Japan
Evangelical
Association

Japan Update

Spring 2012 Number 63

The Challenges ofBaby Boomers in Japan

Members of Caleb International Tokyo region in 2009

VisionInsideBaby Boomers in Japan

1

		

4-5

Relief and Mission

2-3

News and Notes

6-7

Nineteen years ago, retired Australian
doctor Lester Jones and his wife cared forme as I recovered from a serious illness.
Through this experience, I realized theimportance of encouraging retired people
to use their gifts for the Lord by helping
people.
In 2006, with the challenge facing Japan of how to deal with the 6.5 million
baby boomers planning to retire from2007 through 2009, I knew it was timeto act upon my vision of founding Caleb
International. Although many Christians
were approaching retirement with a senseof gloom, I wanted to share the message
that retired Christians could bring hope toindividuals, families, and society.
So on December 2, 2006, we held thefirst Caleb International meeting with fivemembers. Five years have passed sincethen, and the importance of this vision

by Goro Ogawa
President,
Caleb International(translated by Tomoko Kato)

has grown. Prime Minister Noda recently
reminded us that not so long ago a seniorcitizen was supported by a large groupof people in the work force. Today, every
three people in the work force must support one senior. Soon one person in thework force will have to carry the full loadof supporting one senior.
Goals
The passion of Caleb, who in faithwanted to achieve God’s will (Joshua
14:10–12), clearly shows the spirit of Caleb International. When as Christians wehear we can expect to live for 30 years
in retirement, we must purpose to use(continued on p. 4)

http://www.jeanet.org/

Reflections on “Relief and Mission”
in View of the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster
By President Masashi Moriya, Sendai Baptist Seminary(translated by Mizue Uchida)
Introduction
About six years ago, our seminary decided to make aparadigm shift in regards to our traditional theologicaleducation and leadership training. Hans Kung in Theology for the Third Millennium: An Ecumenical View
and David J. Bosch in Paradigm Shifts in Theology ofMission (Japanese translation by Shinkyo Publishers)
discuss the paradigm shifts that have taken place inChristian churches up until today and are suggesting
new paradigm shifts for the post-modern world. The
common thread running through both of these works isa rediscovery of the importance of the local church andits ministry.
I was attending a seminar in the U.S. when I encountered a fresh viewpoint along these lines, and it was asif the scales fell from my eyes. I was introduced to thewritings of Bruce Winter, author of Seek the Welfare of
the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens, as wellas other Biblical theologians and scholars who were going back to take a new look at patterns of church life in
the New Testament era.
Ever since that time, my colleagues and I have been
wrestling with the truths found in this Biblical theology
and the building up of churches based upon this theological perspective. That is, we have been grapplingwith how best to go about Christian education and leadership training.
Then we were struck by the 3.11 Great East Japan
Earthquake Disaster. Our theological reflections led us
to focus our attention on the necessity of putting into
practice “Relief and Mission” as a united concept accompanied by a way of life—not relief for the sake ofrelief, or relief as a humanitarian activity, nor even relief for the purpose of mission.
This theological perspective teaches us that the
church should become a community that contributes tothe welfare of “the city” by using the resources, money,
and personnel that have been entrusted to the church. At
the same time, it requires that we seek to understand thecore of God’s plan of salvation and how it strikes at thevery root of how we approach today’s society and the2

use of our abilities, our talents, our material resources,and our human resources.
God’s People as Contributors and Benefactors to theCommunity
When we read Jeremiah 29:4-7, we discover a quite
interesting viewpoint. In this passage, God’s people are
to seek prosperity and live in a place that is neither aplace of peace, nor a utopia. It is a place of paganismwith different standards than that of God’s kingdom,
and it is a foreign land with a different lifestyle that
could hinder their normal way of life. However, God’s
intention was that his people would raise families thatwould last for generations in this land, that they would
work hard by the sweat of their brow to meet their own
needs, and that they would to give to those who needed
help. Furthermore, they were to do this while praying
for God’s blessing on the city.
As we turn our eyes from Jeremiah’s prophecy, we
are led to focus on Daniel’s life. Daniel was taken captive to a foreign country and lived there as one of God’s
people. Surprisingly, Daniel worked for the prosperityof the king of this country whose policies were against
God’s plan and God’s people. Daniel was a sojourner ina faraway land, served the king, lived to the best of hisability where he was placed as a member of God’s people, and died of old age there. In so doing, Daniel madean impact upon the city and the whole country. This isbut one example we can see in Scripture of seeking thewelfare of the city.
Models in the Plan of God’s Salvation
Daniel’s case is not an unusual model found only in
the Old Testament, but clearly is to be applied to thechurch, as reflected in the teachings of the Apostle Peter(1 Peter 2:11–18) and the Apostle Paul (Rom.13:1–4;
Titus 3:1, 14). Along with other teachings, these passages encourage good works and sincere obedience to civil
authorities in a foreign society. Doing good works is alifestyle consistent with the teachings of the gospel, andthis means we should work hard wherever God placesus.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:10–15 Paul gives a warning.

His intention is to wean the busybodies of Thessalonica
away from the welfare syndrome, encouraging them to
use their resources to support themselves and help others, whether or not they are Christians. In other words,
early Christians and churches were conscious of thefact that as individuals, families, and the community of
God they were citizens of “the city” and were to seek
its prosperity and welfare.
From the beginning, the church had an understandingof “Relief and Mission” as inseparable from life, andfollowers of Christ intentionally tried to contribute tosociety.
The Challenge to a Paradigm Shift
When we were struck by the unprecedented disaster of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we could not
sit still. We were driven by an unseen power into thestricken areas to help in any way we could.
In the midst of the continuing recovery efforts, I am
convinced that the paradigm shift we have been grap-

pling with in relation to theological education is indeed“for such time as this.” The church should be involvedin the affairs of society. We must shake off the negative
image that Christians are an isolated group of people
doing their utmost to stay away from the “secular”
world with its lust, corruption, and idol worship. Rather, local churches all over Japan should team together
to seek the prosperity of their regions with all wisdom.
If a network of like-minded churches seeking thewelfare of “the city” were to have an impact upon theirregions, this would eventually have an impact upon theentire society and change it. This is exactly what happened with early churches. The 3.11 Great East Japan
Earthquake Disaster offers us a great opportunity forjust such a church paradigm shift.
However, this paradigm shift does not mean thatthe church needs to start something new. It means thechurch needs to return to what it should be in the firstplace.

JEA Disaster response updates
On March 11, 2012, the one year memorial day for
the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster, we were very
encouraged by the responses from all around the world
to “Prayer Chain for Japan.” The prayer requests are as
follows:(1) That Christ’s love and hope will touch those who are
suffering from the 3.11 Disaster.
(2) That Japanese Christians and churches will continue
to engage in recovery and rebuilding of churches
and people’s lives in the disaster-struck Tohoku area,
especially with the churches in Fukushima that are
struggling with radiation related challenges.
(3) That there will be unity and harmonious collaboration
among existing and new churches to reach out andminister to their local communities with Christ’s love.
(4) That through all these, God’s glory may be revealed
and the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread all across Japan.
The JEA helped organize a regional church network
meeting in Sendai with DRCnet (Disaster Relief Chrisitian Network) in early December. We also hosted the
JEA Missions Symposium in February. As a nationalorganization, the JEA seeks to provide networking opportunities for collaboration and to facilitate theological/

missiological discussion among those who are involved
in relief/mission work in the Tohoku area so as to discern
Lord’s will in this “kairos” moment for this nation.
As the third phase of our support project for disasterstruck churches, JEA is giving financial assistance toward
the rebuilding and repair of the buildings of about 20
churches. (The total amount of third phase assistance isabout 20,000,000 yen, or about US$250,000.)
The JEA is also participating in an initiative to build
disaster response capacities among Japanese churches
by starting the Disaster Response Chaplaincy Training
Program in collaboration with the Salvation Army and
DRCnet.
Please continue to pray for Japan. Send donations to
the JEA Relief Commission through:
The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ[ SWIFT code:BOTKJPJT ]Jinbocho Branch 013-0305243
JEA Relief Commission
Please send an e-mail to adminoffice@jeanet.org
to let us know your name and the amount sent.
check http://www.jeanet.org/ for more updates3

(continued from p. 1)
our gifts, live out our mission, and bring blessing topeople around us. As members of Caleb International,
we have adopted two goals to accomplish these ideals.
1. We will support each other in finding our
dreams, and in accomplishing those dreams.
We will do this through regular meetings, personal
visits, the sharing of our knowledge and experiences,and by exercising our gifts.
2. We will help each other transition from theworkforce into retirement.
We will help each other through various life changes
such as losing our “social titles,” entering the “empty
nest” years, experiencing the loss of a spouse, seeing
our health decline, and moving from being a caregiver
to becoming a care-receiver.

Tokyo region group sharing dreams for after retirement

Scope
Caleb International range in age from people in theirfifties to those in their seventies. Those in their fifties
are preparing for retirement, those in their sixties are
pursuing their unique dreams, and those in their seventies are developing their dreams or trying to pass thebaton to their successors.
Currently, groups are active and meeting on a monthly basis in Tokyo, Utsunomiya, Sendai, and a few other regions. We will be spreading gradually to various
local towns. Men as well as women have been joining
these groups, and some are seekers.

we grow vegetables and flowers. We named it “OpenHouse” and invite anyone to come and share oldsongs, organic vegetable cuisine, and conversation together.”
Yamamoto and his wife have worked to create acommunity filled with love. Neighbors come to gatherings in their home drawn by their loving example.
Through this relationship, neighbors are introduced
to the “letters of Christ” and some even are connected
to local churches. Mr.
Yamamoto has become
a community leader andhas continued to workfor the local people.
We have started to introduce the life stories of someof our members through a newsletter. This has begun
to grow natural networks between members. Recently
we have been receiving inquiries from all over Japanand overseas about Caleb International.
To conclude, I would like to share a comment by
Ryuzou Hoshino, a member since the beginnings ofCaleb International:“For a Christian, entering retirement is like opening atreasure box. It means getting blessings and gifts from
God. We can choose our own direction rather than dowhat we are told. We can achieve our life mission asa Christian by doing what matches our gifts. It is ourprayer that very soon, the blessings of the gospel willbe spread throughout Japan and the world by increasing numbers of retired Christians.”

As our members have pursued their dreams, newspapers and magazines have reported on some of theirunique activities.
Fumio Yamamoto, one such example, shared: “WhenI reached the age of sixty, I wanted to be a giver rather
than a taker. Believing Psalm 92:14: “they will stillbear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green”
to be God’s promise to us, my wife and I purchased
a retirement cottage in Shizuoka Prefecture, where4

Utsunomiya region group talking about
how to deal with deathThe Potential of Baby Boomers in Japan
By Atsuko Tateishi
Assistant Editor, Japan Update
The definition of “baby boomer” varies fromcountry to country. A few different definitions exist
within Japan itself for its baby boomers, or dankai no
sedai—literally, the “lump generation.” The Statistics
Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications of Japan (SB) defines the first waveof baby boomers as those who were born in 1947-49.
This is the most prevalent definition in Japan when
one refers to baby boomers, and I will go along withthis definition in this article.
The 2012 Challenge
According to the Statistics Bureau, as of October
1, 2009, Japan’s baby boomer population totaled
6,644,000. If we add to that number those who wereborn in 1950-51, the total comes to 10,634,000, or
nearly 10% of the national population (see http://www.
stat.go.jp/english/data/jinsui/2009np/index.htm).
During the years leading up to 2007, when baby
boomers were beginning to reach the then common
retirement age of 60, there was much concern
about the potential sudden reduction of the skilled
work force. In response, a number of companies
extended the retirement age, and Japan seems to havesuccessfully overcome the 2007 challenge. Today, we
are facing the 2012 challenge. This year baby boomers
are beginning to turn 65, the current retirement age formany companies and the age of pension eligibility.
At a Loss
Baby boomers were born and raised in a societyof radical changes and great aspirations, when the
country literally was trying to “rise from the ashes.”
During Japan’s period of high economic growth from1954 to 1973, this generation joined the work force
and became a major engine driving the economy.
Most of them worked extremely hard, while enjoying
a comfortable and growing income along with stable
employment. Many have their own houses, with the
housing loan already having been paid off many years
before retirement. They have fairly large bank savings
accounts and expect a relatively lucrative pension.

But some are now at a loss as to what to do with
their lives. Because these baby boomers have worked
toward and achieved goals throughout their career,
many of them need to learn how to relax and simply
enjoy retirement life.
The Potential of Christian Baby Boomers
Christian baby boomers could make a great impact
in churches in Japan. With time on their hands andno financial worries, these retirees are now free todevote their energy to Christian ministries. They are
the perfect leaders for reaching out to non-Christian
baby boomers. They could also mentor and develop
younger Christians.

Age 65
Male

FemaleAge 15Population Pyramid of Japan in 2009(chart by the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications of Japan)

Another idea would be for these baby boomers tolaunch businesses that operate on solid Christian
principles. More and more young people are getting
tired of today’s cutthroat business environment. Quitea few become wounded to such a degree that theylose their effectiveness for years in the full-time workforce. If Christian baby boomers would provide suchindividuals with a safe place for employment, theywould be able to work part-time and start regaining
their self-esteem and financial independence.

5NEWS and NOTES
Bibles Distributed in the Tohoku Heart Language
A total of over 100 people attended Sunday worship on August 21, 2011, at two churches in Ōfunato
City, Iwate Prefecture, to receive a free copy of the
Kesengo Bible and an audio recording of it on CD.
The Kesen dialect is the heart language of the peopleof the southern Sanriku coast, an area razed by theearthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.
The Kesengo Bible contains the four Gospels
written in the Kesen dialect. Harutsugu Yamaura,
a Catholic doctor in Ōfunato, translated this wellregarded version directly from the Greek. The four
Gospels were released separately by local publisher
E-Pix from 2002 to 2004. When the Detroit Japanese
Christian Fellowship in the U.S. learned that the inventory of the Kesengo Bible and its CD recording
had gotten wet but was still usable after the disaster,
they decided to use their relief fund to buy up theinventory and to give the Bible and CD to local survivors.
JEA Missions Forum in Akita
The Missions Commission of the JEA organized
Missions Forum Akita in Senboku City, Akita Prefecture on October 31–November 1, 2011. Under thetheme “Exploring the Deeper Layers of Japan” witha subtheme of “Missions amid New Crises,” the Forum attempted to highlight major ministry issues andperspectives in Akita. The local presenters outlined
the culture and society of Akita, a rural area of heavy
snow along the Japan Sea, and their ministry efforts.
The over 60 attendees also looked at some emerging
initiatives, including diaspora ministry and caring
ministry for disaster survivors. The achievements of
the Forum will help shape plans for the JEA’s Sixth
Japan Congress on Evangelism to be held in 2016.
Financial Support for Suicide Prevention Initiatives
The year 2011 was the fourteenth consecutive year
in which Japan saw more than 30,000 deaths by suicide. Yoichi Fujiyabu, pastor of Shirahama Baptist
Christ Church in Wakayama Prefecture, has been actively involved in suicide prevention since 1999. He
also serves as director of Shirahama Rescue Network(SRN), an NPO for suicide prevention.
In December 2011, SRN launched the Piece Proj-6

ect as a means of financial support for its affiliatedmembers. Project T-shirts have the logo of a jigsaw
puzzle printed on their front, indicating the irreplaceability of each and every piece. The puzzle symbolizes the world, with each piece symbolizing a person. When a suicide prevention organization sells theT-shirts for SRN, it receives a portion of the profit.
When an individual buys the T-shirts directly from
SRN, the profit is used for its suicide prevention efforts. For details and to place an order, go to www.
pieceproject.jp (Japanese only).
Songs of Hope to the Disaster-struck Area
The CD Songs of Hope from Nagasaki: When Sorrow Becomes Joy, which was distributed in Nagasaki
following a series of violent crimes by young offenders, is now being distributed in the disaster-struck
areas of Tohoku.
Kumiko Kuriwada of Sendai, Miyagi, who started
this activity, spoke of how “in the weeks following
the earthquake, Songs of Hope eased my anxiety andsorrow.” Ms. Kuriwada contacted the distributor of
the CD, requesting permission to distribute the CD
to primary and secondary schools in Miyagi Prefecture. Soon after, she started the “Songs of Hope Miyagi Committee,” which distributed CDs to all 690
schools in the area by August 30.
By the end of November, they had received 560
donations amounting to 1,850,000 yen. Following
this, in response to many requests, another 5000 copies were produced and distributed to all 592 schools
in Iwate prefecture by November 25 and all 754
schools in Fukushima by December 18. These CDs
are now being played in primary schools, hospitals,
libraries, and on the radio in these areas.
Nineteenth Japan Gospel Awards presented to Dr.
Shigeaki Hinohara and Rev. Akira Izuta
On November 2, 2011, at Ochanomizu ChristianCenter, Tokyo, the Nihon Fukuin Shinkoukai (Japan
Gospel Promotion Committee) presented the nineteenth Japan Gospel Awards to Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, Board Chair and Honorary Director, St. Luke’s
International Hospital, and Rev. Akira Izuta, Chair,Japan King’s Garden Association.
Dr. Hinohara founded the Life Planning Center andstarted the New Elderly Movement, which has pro-

NEWS and NOTES
vided hope for the elderly. In addition to his contributions to the field of medicine, he has written many
books, including Gendaiigaku to Shukyo (Modern
Medicine and Religion) and Ai to Yurushi (Love andForgiveness).
Rev. Izuta was selected for this honor because of
his dedication to mission. Along with his service as
pastor of Nerima Baptist Church and Chair of the Japan Baptist Church Association, he has worked hardto unite and develop Japanese evangelists throughthe Nihon Purotesutanto Seisho Shinko Domei (Japan
Protestant Conference) and the Nihon Fukuin Shugi
Shingakkai (Japan Evangelical Theological Society).
He also has served as Chair of the Japan Evangelical
Association. He has dedicated himself to serving theelderly and people with disabilities through Hosanna
Shop, a workshop for the mentally disabled, Hosanna Home, a group home for the elderly, and Japan
King’s Garden, a permanent residential home for theelderly.

engaging in relief work and reconstruction support
in the disaster areas. Many of these reports proposeda need for a paradigm shift in the concept of mission
in Japan.
The agenda for the Symposium has been proposedby Masashi Moriya of the Disaster Reconstruction
Assistance SBS Network, Eiji Sumiyoshi, the vicechairman of the Christian Liaison Committee ofFukushima, and Yoshiya Kondo, coordinator of the
3/11 Iwate Church Network.
Sumiyoshi, speaking from his experience in postdisaster Fukushima, proposes that “the key word of
mission is coexistence” noting that God’s Word andbread (food) must become one. Kondo, in regards
to the “Theory of Mission in Iwate” suggests a shift
from “relief for the sake of mission,” to “person toperson.” Quoting Hisashi Ariga, he suggests it isimportant to shift the question from “How can we
effectively convey teaching?” to “How can we live
and serve in the community as Christians?”“An Endless Dream” Becomes the Theme Song ofConsadole Sapporo“An Endless Dream,” a song composed by Nightde Light, a Christian band based in Sapporo, was selected as the official theme song of Consadole Sapporo, the city’s professional J.League soccer club.
Night de Light was formed in 2006. They havereleased two CDs (It’s OK / Home), and as well as
performing in Sapporo have been actively touring inother areas of Japan. In February they gave their first
live performance in Tokyo.
The official homepage of Night de Light is: http://night-de-light.com/index.html

Obituaries
HATSUMI, Rev. Shiro, Pastor Emeritus, Utsunomiya Church (Brotherhood of Christ)
Rev. Shiro Hatsumi participated in the founding ofBrotherhood of Christ Church and served as principal for the Brotherhood of Christ Church Bible Institute. He passed away at Shinai-en, a home for theelderly, on August 18, 2011, in Sapporo at the age of104. Hatsumi was one of the survivors of the persecution of Holiness Churches during World War II.

From “Relief for Mission” to “Welfare of the Local
Community”
As relief work and reconstruction after the Great
East Japan Earthquake continues, voices regarding future mission possibilities are increasing. In
response to this, the Japan Evangelical Association(JEA) mission commission held an urgent Mission
Symposium at Ochanomizu Christian Center, Tokyo
on February 6.
Mission representatives from member denominations and agencies joined to debate issues that hadarisen from talks and reports from church officials

HAGA, Rev. Tadashi, Associate Pastor, Koganei
Church (Tokyo Free Methodist)Rev. Tadashi Haga, who served as Chair of OMF
Japan Committee and Chair of JEA Relief Commission, passed away on October 2, 2011 due to cardiac
insufficiency caused by pneumonia. He was 80.
Haga was born in Akita. In his high school days, theGI Gospel Hour (provided by GHQ after World War II)
guided Haga to faith. Then he met and followed a zealous missionary named Eva B. Milican. When his prayer
with Milican cured his tubercolosis, Haga was struck by
the words of John 12:24, and dedicated himself to theLord. He contributed to the laying of the foundation ofTokyo Free Methodist Church together with Milican.
Haga received the Japan Gospel Award in 2009.

7

Please Pray for Japan

Japan Update

1. That the Holy Spirit would to continue to work through Japanese churches to minister to those who are suffering from theGreat East Japan Earthquake Disaster, especially in Fukushima,
where people face radiation related challenges.

Spring 2012 - Number 63

2. That Christians of the baby boomer generation would rise up
and witness their Christian faith to friends and colleagues.

Newsletter of theJapan Evangelical Association (JEA)

3. That God would use the JEA Congress on Youth Evangelism
in September to encourage and equip young leaders so that His
Kingdom will be advanced among younger generations.

Chairman :Nohsei Ando
General Secretary : Kenichi Shinagawa

4. That Japanese churches would stand alongside other Asian
churches for a greater impact of Christ’s love in Asia.

JEA Schedule
DATE		

EVENT

PLACE

June 4-6

JEA General Assembly

Kakegawa

June 25-27
JEA Women’s Retreat				Inawashiro(Fukushima)

Sept. 17-19
			

JEA Congress on YouthEvangelism

Tokyo

Oct. 29-30

JEA Missions Forum

Sendai

Editorial
My first day as general secretary of the JEA started
in Sendai delivering relief supplies to survivors of theGreat East Japan Earthquake Disaster. I had no idea
what to do in the midst of such tremendous devastation. But as I look back, I can clearly see that the Lord has been there
all the time, touching people with His love and carrying burdens withus. I also really appreciate the prayers and support from the global
Christian community. We are so encouraged by your prayers!
Japanese society is certainly coming to a turning point in its history.
The demographic change within (the baby boomer issue in this newsletter is one of them) and the shifting trends in the global economy
are forcing the status quo to change. Yet no one is able to see clearly
into the future. The true hope and the meaning of life in Jesus Christ isneeded here more than ever. Please continue to pray for Japan!
Kenichi Shinagawa (Editor in Chief)

http://www.jeanet.org/

Japan Update is pub­lished biannuallyby the JEA. Through Japan Update, the
JEA seeks to dis­s e­m inate in­f or­m a­t ion
about the Japanese church in order tosti­mu­late Chris­tians around the world topray and work together for the advancement of God’s kingdom in Japan. Views
expressed by in­di­vi­dual auth­ors do notneces­sarily reflect offi­cial JEA posi­tions.
Japanese names appear in Wes­tern order (sur­name last).
Per­m is­s ion to reprint is gran­t ed, butplease give cre­dit and send one copy of
any pub­l i­c a­t ion con­t ain­i ng reprin­t ed
material to the edi­tor.
Japan Update Staff
Editor in Chief
Kenichi Shinagawa
Asst. Editor
Atsuko Tateishi
Managing Editor
Mizue UchidaTranslation Editor
Gary Bauman
Translation Staff
Tomoko Kato		
Timothy Williams
Editorial Office:c/o JEA, OCC Building
2-1 Kanda Surugadai
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
Telephone 03-3295-1765
Fax
03-3295-1933
E-mailadminoffice@jeanet.org
Website http://www.jeanet.org/
Subscription:
If you desire to subscribe to Japan Update in digital format (PDF), please send
the request by e-mail to adminoffice@jeanet.org.
Contacting JEA:
Organizations desiring to initiate contact with JEA should address correspondence in care of JEA (postal address ande-mail address are indicated above) to
Kenichi Shinagawa, General Secretary.