By Isolde Doubell
Japan is a country fighting for a comeback. For four decades (1968–2010) it was the world’s second-largest economy after the United States, but it has since slipped to fourth, with India fast closing in. The country’s population is shrinking rapidly. According to Sky News, it fell by 909,000 in 2024— the largest recorded drop in history — and births reached their lowest level since the 1800s. This has increased pressure on the workforce. Efforts to boost birth rates have had little success, and expanding foreign labour remains controversial; although the number of foreigners is higher than ever, they still make up only 3% of the population. Japan also carries the highest public debt among developed nations.
This is the situation that Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, took on when she was elected in October 2025. Her Liberal Democratic Party, long dominant in Japanese politics, won a snap election on 8 February with a two-thirds majority, giving her the mandate to pursue economic reforms aimed at restoring the country’s former strength.
It is not only Japan’s economy that faces significant challenges; the Church in Japan has wrestled with difficulties for decades. Missionary reports suggest that while some regions show encouraging signs of growth, others remain resistant. Despite the country being fully open to missionaries, Japan is one of the least evangelised nations in the world.
According to the Joshua Project, only 1.9% of its 122.8 million people identify as followers of Jesus. As a result, millions of Japanese live and die without ever hearing the Gospel.
Why are there so few Christians?
Japanese culture itself is a significant barrier to the spread of the Gospel. While atheism is increasing, as it is in many parts of the world, Shinto and Buddhist traditions remain deeply woven into the fabric of society. To turn away from these beliefs means turning away from family and community. Japanese people do not like to stand out. In a society that prizes harmony, conformity and social approval, standing apart for one’s faith comes at a high personal cost. Christianity is also seen as a Western religion, and considerable damage has been done over the years by cults, which has tainted the credibility of ‘foreign’ religions.
But even though the enemy is prowling around like a roaring lion and discouraging many Christians and pastors, the people of Japan truly need Jesus. For one thing, loneliness and depression are becoming an epidemic. According to a government survey, an estimated 1.46 million people in Japan live as hikikomori, withdrawing from society and remaining isolated in their homes, often due to anxiety and a deep sense of not fitting in. There is also a phenomenon called “8050”, where parents in their eighties are required to care for their withdrawn children in their fifties. Japan appointed a Minister of Loneliness in 2021.
According to a documentary on Al Jazeera on 8 February this year, 40% of the entire Japanese population feels lonely, and that number rises to 50% for those under 40.
People are struggling to find meaning in life, and over 30,000 suicides are reported each year. Other challenges include high divorce rates, teenage prostitution, constant threats of earthquakes and economic decline.
Testimony
Hiroto, who met Jesus through street evangelism, shares his story:
“Many people in Japan live with a broken heart because of family issues, depression and suicide. I was in a very broken family and experienced suicidal thoughts. In Japan, a high value is placed on what other people think of you. It is a very painful culture because it traps you in a cycle of needing approval. You can keep searching, but the heart remains empty. Jesus can fill our hearts with unconditional love. It is not about earning His love. He loves us just the way we are — even the Japanese. And when you receive that kind of love, your heart is finally healed. I think Japanese people will really be surprised if they knew about the love of Jesus because the culture of Japan and the love of Jesus work in totally opposite ways. In Japan, you work hard to earn something, but Jesus loves us when we have done nothing for Him. Christians in Japan are so different from the rest of the people; we really shine. The way to interest people in the Gospel, is through relationships — to show them what it means to have a love relationship with Jesus. Japanese people might not be interested in religion, but they are really interested in what it looks like to be loved. I used to be on the passive side, powerless, but now I am the one who is sharing, and I never imagined it would be so much fun. Many people react positively. The biggest challenge is fighting the fear of man, which is so inherent in our culture. I have learnt that God has a heart that breaks for lost souls, and it compels me to tell people about Him. When I encountered Jesus, I learnt that my value does not come from people’s approval, academics or career. Jesus loves you, and that is why you are worthy. And even if people don’t accept me, Jesus accepts me perfectly.”
The Japanese Church
Ben Howard, pastor of Yokohama International Baptist Church, where he has served since 2016, says:
“When you look at the landscape of churches in Japan, it’s easy to be discouraged. There are so many stagnant and dying churches. Recently, several like-minded churches in our area have discovered each other and have begun partnering together to plant more gospel-centred churches. The two churches that our church has planted are seeing people get saved and baptised. Are we seeing massive, rapid growth? Not at all. But the Lord is at work. Our church has also recently built relationships with four different missionary families who plan to come to Japan to partner with us for language learning and church planting. How thrilling! People are eager to move to a place where the gospel is desperately needed and so seemingly absent.“
Pastor Masamitsu Morishita leads Awakening Tokyo Church and has also planted a church in Sendai. Together with his wife, Esther, they have a vision from God to be part of Asia’s “Great Harvest” by planting churches in major cities. Once called out of a life of darkness and crime, he believes most Japanese are not deeply Buddhist or Shinto, but largely atheists — often guarded yet not closed to the Gospel.
“Tokyo is so busy that people rarely think about God,” he says, “but I believe revival is coming, and when Christianity becomes more common, many will embrace it.”
Pastor Masa and Esther share conversations with global Christians on their Awakening Tokyo Church Podcast. Many believe that a move of God is on the horizon for Japan. Listen here to Pastor Masa’s testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb3QPo02IUo
Many Japanese get to know Jesus in another country. Over a million Japanese live abroad, their numbers are greatest in the USA, Brazil and China. Christians report that what drew them was kindness and a sense of real family — people who truly care about each other. Many of them are not used to being invited into people’s homes to share a meal. Yumi, a women interviewed on Radical’s documentary on why Japan is hard to reach, says she always felt there was something missing in her heart, and when she met Christians, she felt they had that missing piece. Every year, over 1,600 return home having encountered Jesus, many with a missional burden for their homeland, but it is very difficult for them to integrate again into the native church scene. Ami, also interviewed on Radical’s documentary, says, “Even though people might leave me when I say I am a Christian, I can’t stop believing in Jesus because He loves me. He saved me in many ways. I find Jesus’ love and His words much more valuable.” Here you can find the first of two episodes of Radical’s documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvxjG5wGVcY
Please join us in praying for the Japanese people and the Church in Japan:
- Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Christians in Japan, that they will be fruitful and have power and wisdom to proclaim the Gospel without fear. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
- Pray for people who are lonely and suicidal to have godly encounters with Christians who can bring them to Jesus, and that the Church will become a real beacon of hope in Japan through ministries of compassion, kindness and love.
- Pray that Japanese church leaders will be raised up, full of the Holy Spirit in wisdom, courage and strength.
4. Pray for Japanese Christians returning to their country to bring God’s light and freedom, and to be protected from the schemes of the enemy.
5. According to Operation World, there are hundreds of denominations and Christian groups in Japan without real unity between them. Pray for Christians in Japan to be rooted in unity and truth and to stand together on the firm foundation of Jesus.Sources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/witness/2026/2/8/dear-tomorrow-inside-japans-loneliness-crisis
Hiroto’s testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIoc_OIZsVQ
https://www.japanprayerguide.com/topics/all
https://operationworld.org/prayer-calendar/07-25/
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-election-landslide-clears-path-takaichi-deliver-tax-cuts-2026-02-09/?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIoc_OIZsVQ
