november 11, 2009

"What Japan Thinks"

In 1921 K. K. Kawakami put together an English-language book called “What Japan Thinks”. This book, a collection of articles written by Japanese authors of the time, has amazing insight into the cultural experience of Japanese people. Interestingly, the final article was an answer to the question, “Can Japan Be Christianized?”

Of course, the question itself could be offensive to some, but it seems that was the Japanese author’s intention. The views of Christianity and Protestant Missionaries presented in the article are quite enlightening. Here’s a quote from it:

“When Japan opens her heart, as [Kanzo Uchimura*] thinks she is bound to open sooner or later, to the Christianity that is being evolved in terms of Japanese thought and feelings, then Mr. Uchimura is confident that Japan will become the foremost Christian nation on earth.”


Read the full Chapter here (Public Domain)
Read the entire book here (Public Domain)

This view of the country moving together towards becoming a Christian nation, not because of westernization, but because of the redemption of Japanese culture that would come with it, is the motivation behind our methodology.

*Uchimura was the founder of a Japanese "Cell-Church" Movement that still carries on today, more than 80 years after his passing.