NEED • Challenges

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The one-time conformist society is increasingly adrift.

Challenges Facing Japan

Once upon a time, Japan was known as a seemingly perfect land of peace and plenty. The society was marked by conformity, submission, and order. But the past twenty years have brought tremendous changes for the worse. The cords that once held Japanese society together have quickly unraveled, leaving many with great uncertainty about Japan's future. Consider:

Japan has the world's 10th highest suicide rate. The first nine on the list are all former Soviet republics where life is grim and hard. Japan is a wealthy, educated society, yet over 600 Japanese kill themselves every week. The suicide rate among men has risen an astounding 80% in the past decade. Japan's people are drowning in despair. (Watch an interesting mini-documentary on suicide in Japan on our blog here.)

Crime in Japan used to be virtually non-existant. But over the past decade, the crime rate has risen an astronomical 150%. Because Japanese are not used to such high crime, many are overwhelmed by a deep sense of fear and uncertainty.

Steadily rising divorce rates have also brought a sense of uncertainty to family life in Japan. Divorce has risen 26.5% in the past 10 years. Abortion is commonplace, with one in three married women confessing to having at least one. Around 85% of adults claim no personal religion at all, and Japan has one of the highest rates of atheism (65%) in the world. Japan is increasingly under a cloud of doubt, despair, and disillusionment.

This is especially seen in Japanese teenagers. An incredible 85% of them wonder why they exist; 22% of American teens had the same thought. Only 13% saw a reason (purpose) for their lives (76% US), and sadly, 11% of Japanese teens wish they had never been born (3% US).

One way to understand what many Japanese teens are going through is to watch what is reflected in popular media.

Nobuta is a girl who just can't fit in, has no purpose for her life, and is distant from her parents.

This drama, Producing Nobuta, must have struck a chord; it was extremely popular among Japanese young people who could identify with Nobuta's feelings. (If you can't see it, click here to go to YouTube.)

Clearly, Japan is being torn apart as a society, and faces deep, deep problems that are rooted in their spiritual condition. Yet all this turmoil and uncertainty has had a positive effect in one sense: people are more open and interested in hearing the gospel. Many church leaders believe Japan is on the verge of a major spiritual awakening. The Japanese church must be ready to give real answers to hurting people, and to pour out the love of Christ to a nation in great need.

Kyehee and I feel God has called us, at this critical time, to join the Japanese church in transforming their nation for Christ. What about you? Could God be calling you to help reach the unreached of Japan?

NEXT: Why do we sense God's call to Japan?