I came across "A Christian's Pocket Guide to The Japanese" published by OMF International (formerly the China Inland Mission and Overseas Missionary Fellowship), founded by James Hudson Taylor in 1865. This booklet is a quick read and holds information that we are becoming well aware of and we want to share it with you. It is helpful for us to know where someone is coming from in order to relate to where they are going and making the decisions that they do. In a culture that is so old and steeped with customs and refuses change, it is helpful to be a student of the strongholds that keep a people of such a culture in bondage.
Excepts from the booklet:
"One People"
The Japanese are a homogeneous people. With few exceptions, they have a common ancestry, appearance and culture throughout the four islands. They consider uniformity a good thing and view non-conformity as a threat to social harmony. "The nail that sticks up should be hammered down" so the Japanese say.
"Japanese Attitudes Toward Foreigners"
The Japanese people have been borrowing from other nations for centuries. Much of their language and culture has been borrowed from China, Buddhism, one of their major religions came from India via China. The constitution was modelled on 19th century Europe and succeeding waves of Portuguese, Dutch, and latterly North American influence have left their marks on language, foods and customs.
The Japanese people hold two attitudes simultaneously: a healthy curiosity of foreign things and a strong national pride.
Order your copy from Amazon today and start gathering a clearer understanding of where you live and how to reach this people group for Christ.
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