Protestantism in Japan
Encyclopedia
Protestants in Japan constitute a religious minority of about 0.4% of total population or 509,668 people in number (see Protestantism by country
).
All major traditional Protestant denominations are presented in the country, including Baptists, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
, Pentecostals, the Seventh-day Adventist Church
, Lutherans, the Anglican Church, Methodists, the Presbyterian Church , Mennonite
s , the Salvation Army
and some others.
Divie Bethune McCartee
was the first Protestant Christian mission
ary to visit Japan in 1861-1862. His gospel tract
translated into the Japanese language
was the first Protestant literature in Japan. In 1865 McCartee moved back to Ningbo, China
, but others have followed in his footsteps.
The Japanese responded favorably to the gospel in the late 19th century when Japan re-opened its doors to the West. However, this was followed by renewed suspicion and rejection of Christian teaching. Protestant church growth slowed dramatically in the early 20th century as pressure from within caused by rationalistic higher criticism and the influence of the military government stunted growth.
The post-World War II years have seen increasing activity by evangelicals, initially with American influence, and some growth occurred between 1945 and 1960. The Japan Evangelical Association
founded in 1968.
The Japanese Bible Society was established in 1937 with the help of National Bible Society of Scotland (NBSS, now called the Scottish Bible Society
), the American Bible Society
, the British and Foreign Bible Society
.
By some estimations, there are 3,000 Protestant churches in Tokyo
, and 7,700 Protestant churches in all of Japan. There are several Christian TV and radio ministries broadcasting over commercial stations in the country. By law, religious organizations are not granted licenses to own and operate over the air broadcast stations.
Protestantism by country
For the purposes of this list, "Protestant" includes the following denominations: Assemblies of God, Anglican/Episcopalian , Baptist, Church of God, Church of the Nazarene, Churches of Christ, Congregationalist, Calvinist, Holiness, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian,...
).
All major traditional Protestant denominations are presented in the country, including Baptists, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States...
, Pentecostals, the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, Lutherans, the Anglican Church, Methodists, the Presbyterian Church , Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
s , the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and some others.
Divie Bethune McCartee
Divie Bethune McCartee
Divie Bethune McCartee was an American Protestant Christian medical missionary, educator and U.S. diplomat in China and Japan, first appointed by the American Presbyterian Mission in 1843....
was the first Protestant Christian mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
ary to visit Japan in 1861-1862. His gospel tract
Tract (literature)
A tract is a literary work, and in current usage, usually religious in nature. The notion of what constitutes a tract has changed over time. By the early part of the 21st century, these meant small pamphlets used for religious and political purposes, though far more often the former. They are...
translated into the Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
was the first Protestant literature in Japan. In 1865 McCartee moved back to Ningbo, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, but others have followed in his footsteps.
The Japanese responded favorably to the gospel in the late 19th century when Japan re-opened its doors to the West. However, this was followed by renewed suspicion and rejection of Christian teaching. Protestant church growth slowed dramatically in the early 20th century as pressure from within caused by rationalistic higher criticism and the influence of the military government stunted growth.
The post-World War II years have seen increasing activity by evangelicals, initially with American influence, and some growth occurred between 1945 and 1960. The Japan Evangelical Association
Japan Evangelical Association
Japan Evangelical Association is a fellowship of member denominations, churches. The JEA is a member of the World Evangelical Alliance .-Member denominations:*Immanuel General Mission*The Salvation Army*Evangelical Free Church of Japan...
founded in 1968.
The Japanese Bible Society was established in 1937 with the help of National Bible Society of Scotland (NBSS, now called the Scottish Bible Society
Scottish Bible Society
Scottish Bible Society, founded in 1809 as the Edinburgh Bible Society, amalgamated in 1861 with the Glasgow Bible Society to form the National Bible Society of Scotland, is a Scottish Christian charity that exists to make the Bible available throughout the world.The Scottish Bible Society arose...
), the American Bible Society
American Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
, the British and Foreign Bible Society
British and Foreign Bible Society
The British and Foreign Bible Society, often known in England and Wales as simply as Bible Society, is a non-denominational Christian Bible society with charity status whose purpose is to make the Bible available throughout the world....
.
By some estimations, there are 3,000 Protestant churches in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and 7,700 Protestant churches in all of Japan. There are several Christian TV and radio ministries broadcasting over commercial stations in the country. By law, religious organizations are not granted licenses to own and operate over the air broadcast stations.
See also
- Christianity in JapanChristianity in JapanChristianity is a minority religion in Japan, with less than one percent claiming Christian belief or affiliation. Nearly all known traditional denominations of Christianity, including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodox Christianity are represented in Japan today.The root of the Japanese...
- Japan Lutheran ChurchJapan Lutheran ChurchThe or NRK is a Confessional Lutheran denomination in Japan. It currently has approximately 2,645 baptized members in 35 congregations nationwide.The current president of the NRK is the Rev...
- Japan Baptist ConventionJapan Baptist ConventionThe Japan Baptist Convention, or Nippon Baputesuto Renmei is a Baptist denominational body in Japan, related to the Southern Baptist Convention....
- Japan Baptist AssociationJapan Baptist AssociationThe Japan Baptist Association, or Nippon Baputesuto Rengō is a Baptist denominational body in Japan, related to the American Baptist Churches USA....
- True Jesus Church in JapanTrue Jesus Church in JapanThe True Jesus Church in Japan was first established in Tokyo in 1946 by the Japanese Preachers Suda and Murata along with forty-four other Japanese church members who were repatriated from Taiwan to Japan.-Introduction: The Pentecostal movement in Japan:...
- Japanese Bible Society