People group profile · PG007559
The Japanese of Japan
The Japanese of Japan, numbering about 119,590,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an East Asian people whose culture reflects the interaction of indigenous traditions, East Asian influences, island geography, and long historical continuity. Their Japanese language serves as one of the strongest markers of national identity.
They are an indigenous people in the Japanese people cluster of the East Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Shinbutsu-Shugo, and they primarily speak Japanese.
Fast facts
- Country
- Japan
- Population
- 119,590,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Japanese
- Primary language
- Japanese (jpn)
- Primary religion
- Shinbutsu-Shugo
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Widespread
Where they live
Gospel status
The Japanese are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Japanese
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Shinbutsu-Shugo · Ethnoreligion
46% adherents
Primary language
Japanese · Japonic family
100% speak Japanese
Gospel resources in Japanese
- Bible available, published 2018
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Japanese Contemporary Bible · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Japanese
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
Japanese in other countries
The same people (ROP3 104189) is reported in 20 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | Brazil | 1,745,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Japanese | United States | 1,530,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Japanese | China | 172,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | Peru | 168,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Japanese | Canada | 82,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Japanese | Australia | 57,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Japanese | Singapore | 43,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Japanese | Argentina | 41,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | Germany | 25,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | France | 24,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | New Zealand | 21,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Japanese | Bolivia | 21,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | Malaysia | 17,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Japanese | Hong Kong | 10,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | Taiwan | 9,600 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | Spain | 2,400 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Japanese | Panama | 2,300 | No Longer Unreached |
| Japanese | Dominican Republic | 2,300 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | Micronesia | 950 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Japanese | Portugal | 700 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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