J-CATS Japanese Contextual and Theological Studies: Recent Episodes
Jon Robison
J-CATS is a podcast that introduces Japanese contextualized literature and ideas for integrated use by missionaries and non-Japanese Christians.
In today's episode we look at a round-table discusison found in 'Senkyogaku Readings' the same collection from which the article 'the Sermon contextualized to Japan' discussed in the previous episode, was taken. Again, the book can be purchased from the RAC Network store here:https://rac-network.com/?p=563
What would a distinctly Japanese sermon sound like? What can missionaries adjust to make their sermons less Western and more in tune with the Japnese mind? In today's episode I look at Mitsuo Fukuda's entry 'The Japan-contextualized Sermon' from Missiological readings (宣教学リーディングす), published by RAC Network (www.rac-network.com) Fukuda Sensei is a longtime Bible scholar and missiologist, and has written much on the topic of the Japanese contextual church. His book 'Developing a Contextualized Church as a Bridge to Christianity in Japan' is available on kindle or paperback and is highly recommended.
What is hard about ministry in Japan? What advice do you have for missionaries? My friend asked a Japanese pastor in his 70's these questions at a missionary and pastor meeting this week, and I grabbed my notebook and wrote down his answers, which I share here.
Justin Lau is a Singaporean Christian who grew up in Tokyo, and has since studied theology at Cranmer Hall in the UK, where he is currently a worship pastor. Justin talks about his journey toward understanding what it is for him to be an East Asian Christian, how having awareness of decolonised theology can help us better reach the Japanese, and how the Global Church can bless the Western Church.
Justin's substack: https://decolonisingmyfaith.substack.com/
questions from Kosuke Koyama's Water Buffalo Theology concerning the circular and linear concepts of time, and how they impact eastern thought, and what the Bible says about them.
Welcome back for season 2! After a long layoff we're ready to roll again, starting with an interview with Yurika Dedachi! Yurika grew up in an evangelical church in Japan, went to International Christian University in Tokyo, and is now studying Intercultural Theology at the University of Göttingen in Germany!
Looking at highlights from Masao Takenaka's book(let) 'God is Rice' which discusses Rational vs. Experiential approaches to theology, Village Mentality, and What Asian Art says about cultures.
Today we talk with pastor Matsuda again, this time about the traditional 'go to heaven' approach to evangelism. What is 'eternal life'? What about 'eternal life' is appealing to Japanese compared to what is appealing to Western believers? Also, how to engage Japanese on issues of disagreement between Christianity and native religions!
you can email Jon at jcatsjapan@gmail.com
Today we talk with Pastor Matsuda, who serves at an international church in Tokyo, and also meets with 'seekers' who don't know how to approach the traditional church due to fears of overbearing leadership, cult behavior and post-COVID anxiety. He ministers to these 'hiding seekers' through SNS, Twitter and Zoom. He also runs RAC-Network (Rethinking Authentic Christianity), where you can purchase some really great contextualization materials!https://rac-network.com/
Today Jon goes over 'the first significant communication of authentic, first-rate Japanese theology to the West." Kazoh Kitamori's Theology of the Pain of God is widely viewed in the global theological community as a theology that comes from a deep understanding of Japanese thought. On the other hand, for various reasons, it isn't very popular in Japanese churches. So should missionaries even bother? Jon thinks we should, and gives an overview of the why, what and how of this exemplary work.
Today we speak with Tsuji Sensei, a 33 year old pastor about a contextualized theological education delivery system, felt needs of Japanese young people, and cooperation between pastors and missionaries, Also Kohei joins us, and we ask the audience, 'what do you do with Judas?'
Jon checks a sample gospel presentation for potential contextual difficulties with a Japanese teacher. Topics discussed include:
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Original Sin
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the gap between a good God and bad people
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Substitution
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The Afterlife
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Forgiveness
Dr. Kai Akagi gives an overview of the Sapporo Band, a group the first generation of protestants in Japan including Kanzo Uchimura and Inazo Nitobe (author of Bushido).
Recommended book: A History of Japanese Theology, edited by Yasuo Furuya
Dr. Kai Akagi joins us again for a second round of first generation protestants in Japan, as we take a look at the Kumamoto band, Ebina Danjo and the beginning of Doshisha University. Also, a fighting Samurai woman who was the first 'Christian bride' in Japanese history!
Want a college level Japanese church history lesson? Kai adjuncts at various universities and seminaries in Japan, and has taught Japanese Church history at Sophia University. Today, Kai talks about the early Japanese protestant 'bands' of Christians popping up in various places, and focuses on the 'Yokohama band' and the first protestant church in Japan.
In this episode Jon chats with Kohei, a Japanese man who has spent about half of his life in Japan, and half overseas. He is currently a missionary to Japan, sent from churches in the States. Kohei shares some thoughts on what influenced him to become a Christian, and his impression of the church in Japan after coming to Christ overseas (but through Japanese influences).
Mentions:
Muira Ayako, Freezing Point, Shiokari Pass, The Wind is Howling (Japanese Christian Novels, avaialable in Japanese and English)
Tondera House no Daibouken トンデラハウスの大冒険 Japanese Christian Anime from '82-'83 about two kids and a robot, very similar to the old Superbook cartoons.
Welcome to JCATS! Japanese Contextual and Theological Studies, 日本人から聞く日本のキリスト教、Learning about Japanese Christianity from Japanese people. This podcast exists to search out contextualization practices and ideas from Japanese literature, history and conversations with Japanese people, to help missionaries present Christianity in a non-foreign way. In this first episode we discuss what is contextualization and why it's important in Japan, as well as preview some sources to be featured in future episodes. Glad to have you with us!