Faith in the Land of the Rising Sun: Christianity Through Japanese Eyes

By Hanna Rose

Just after the intense World War II, the life of a high school boy completely changed when he met Jesus at the First Baptist Church in Yamagata, Japan. Now 87, Hiroshi Kawasaki is one of the most influential Christian figures in Yamagata. He has served as a pastor in several churches and led Asian Access, a mission organisation, for several decades. Despite his age, he continues to pastor Suzukawa Christ Church, and striving to find new ways to advance God’s kingdom in Japan.

The first time I heard Kawasaki-sensei speak was during my first Yamagata Church Network meeting. As a new cross-cultural worker, I was deeply touched by his passion to see Japanese people come to know Jesus and make him their Lord. At that time, I didn’t know Kawasaki-sensei’s age, but I could tell he had been running the race set before him for decades and was still striving to see God’s kingdom advance in this nation.

Kawasaki-sensei was 17 years old when he joined an English Bible class at Higashihara Church in Yamagata, where he first heard about Jesus. Initially, he thought Jesus was just another famous religious figure like Confucius or Buddha. However, as he continued attending the church, he realised his view of Jesus was wrong. The person who led him to Jesus told him, “Jesus loves you so much that He died on the cross for your sins.” Kawasaki-sensei realised that Jesus was not just a famous person but someone who personally loved him.

Jesus loves you so much that He died on the cross for your sins.

Yet, he struggled with the concept of sin. In Japanese, the word for sin, 罪 (tsumi) also means “crime.” When he first heard that Jesus died for his sins, he asked, “What sin did Jesus die for me?” Many Japanese find this difficult to understand because they associate 罪 (tsumi) with criminal wrongdoing rather than with spiritual separation from God. They might say “No, I’m not a criminal!” because they haven’t broken any laws.

Kawasaki-sensei hadn’t yet understood that not knowing God and not obeying Him is a sin.

When his family learned that he had become a Christian, his mother was very opposed; she believed Christians were as dangerous as communists- two things she never wanted her children to become. She was in fact so angry and upset that she went to church and demanded the leaders release her son from church. Being a Christian was not easy for Kawasaki-sensei and he felt his family had given up on him.

However an older Christian friend encouraged to keep going, reminding him that God had called him to live out his new faith at home, among his family, no matter how uncomfortable that would feel. Kawasaki-sensei chose to obey God, embracing a life with Jesus and realising he was sent to be a light to his family. In that moment, he repented and committed to living out his faith at home, where, through the work of the Holy Spirit, his behaviour transformed.

He began helping with chores, like gathering firewood. During those years, there was no gas or water, and it was his household responsibility  to prepare the firewood, a task he hated. But after that conversation with his friend, he started doing his tasks even before his mother asked him. His family noticed, and were very surprised by the transformation, especially his mother and as result, she eventually softened toward his faith in Christ.

One winter, when the church anniversary approached, Kawasaki-sensei invited his family to attend. His mother, to his surprise, agreed to go. He saved his pocket money for a taxi to spare her the long, snowy walk to church. Although she didn’t convert immediately, her heart began to open. It took her seven years to finally believe in Jesus and accept Him as her Lord and Savior. She wrote a testimony, sharing that she started opening her heart to Jesus because of her son’s selflessness. He had used his pocket money for a taxi for them to attend church. She started with strong opposition to Christianity but eventually opened her heart to Jesus and believed in Him.

It took her seven years to finally believe in Jesus and accept Him as her Lord and Savior.

There is so much potential in what Jesus can do in you and through you. Keep following Jesus!

Now, after 70 years of following Jesus,  Kawasaki-sensei testifies that Jesus never left nor forsook him. He encourages everyone to pursue a personal relationship with Jesus daily, take time to know more about Him, and fellowship with Him.

Kawasaki-sensei said, “Being young is a really good thing. As I’m 87 years old, I don’t have much time left, but you still have a long way to go as a young Christian in your relationship with Jesus. There is so much potential in what Jesus can do in you and through you. Keep following Jesus!”