And Jesus said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

Despite living in Japan over 6 years, we have not seen many conversions or baptisms. This might lead people to conclude that Christianity is not a good fit for Japan. 

Yet, time and again, we have heard the opposite for Japanese living overseas. Many of them hear the Gospel and readily follow Jesus! This means that it is possible that you, our dear brothers and sisters, in Singapore might be at an advantage when evangelising to the Japanese compared to us missionaries living in Japan! 

According to statistics, there are over 30,000 Japanese people who reside in Singapore. Husbands are often transferred to Japanese companies in Singapore for work and their wives and children will follow. Husbands often socialise with Singaporeans at work while wives may be looking for opportunities to practise speaking English or expose their children to the English language and thus seek out relationships with Singaporeans. 

I thought that it might be helpful to share some tips on what has worked for us in Japan in terms of building friendships with the Japanese. 

1. They are naturally curious about the things around them. 

Many Japanese are quite shy and wouldn’t attempt to make friends with foreigners by themselves. However, a lot of them are actually very curious to know more about foreign culture but lack the skills to bridge the gap. So, sometimes all it takes is to simply invite them for a meal or to visit your home in order for that friendship to be formed. 

Whenever I talk to my Japanese friends in Japan, they will always ask me many questions about Singapore. Even mundane questions about food, hobbies or what growing up in Singapore was like can be interesting to them. Many Japanese are very observant and may want to ask many detailed questions about the habits and customs of Singaporeans. 

Naturally, through the conversation, the topic of Christianity can also surface, paving the way for them to ask questions about church and our faith. 

If you ever have the opportunity to speak with them, you will be surprised how receptive they are. 

2. They are sometimes more open to foreigners.

As Japan is a largely homogenous country, it is easy to assume that Japanese people are comfortable in the company of other Japanese. This is sometimes not the case. 

As Japan has a strong conformist culture, many do not feel that they are free to question the way things are or speak their mind openly among their own people. However, with a foreigner they tend to be more at ease in speaking their mind or questioning things without the worry that they will be judged. 

Some younger Japanese individuals feel disconnected from their own culture and actively seek the company of foreign friends, with whom they feel more comfortable.

One of Hooi Yin’s friends was actually very curious about death and what happens thereafter. However, because this is a taboo topic among the Japanese people, she could not bring herself to talk to her friends or family about it. However, through her friendship with Hooi Yin, she was able to ask these questions and Hooi Yin was able to answer her questions using the bible. 

3. Be respectful of their privacy.

Sometimes, Japanese people may show a lot of interest in the friendship, and they can be very responsive to texts and invitations to go out and even to come to church. However, there are times when they may suddenly disappear and become unresponsive for a period without offering any explanation. This is quite common over here in Japan. 

After a while, they may reappear without any explanation and just act as if nothing has happened. 

Many of them are very protective of their privacy and so it may appear rude if we were to ask too many questions about their personal life. Moreover, if they feel pressured to do something that they don’t want to or are unable to do, it is very natural for them not to respond to our texts.

In such a situation, it is best to continue to be gracious, to pray for them and give them space. If they eventually come back, it is a sign that they value your friendship and may one day open up to you about the struggles that they have. In the meantime, it is best to respect their decision to be silent and not to press them for a reason. 

4. Be Genuine.

In relation to the point above, the biggest thing that foreigners struggle with when dealing with Japanese people is their indirect way of communication. “Why can’t they just say exactly what they mean!” is a frequent gripe of mine. 

Unfortunately, it is a struggle that Japanese people also have with each other. This means that it isn’t wise for foreigners to adopt their style of communication as it can only make things worse! 

One powerful way Christians can make a lasting impact on the Japanese is through a genuine commitment to honesty. Many find it refreshing when someone speaks openly and sincerely – sharing their thoughts with respect and kindness, all grounded in the love of Christ.

A fellow missionary friend of ours has always made it a point to speak the truth. This has rubbed some Japanese the wrong way, as they are not sure how to deal with his frankness, but being genuine has also enabled him to build a strong foundation of trust with those who know him. They know that no matter what, his words are trustworthy. He accredits this to his faith in the Lord, and it is a very powerful testimony to the Japanese that if they follow Jesus, they too can uphold truth in love. 

Opening up to someone from a different culture can be challenging. The above represents only my meagre understanding on how we can engage the Japanese. There will always be exceptions. Therefore, my sincere advice is to always seek the Lord’s leading in any form of outreach or relationship building. 

Brothers and Sisters of True Way, you don’t have to travel outside of Singapore to become a missionary. Missions is right there at your doorstep! 

If the Lord has given you a love for the Japanese people – or any other people group – pray and ask Him to guide you to those who are ready to hear the good news of Jesus.

Will you then trust in the Lord, go to them, presenting to them the work of the Gospel through your life so that they too can hear what Jesus has done for them and come to faith in Him? 

At its core, that’s what sharing the Gospel is all about – whether with the Japanese or anyone else.