J-CATS Japanese Contextual and Theological Studies

Today we talk with Morgen Hildebrand, a missionary from Kansas who completed a theology degree at Tokyo Christian University. She gives a number of fascinating insights to the way that Japanese professors teach Christianity, and the way that her Japanese classmates encouraged her to fine tune her gospel message in a culturally winsome way.

Today Chris Pain, Japan field director of OMF joins me to review a report on Church Planting and Partnering with Japanese pastors that OMF produced. You can download the report for free here!https://omf.org/resource/download-report-church-planting-and-partnering-in-japan/

Kohei and I continue our conversation from last time. The first 20 minutes or so we talk about church models and Japan, the second half we look at some of the answers Japanese pastors gave at the Asian Access conference when asked what they would like missionaries to start doing and stop doing. Enjoy!

Today we talk with Kohei, who helped out at Asian Access Japan's 2024 conference 'From Embers to Flames'. Did you know that, although Japan's Christian population is only about 1% of Japan, 99% of Christians are laypeople? That' means that, if there are 1,000,000 Japanese Christians, 990,000 of them are not clergy. How can these Japanese Christian laypeople, these embers, ignite a Spiritual fire to spread Christianity among their people in Japan?

Today I chat with Noah, a missionary who began self-studying Japanese two years before landing in Japan in early '24. He promptly passed the JLPT N2, and is awaiting his results from taking N1 in December. Noah shares what worked for him, a surprisingly cheap and time efficient system that most missionaries (or any Japanese learners) could benefit from! Noah's suggested resources: Tofugu's resource page: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese-learn... Genki Textbook:   / 791506.genki_i   Minna No Nihongo textbook: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... Jyoukyuu he no Tobira: https://tobiraweb.9640.jp/ A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... Shin Kanzen Master Series: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kanzen+mas... Anki flashcards (better on phone): https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks?sear... WaniKani: https://www.wanikani.com/ Podcasts for learning Japanese: Haru no Nihongo Learn Japanese With Noriko Yuyu no Nihongo

At the biennial Renown (formerly CPI) Conference hundreds of Japan-based missionaries gathered for networking, encouragement, and strategizing. While there JCATS held a survey asking 'what are your favorite books about Japan by Japanese authors?' and 'what are your favorite Christian podcasts?' Jon's friend and fellow Japan missionary Joe comes on to discuss results.

Takuma Kobayashi is the pastor of Cloud Church, a fully online Japanese church, and in addition to two Cloud Church youtube channels, runs the Mattari Seisho Labo Youtube channel and podcast which deals with Japanese Christianity. We chat about challenges for Christianity in Japan, online church, relational evangelism, further reading to understand Japanese society, church dropouts, small church challenges, demands on church-goers, geographic challenges, and other topics

at a denominational anniversary celebration in Sendai, I surveyed 34 attendees to ask what they find is attractive about Christianity. The results are in the video.

Today I have a conversation with pastor Kentaro Matsuda about how he reaches people who haven't lost their faith, but have stepped away from church. He recently translated Frank Viola's 'Pagan Christianity' into Japanese, and we talk about that too.

Seminar presented by Dr. Martin Heisswolf at Ochanomizu Christian Center on August 17, 2024, for Kyuu Juu Kyuu -- talks on evangelizing the rest of the Japanese, sponsored by JCATS (Japanese Contextual and Theological Studies). Dr. Heisswolf is the author of Japanese Understanding of Salvation: Soteriology in the context of Japanese Animism, published by Langham, and available here: https://langhamliterature.org/books/japanese-understanding-of-salvation

In 1999 the Association of Shinto Shrines printed a pamphlet in English entitled Shinto Beliefs, I go over the 5 pillars, and talk a little bit more about Nishitani's Understanding Japaneseness, which discusses Shinto in the Epilogue.

Today we look at Kosuke Nishitani's 'Understanding Japaneseness' (link below). Nishitani argues that Maternal-Filial Affection is THE key point of a framework of Nipponjinron (think 'Japanology'). As a pastor as well as a scholar, he also gives his thought on the problem of Japaneseness. Might it lead to a 'Japanese' apologetic? Understanding Japaneseness - https://www.google.co.jp/books/edition/Understanding_Japaneseness/VqcDDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 -Also- Join us August 17th for a Missiology Seminar at Ochanomizu Christian Center! Here's the flyer for more info and RSVP. https://mailchi.mp/jema/free-missiology-seminar-with-dr-martin-heisswolf?e=3a9f8cceb4

In today's video I examine and condense Mattari Seisho Labo's four-part series on Shichihei Yamamoto's Nihonkyo (Japanism). Nihonkyo is the idea that all Japanese adhere to an under the surface 'religion', even Japanese who are members of religions such as Buddhism, Shinto and even Christianity. Mattari Seisho Labo's Nihonkyo videos are listed below: 1 - https://youtu.be/sJf9nK8qVco?si=MY-XWJfRXsz-Dieq 2 - https://youtu.be/_8c5rjGiYw4?si=g349uI68dU20J19Z 3 - https://youtu.be/9dAuIeWDRjI?si=CrxZiwsw-8-O4v5X 4 - https://youtu.be/LdZ0uBTQrnk?si=rKQ1hcGGCC9_5NqC

In today's episode we look at a round-table discusison found in 'Senkyogaku Readings' the same collection from which the article 'the Sermon contextualized to Japan' discussed in the previous episode, was taken. Again, the book can be purchased from the RAC Network store here: https://rac-network.com/?p=563

What would a distinctly Japanese sermon sound like? What can missionaries adjust to make their sermons less Western and more in tune with the Japnese mind? In today's episode I look at Mitsuo Fukuda's entry 'The Japan-contextualized Sermon' from Missiological readings (宣教学リーディングす), published by RAC Network (www.rac-network.com) Fukuda Sensei is a longtime Bible scholar and missiologist, and has written much on the topic of the Japanese contextual church. His book 'Developing a Contextualized Church as a Bridge to Christianity in Japan' is available on kindle or paperback and is highly recommended.

What is hard about ministry in Japan? What advice do you have for missionaries? My friend asked a Japanese pastor in his 70's these questions at a missionary and pastor meeting this week, and I grabbed my notebook and wrote down his answers, which I share here.

Justin Lau is a Singaporean Christian who grew up in Tokyo, and has since studied theology at Cranmer Hall in the UK, where he is currently a worship pastor. Justin talks about his journey toward understanding what it is for him to be an East Asian Christian, how having awareness of decolonised theology can help us better reach the Japanese, and how the Global Church can bless the Western Church. Justin's substack: https://decolonisingmyfaith.substack.com/

questions from Kosuke Koyama's Water Buffalo Theology concerning the circular and linear concepts of time, and how they impact eastern thought, and what the Bible says about them.

Welcome back for season 2! After a long layoff we're ready to roll again, starting with an interview with Yurika Dedachi! Yurika grew up in an evangelical church in Japan, went to International Christian University in Tokyo, and is now studying Intercultural Theology at the University of Göttingen in Germany!

Looking at highlights from Masao Takenaka's book(let) 'God is Rice' which discusses Rational vs. Experiential approaches to theology, Village Mentality, and What Asian Art says about cultures.

Today we talk with pastor Matsuda again, this time about the traditional 'go to heaven' approach to evangelism. What is 'eternal life'? What about 'eternal life' is appealing to Japanese compared to what is appealing to Western believers? Also, how to engage Japanese on issues of disagreement between Christianity and native religions! you can email Jon at jcatsjapan@gmail.com

Today we talk with Pastor Matsuda, who serves at an international church in Tokyo, and also meets with 'seekers' who don't know how to approach the traditional church due to fears of overbearing leadership, cult behavior and post-COVID anxiety. He ministers to these 'hiding seekers' through SNS, Twitter and Zoom. He also runs RAC-Network (Rethinking Authentic Christianity), where you can purchase some really great contextualization materials! https://rac-network.com/

Today Jon goes over 'the first significant communication of authentic, first-rate Japanese theology to the West." Kazoh Kitamori's Theology of the Pain of God is widely viewed in the global theological community as a theology that comes from a deep understanding of Japanese thought. On the other hand, for various reasons, it isn't very popular in Japanese churches. So should missionaries even bother? Jon thinks we should, and gives an overview of the why, what and how of this exemplary work.

Today we speak with Tsuji Sensei, a 33 year old pastor about a contextualized theological education delivery system, felt needs of Japanese young people, and cooperation between pastors and missionaries, Also Kohei joins us, and we ask the audience, 'what do you do with Judas?'

Jon checks a sample gospel presentation for potential contextual difficulties with a Japanese teacher. Topics discussed include: 1. Original Sin 2. the gap between a good God and bad people 3. Substitution 4. The Afterlife 5. Forgiveness

Dr. Kai Akagi gives an overview of the Sapporo Band, a group the first generation of protestants in Japan including Kanzo Uchimura and Inazo Nitobe (author of Bushido). Recommended book: A History of Japanese Theology, edited by Yasuo Furuya

Dr. Kai Akagi joins us again for a second round of first generation protestants in Japan, as we take a look at the Kumamoto band, Ebina Danjo and the beginning of Doshisha University. Also, a fighting Samurai woman who was the first 'Christian bride' in Japanese history!

Want a college level Japanese church history lesson? Kai adjuncts at various universities and seminaries in Japan, and has taught Japanese Church history at Sophia University. Today, Kai talks about the early Japanese protestant 'bands' of Christians popping up in various places, and focuses on the 'Yokohama band' and the first protestant church in Japan.

In this episode Jon chats with Kohei, a Japanese man who has spent about half of his life in Japan, and half overseas. He is currently a missionary to Japan, sent from churches in the States. Kohei shares some thoughts on what influenced him to become a Christian, and his impression of the church in Japan after coming to Christ overseas (but through Japanese influences). Mentions: Muira Ayako, Freezing Point, Shiokari Pass, The Wind is Howling (Japanese Christian Novels, avaialable in Japanese and English) Tondera House no Daibouken トンデラハウスの大冒険　Japanese Christian Anime from '82-'83 about two kids and a robot, very similar to the old Superbook cartoons.

In Episode 2 we look at various portions of Kosuke Koyama's Water Buffalo Theology

Welcome to JCATS! Japanese Contextual and Theological Studies, 日本人から聞く日本のキリスト教、Learning about Japanese Christianity from Japanese people. This podcast exists to search out contextualization practices and ideas from Japanese literature, history and conversations with Japanese people, to help missionaries present Christianity in a non-foreign way. In this first episode we discuss what is contextualization and why it's important in Japan, as well as preview some sources to be featured in future episodes. Glad to have you with us!