Japanese of Sendai
February 2008 Pacific Rim Prayer Emphasis:
The Japanese of Sendai, Japan
“‘And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.’” Malachi 4:6, NASB.
Sendai is home to 1.3 million Japanese and is the capital of the Tohoku Region in the northern part of the main island of Honshu. Sendai is an academic city with many universities. Work and relationships bring great stress to the people. Within their culture everything has its place, every place has its thing and there is a particular and preferred way of doing everything. The average Japanese man goes to work before the children get up and come home after they are in bed. The men have little time left after fulfilling their obligations to the company. The wife, even if she works outside the home, handles all the other duties of household including the rearing and education of the children.
The Japanese of Sendai are predominately Buddhist, however very few are devout. By in large Japanese religion is a conglomeration of Buddhist traditions, ancestor worship, and animism. Having a “god shelf” inside their homes, a talisman hanging from the rear-view mirror and taking part in mamemake in February are all ways that the Japanese of Sendai ward off evil spirits. In the mamemake ritual a person (usually the dad) dresses up like a demon and the family throws beans at him until he runs out of the house. To welcome good fortune or to purify themselves from spiritual uncleanness Japanese here often visit a shrine. They wash their hands at the shrine’s entrance, approach the center of the shrine, drop money in a vestibule, ring a large bell or clap their hands to get one of the spirit’s attention and then make their request.
There is a large population of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sendai but very few Christians. Through Japanese translations of the Bible, Gospel tracts, the Jesus Film there is access to the Gospel if they desire it. But as the scriptures teach, “There is none righteous; there is none that seek after God.” Japanese are no different. Economical pursuits, a good reputation in “the eyes of society” and going through the motions in their predictable, comfortable culture are the things that have captured the hearts of these people. These things provide them with just enough of a false sense of security to keep them bound for an eternity apart from God.
Pray that:
- The people of Sendai will see their need for rest: mental, physical and spiritual.
- Jesus Christ will bring rest and restoration to the overworked, ever-dutiful Japanese of Sendai.
- The hearts of Japanese men will turn homeward and away from addictions to alcohol, gambling, pornography and homosexual practices that are becoming increasingly common.
- Sendai residents will realize the mighty power of God over and above all things they fear and revere.
- The Japanese of Sendai will see the instability of trusting in any other but Jesus Christ as their source of security.
- The moms of Sendai will find support and strength that Christ alone can give them as they deal with the heavy responsibilities of work, home and child rearing.
- God will burden believers in the United States to partner with believers in Sendai to pray and go so that this city will be reached for Christ.
The Japanese of Sendai, Japan
“‘And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.’” Malachi 4:6, NASB.
Sendai is home to 1.3 million Japanese and is the capital of the Tohoku Region in the northern part of the main island of Honshu. Sendai is an academic city with many universities. Work and relationships bring great stress to the people. Within their culture everything has its place, every place has its thing and there is a particular and preferred way of doing everything. The average Japanese man goes to work before the children get up and come home after they are in bed. The men have little time left after fulfilling their obligations to the company. The wife, even if she works outside the home, handles all the other duties of household including the rearing and education of the children.
The Japanese of Sendai are predominately Buddhist, however very few are devout. By in large Japanese religion is a conglomeration of Buddhist traditions, ancestor worship, and animism. Having a “god shelf” inside their homes, a talisman hanging from the rear-view mirror and taking part in mamemake in February are all ways that the Japanese of Sendai ward off evil spirits. In the mamemake ritual a person (usually the dad) dresses up like a demon and the family throws beans at him until he runs out of the house. To welcome good fortune or to purify themselves from spiritual uncleanness Japanese here often visit a shrine. They wash their hands at the shrine’s entrance, approach the center of the shrine, drop money in a vestibule, ring a large bell or clap their hands to get one of the spirit’s attention and then make their request.
There is a large population of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sendai but very few Christians. Through Japanese translations of the Bible, Gospel tracts, the Jesus Film there is access to the Gospel if they desire it. But as the scriptures teach, “There is none righteous; there is none that seek after God.” Japanese are no different. Economical pursuits, a good reputation in “the eyes of society” and going through the motions in their predictable, comfortable culture are the things that have captured the hearts of these people. These things provide them with just enough of a false sense of security to keep them bound for an eternity apart from God.
Pray that:
- The people of Sendai will see their need for rest: mental, physical and spiritual.
- Jesus Christ will bring rest and restoration to the overworked, ever-dutiful Japanese of Sendai.
- The hearts of Japanese men will turn homeward and away from addictions to alcohol, gambling, pornography and homosexual practices that are becoming increasingly common.
- Sendai residents will realize the mighty power of God over and above all things they fear and revere.
- The Japanese of Sendai will see the instability of trusting in any other but Jesus Christ as their source of security.
- The moms of Sendai will find support and strength that Christ alone can give them as they deal with the heavy responsibilities of work, home and child rearing.
- God will burden believers in the United States to partner with believers in Sendai to pray and go so that this city will be reached for Christ.
