Author: Simon Pleasants
Embrace AI, but don’t jettison language learning
Despite AI promising to overcome the language barrier very soon, there are still reasons to study Japanese
Japan’s greatest area of need
Japan’s ultralow social capital is both a crying need and an opportunity for ministry
Traces of Christianity in Japanese novels
Three recent reads reveal Christian overtones and biblical quotations
Benefits of a having a historical perspective
An appreciation of Japanese history can be valuable for missionaries today
Risk adversity and multicultural teams
How multicultural teams can make the most of the Japanese tendency to avoid risk
Practical ministry in honour–shame cultures
Introducing a helpful book about ministry outside of Western cultures
Listening for echoes of the gospel
Japanese literature and films reverberate with resonances of the gospel
Why is there a gender imbalance?
A survey of missionaries sheds light on reasons for the lack of men in Japanese churches
New technologies for communication and language learning
Technological advances are providing useful tools for getting over the language barrier
Language-learning wisdom from TED Talks
To speak Japanese better, focus on getting your message across and find fun ways to study
More cultural lessons from Masquerade Hotel
Three further cultural points that can be gleaned from this detective novel
A shame-based culture
Issues relating to shame and honour permeate Japanese culture, strongly affecting the way people relate to each other
Using the Japanese Bible devotionally
Incorporating the Japanese Bible into your devotions can be beneficial for both language learning and hearing God speak
Cultural insights through books
When the writer of Ecclesiastes complained that “there is no end to the making of...
Rethinking evangelistic events
Evangelistic events may be more effective if they are held in public places and are based more on building community
Why are Japanese people so honest?
You’re far more likely to recover a lost wallet in Japan than in many other countries
