As a kid, Japan captured my imagination. Many weekends of my childhood were spent watching grainy black-and-white Godzilla movies between Super Nintendo marathons with my neighborhood crew. I can recall vividly the thrill of tearing open packs of Pokémon cards, hoping to pull the elusive first edition Charizard. In the summer of 2001, I marveled as Ichiro, much like Shohei Ohtani today, took the MLB by storm, winning the batting title and leading the league in hits and stolen bases on his way to Rookie of the Year. Through it all, I was enchanted by the idea of Japan. Now, as a NextGen Mobilization Strategist with the International Mission Board, I see that same intrigue growing among a new generation. Hardly a conference or event passes without students asking about opportunities to serve there. This widespread interest prompted me to organize a discovery trip to Japan last September for pastors and NextGen leaders. The experience was eye-opening. As we walked alongside those laboring in the harvest and stepped into the rhythms of the culture, I discovered important truths that anyone considering this call should thoughtfully explore. Here, I offer three of them.
People over Perception
It might seem obvious, but it’s worth stating: Japan, its people, and its culture extend far beyond Nintendo, baseball, and Pokémon. While Japan and America share enjoyment of certain intellectual properties and pastimes, their value systems and views of one’s place in society differ profoundly. To display the light and life of Christ effectively, you’ll need years of relational intentionality and a readiness to place yourself in cultural settings that feel unfamiliar—even uncomfortable—compared to what you might have imagined. Practically, this means committing to diligent language and cultural learning to connect at a heart level and to grasp the barriers in thinking that must be overcome for the gospel to take root. This task is daunting, but the motivation to persevere flows from a core belief that Christ is worthy of all worship, and it’s strengthened by intimate connections with real souls. Years ago, while living in Scotland, I befriended a Japanese university student. Hearing about his upbringing and belief system and witnessing his response to hearing the gospel for the first time, I realized that, despite years of fascination with Japanese pop culture, this was my first meaningful bond with an image-bearer from that land. The best way to gain a heart for a people is to know a person. The need for the gospel among the Japanese grew urgent as I looked into my friend’s eyes. If God is stirring your heart toward Japan, there’s no better place to start exploring that call than where He has already placed you. Connect with Japanese students on your campus or colleagues at work, using your interest in their culture to spark conversations that lead to gospel intentionality, hospitality, and relationship.
We Over Me
If Christians sometimes struggle to remember that this world isn’t our true home, a missionary in Japan may need little reminding. Japanese culture prizes conformity—standing out is discouraged, and those who do often find themselves on society’s margins. Shintoism and Buddhism intrinsically link spiritual identity to family and cultural honor, a bond not easily forsaken. Yet this collective conformity, rather than fostering connection and belonging, fuels a rising sense of isolation—a feeling of being a faceless number in the crowd—evident in the solemn, silent sea of people moving through their commute I observed each morning in Tokyo’s vast subway system. Here, your campus ministry and, even more, the local church reveals God’s gracious design. Unlike a conformist society, God’s covenant community doesn’t just share values; it values sharing life. He has set apart His people to live counter-culturally in gospel community, displaying His glory in a way that, as the Apostle Paul writes, reveals “the manifold wisdom of God” to the world (Ephesians 3:10, ESV). This unity among diverse believers, bound by the blood of Jesus, demonstrates an eternal inheritance that never fades. If you haven’t already, talk with your campus ministers and your pastors about what God is laying on your heart. Seek their wisdom for the next steps, trusting God’s design in multiplying His kingdom through His Church.
Glory Over Gloom
Nicknamed “The Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is marked by spiritual darkness. Yet gospel laborers there hold to a saying: “We are praying and trusting that Japan, in a truer and lasting way, would become a land of the Risen Son.” While it might sound like a post-able slogan, it’s rooted in the inevitable promise of what God is accomplishing. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a day when the sun and moon are rendered redundant in the face of the matchless radiance of the Risen Son, lifting gloom from the hearts of those who trust Him: “For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended” (Isaiah 60:20, ESV). The end of our Bibles captures another angle of this incredible scene: Revelation 7 describes a new earth filled with faces from every tribe, tongue, and nation, delighting forever in the One through whom salvation has come—Japan not least among them! The light of Christ is promised and coming, and it may well come through your obedience.
If you and your leaders are ready to take the next step, reach out to the International Mission Board (IMB) or connect directly with those engaged in the missionary task to establish healthy churches in Japan to explore how you can play a part in the task.
Patrick Schwartz serves as a NextGen Strategist with the International Mission Board. He and his wife, Erin, live in Richmond, Virginia, with their two children. You can reach him at [email protected]. Also, visit imb.org/get-involved/nextgen for more information.
