This document discusses the upcoming World Scout Jamboree in Japan and provides context about religion and missionary work in Japan. It notes that 50,000 Scouts will gather in Japan, coinciding with anniversaries of atomic bombings, and remembrance services will be held. It then summarizes that Shintoism and Buddhism are the major religions in Japan, comprising 85% and 90% respectively, while only 1.5% are Christian. However, Christianity is growing with over 1 million church members. The document calls for prayer for spiritual revival and reformation in the Japanese church to effectively engage society and evangelize the nation.

1. PRAY FOR JAPAN

3. This month, 50,000 Scouts worldwide will be gathering in
Japan for the 23rd World Scout Jamboree.
Jamboree In Japan

10. This has been scheduled to coincide with the 70th anniversary
of the dropping of the atom bombs on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki (6 & 9 August).

11. Special
Remembrance
services will be
held,
with Scouts
participating,
at the sites
where the
devastating
atom bombs
were dropped.

12. Japan is recognised as the world's third largest economy,
yet it has been rocked by recessions and economic stagnation
in recent years.
Economic Superpower

13. Despite a lack of natural resources and oil, Japan has one of
the world's most powerful exporting orientated economies.

14. Unlike most economies,
Japan has a high savings and enormous trade surplus.

15. However, the low birth rate and ageing population presents
major societal and economic concerns for the future.

17. The Japanese have a strong work ethic and are polite, yet
materialism dominates the ambitions of these very busy
people, so they give little thought to God and Eternity.

18. Tokyo/Yokohama with 36 Million people, is one of the largest
cities in the world.
Over 66% of the population of Japan are urbanised.
Life expectancy is 82 years.
Urbanised Mission Field

19. The multiple religious loyalties of the Japanese can be seen in
that 85% describe themselves as Buddhist and 90% Shinto!

21. Japan is an extremely materialistic culture.
Its own leaders call Japan:
"A superpower without a moral compass."

22. Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world
– over 30,000 a year.
Bullying and teenage prostitution are major social problems.

23. Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary democracy.
Missionary Challenge

24. Of the 126 Million people in Japan, 85% claim to be Buddhist

25. and only 1.5% members of a Christian church.

26. Of the 2 Million Christians, barely 600,000 would identify
themselves as Evangelical. Only 10% of the Japanese
population believe in the existence of a personal God.

27. The concept of a Creator-God is foreign to most.

28. Strong pressure to conform to the social norms and the
shame/honour mentality held by many Japanese, makes
conversion to Christ very difficult.

29. A pervasive nationalistic Shintoism makes Missionary work
extremely difficult in Japan. Japan is the largest unevangelised
Missionfield that is completely open to Missionaries.

30. Three-storied pagoda and Nachi no taki or the waterfall of Nachi in Seiganto-ji Temple
in Mt. Nachi

31. Ayako-tenmangu, a Shinto shrine.

32. A huge tree of Nagi, the sacred tree of Kumano Sanzan

37. Japanese Temple - Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions

40. The main shrine of Kumano Hongu-taisha Grand Shrine

42. The symbol of Kumano Sanzan is “Yatagarasu,” a three-legged bird which
was considered to be a messenger of god since ancient times.

45. Shinto is as old as the Japanese culture, while Buddhism was imported
from the mainland in the 6th century.

46. Shintoism in Japan is known as the religion of the gods,

47. Some prominent rocks are worshiped as kami.

49. There are 15,575 congregations in Japan, consisting of
1,291,021 church members and 2 Million adherents. 3% of
Japanese would identify themselves as Christians.
Christians in Japan

50. Christians are a small minority in a society where consensus
and conformity are important. House Churches have been
effective in reaching Japanese.

51. The San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church is part of the Holiness
Conference, which stems from OMS (Oriental Missionary Society)
International

52. Christians in Nagasaki

53. 70% of all churches in Japan have an average attendance of
less than 30. On average, woman attenders outnumber men,
7 to 1.

54. Yet there are approximately 300 Japanese Missionaries
serving in 34 countries.

55. Japan has a 100% literacy rate. This highly literate, reading,
commuting society offers an excellent market for publishing
and distributing high quality Christian literature.
Strategic Literature Ministry

56. Yet, there are only 100 Christian
book stores in the whole country.

57. Pray for the impact
of the
Japanese Church on the
nation.
The churches in Japan
desperately need
Biblical Reformation
and Spiritual Revival.
Reformation
and
Revival

58. They need to turn from their insular bunker mentality to
engage with the society and effectively Evangelise their
nation.

59. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel
of Christ, for it is the power of God to
Salvation for everyone who believes."
Romans 1:16

60. PRAY FOR JAPAN

62. Frontline Fellowship
PO Box 74
Newlands
7725
Cape Town
South Africa
E-mail: admin@frontline.org.za
Web: www.frontline.org.za