It's great to hear that you have a Japanese friend and you would like to share the gospel with them!  

Japan and the Japanese are among the least-reached peoples in the world with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Thank you so much for wanting to share the gospel with your friend, you are probably the only person he/she has met who is a Christian.  

Remember to share the basics...

Most Japanese will know very little about the gospel, who Jesus is and why he came.  It's worth making sure that you cover the basics before looking to share the good news, for instance:  

• Jesus is a real, historical person - not a mythical figure, a real person!
• He was born into first century Palestine and met and spoke to many during his ministry.
• Many such interactions are reliably recorded in the gospels by eyewitnesses.
• He was crucified, died and was buried, confirmed dead by professional Roman soldiers.
• He rose from the dead after three days and was seen by his disciples and many people, who confirmed that he was physically resurrected.

Don't be surprised at different opinions / world views

Your Japanese friend is likely to have a different view from yours about sin.  In Japan, sin (usually translated 罪 - tsumi) is associated with criminals and antisocial elements (e.g. Japanese gangsters, yakuza).  Most ordinary people will not consider themselves or their friends or family to be sinners.  

Also, your Japanese friend may have a different idea of God.  In contrast with the Christian view of God, as set out in the Bible, most Japanese will think of multiple gods (神 - kami) associated with objects, places, shrines, temples, etc.  They will probably not have come across the concept of one creator and sustainer, the true God of heaven and earth who made everything and who sustains the universe.  

Pace yourself and build a relationship

You can probably see that all these differences taken together can lead to some confusion in people's minds if someone attempts to explain the gospel quickly and using Christian jargon.  Our recommendation is to pace yourself and try to cover the basic concepts needed to understand the gospel over a number of meetings (time permitting).  Japanese culture places a high premium on harmony and agreement.  You are likely to find that your friend will make strong efforts to agree (or appear to agree!) with what you are explaining.  If you have taken time to build a relationship that usually makes it easier to have a more informed and fruitful discussion.  

Do please contact us if you need more input or if you would like a recommendation about helpful literature.  Feel free also to browse our online store.