People group profile · PG007576
The Southern Amami-Oshima of Japan
The Southern Amami-Oshima of Japan, numbering about 16,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Ryukyuan people of Amami Oshima island between Kyushu and Okinawa, subjugated by Japan's Satsuma domain in 1609 and forced into sugarcane serfdom, their Northern Ryukyuan speech setting them apart from mainland Japanese and Okinawans alike.
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 Southern Amami-Oshima.
Fast facts
- Country
- Japan
- Population
- 16,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Japanese
- Primary language
- Southern Amami-Oshima (ams)
- 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 ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Southern Amami-Oshima 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 Southern Amami-Oshima
- 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
95% adherents
Primary language
Southern Amami-Oshima · Japonic family
85% speak Southern Amami-Oshima
Gospel resources in Southern Amami-Oshima
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Southern Amami-Oshima
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
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