People group profile · PG007938
The Japanese of Australia
The Japanese of Australia, numbering about 57,000 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 a diaspora 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
- Australia
- Population
- 57,000
- 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
- Australia and New Zealand, Oceania
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
90% adherents
Primary language
Japanese · Japonic family
100% speak Japanese
Gospel resources in Japanese
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not 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
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Japanese in other countries
The same people is also reported in 20 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | Japan | 119,590,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| 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 | 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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