The Christian Reformed Church in North America started their “Mission in Japan” in 1950. The Tokyo Egota (or Ekota) mission station was one of the earliest mission stations established by the CRCNA in Tokyo, Japan. I was baptized at the mission station in 1982, which is now Ekota Reformed Church in Japan.

Working alongside local Christian leaders, missionaries from the Christian Reformed World Missions (now Resonate Global Mission) have helped to build more than fifty Reformed Churches in Japan, mostly in the Tokyo area. I am a local pastor in the Tokyo Bay area, and our church was also started with the support of a CRCNA missionary more than 20 years ago.

Missionaries have been helping, supporting, and encouraging the Japanese churches, especially our denomination, the Reformed Church in Japan. We have been receiving your Christian love, support, encouragement as the denomination, the local churches, and individuals.

As many of you may know, Japan is not a predominantly Christian country. The main religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism (a traditional religion often associated with the Emperor and national identity). The population of Christians in Japan has been less than 1% of the whole population of Japan in the early decades of missionaries. The Christian population was less than 1% back then, and in 2025, it remains nearly the same as the overall population of Japan has declined since 2008. 

The most important thing is that each Christian becomes a true, genuine, and faithful Christ servant and His disciple. 

Why does the number of Christians in Japan not grow? There might be many reasons. Many scholars, pastors, researchers, and Japanese churches have been thinking about that and looking for the solution for a long time. I have the same questions as a local pastor and evangelist struggling with “Mission/Evangelism in Japan.”

The reason why the population of Christians does not grow should be thought seriously though, I think this situation must be in God’s providence. God is controlling everything. He is controlling the Japanese Christian situation as well. This might be Japanese pastors’ excuse that the population of Christians does not grow. We might have to do evangelism much more diligently and passionately. I do not deny our shortcomings, weaknesses, or lack of diligence for mission and evangelism in our fields.

Nevertheless, I would like to say one thing as a local pastor in Tokyo Bay area. King David’s close friend, Jonathan, said, “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6, NIV) The Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men….” (Judges 7:4) Even less than one percent is enough for us! The most important thing is that each Christian becomes a true, genuine, and faithful Christ servant and His disciple. Most important thing is that each pastor and evangelist becomes a faithful and effective servant of Christ. Most important thing is that each church in Japan becomes a true and pure Christ’s body.

If we, the Japanese Christians and churches and pastors, continue to try to be the authentic disciple and servant of Christ, God will surely advance his gospel and expand his kingdom according to his will, plan, and providence. And, as Japanese Christians are really a minority community in Japanese society, we receive a lot of encouragement through the missionaries who abide with us.

May our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, bless and keep us, less than one percent of the whole population in Japan.

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