The Need

The vast majority of the Japanese people have never encountered Christ. Japan is the second most unreached people group in the world, with less than 1% of its population—about 122 million people—identifying as evangelical Christians. This means that every day, countless Japanese people are dying without the hope of the gospel, facing an eternity apart from Christ.

Despite being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world, Japan faces a deep sense of spiritual emptiness and isolation. Its two dominant religions, Shintoism and Buddhism, fail to provide meaningful answers or hope for the existential struggles many Japanese people face. The pressures of modernization, relentless work expectations, and societal norms only amplify feelings of loneliness and disconnection. In fact, 11% of Japanese people report wishing they had never been born, and 85% of young people wonder why they even exist. These challenges have contributed to alarmingly high suicide rates and widespread depression. In response, the Japanese government has even recently appointed a “National Minister of Loneliness.” On the outside, Japan may appear prosperous and advanced, but beneath the surface, the nation is grappling with profound spiritual and emotional brokenness.