospel of Christ. This Gospel is available to them if they would but desire it.

Pray for the followers of Christ
Pray for the relatively few people among the Japanese who know and follow Jesus Christ. They need prayer support. Pray they will be zealous to know Christ, and that they will learn to live in the power of Christ's Spirit. Pray they will consistently experience love, joy, peace, and other fruit from the Holy Spirit.

Pray for the entire people group
Pray the Japanese will increasingly realize their great need for a Savior. Pray that material wealth will not satisfy. Pray for a spiritual awakening to need.

Scripture Focus
"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before You." Psalm 22:27

People Name:\tJapanese
Country:\tJapan
10/40 Window:\tYes
Population:\t122,413,000
World Population:\t125,948,000
Language:\tJapanese
Primary Religion:\tBuddhism
Bible:\tComplete
Online Audio NT:\tNo
Jesus Film:\tYes
Audio Recordings:\tYes
Christ Followers:\tFew, less than 2%
Status:\tUnreached
Progress Level:\t
1.2\t

read more: http://bit.ly/JVZDM4

His main conclusion has been that the gospel of God dying on a cross is completely backwards to how their culture works. They see no need for a "Jewish" messiah. To them it is antithetical to what they inherently thrive on as a culture. They do not see "the need."

This is extremely true. The real god here in Japan is not Buddha, or one of the 10 million animist gods that they have shrines dedicated all over to. The Japanese will tell you that these are their gods, but in reality they're not what they worship.

In truth the Japanese worship Japan. They worship their culture and what it means to be Japanese. They just consider Buddhism and Shintoism as part of the package deal of the larger "Japanese" label. Christianity in their mind is a piece that can't fit into the puzzle that is "The Japanese Way".

We most certainly need your prayers here.

One thing in the article though, I'm pretty sure (at least I've been told) that there is a recording of the New Testament you can get online. So we might have that here.