Japan was first exposed to Christianity in 1542, when Europeans came and landed on Kyushu in western Japan. Initially, some lords (including the head of the powerful Oda Clan, Oda Nobunaga) tolerated the presence of the Europeans as they also supplied the Japanese with weapons. During this time Christianity flourished and considerable numbers of people, including members of the ruling class were converted.
However, in 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the de facto leader of Japan banned missionaries from the country and in 1597, ordered the execution of 26 Christians in Nagasaki, thus beginning a period of harsh persecution, during which thousands were executed. Those who survived became known as the “隠れキリシタン” or the “Hidden Christians.”
Japan’s Christian population continued to suffer under the Shōwa military rule during WW2, until 15 December 1945, when General Douglas MacArthur issued the Shinto Directive, abolishing Shinto as a state religion. In order to fill the spiritual vacuum, MacArthur, for the first time since the early 1500s, recruited Christian missionaries to evangelize in Japan.
Today, Japan remains one of the most secular nations in the world according to the World Values Survey, with about one to two million Japanese (around 1% of Japan’s total population) affiliated as Christians.
It is the mission objective of Operation “Restore Hope” to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Japan, and continue following the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.
Japan was first exposed to Christianity in 1542, when Europeans came and landed on Kyushu in western Japan.
However, in 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the de facto leader of Japan banned missionaries from the country, beginning a period of harsh persecution which lasted until the late 1800s.
Today, Japan still remains one of the most secular nations in the world with around 1% of Japan’s total population affiliated as Christians.
It is the mission objective of Operation “Restore Hope” to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Japan, and continue following the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.
Those who pray do more for the world than those who fight; and if the world goes from bad to worse, it is because there are more battles than prayers.
With prayer, we cannot fail.
“Gideon of Bible fame was least in his father’s house. He came from Israel’s smallest tribe. But he was a mighty man of valor. His strength lay not in his military might, but in his recognition of God’s proper claims upon his life… In Gideon’s day, and in our own, spiritually alert minorities carry the burdens and bring the victories.” – George S. Patton
Missions trips to Japan will generally be a two week long trip which occurs during the month of July and/or August for the summer and December for the winter trips. We will come alongside Hiratsuka Evangelical Church and Shonan Grace Chapel, while also participating in the HiBA Summer/Winter Camps. Of course, sightseeing around the Tokyo and Kanagawa region is a must!
Missions trips to America will allow Japanese Christians to travel here to Arizona for homestay and fellowship, or to Kentucky, where they can experience Biblical history through the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.
Every missions trip needs a highlight reel! This is the highlight reel from our last missions trip, back in December of 2023.
Tokyo is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, it is the most populous city in the world, with an estimated 37.468 million residents as of 2018. Some places to visit include the Tokyo Skytree, Edo-Tokyo Museum, and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
The Kanagawa Prefecture is the second-most populous prefecture of Japan with a population of 9.2 million. Both Hiratsuka and Shonan are within this prefecture. Some interesting landmarks include the Odawara Castle, Yokohama Landmark Tower, and Enoshima Island.
Chiba Prefecture is an internationalized prefecture which is known as the "gateway to Japan" thanks to international facilities such as Narita International Airport. The HiBA Summer and Winter Camps are held in this prefecture near the popular Kujūkuri Beach.
Enjoy some of the highlights from our most recent missions trips!
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