Creative ways to pray for every person and people group in Japan.
Japan is one of the largest unevangelized nations on earth. Less than 1% of the population follows Jesus, and the percentage of Evangelical Christians is estimated at only 0.5% (Joshua Project, 2025). Of the 127 people groups in Japan, over 98% are still unreached with the Gospel (Joshua Project, 2025). But the Spirit of God is stirring—and prayer is a key that unlocks Kingdom movement.
This page exists to spark creative, bold, and Spirit-led prayer for the people of Japan.
1. Pray for Every People Group in Japan
You can start praying right now using Joshua Project’s printable prayer cards for each of Japan’s people groups:
- Explore Japan’s 17 Indigenous Unreached People Groups
- Download Joshua Project’s Prayer Cards for Japan’s Unreached People Groups
Share this page with your church, small group, or missions team. Try adopting a different people group to pray for each week.
2. Pray With a Missions-Minded Perspective
Before every movement of God comes a movement of prayer. We long to see movements of reproducing disciples and multiplying churches spread across the Japanese people group and all the unreached world. But these movements begin when God’s people intercede with spiritual clarity, Kingdom vision, and bold faith.
- Pray that the Japanese people would begin to hunger for spiritual truth—not out of obligation or tradition, but out of a fresh, Spirit-ignited longing to know the Most High. Ask God to remove the widespread indifference toward spiritual beliefs and awaken a deep desire for solid spiritual understanding.
- Pray that idols—especially the pursuit of wealth, status, and approval of others—would lose their power over hearts and minds. Ask that these false sources of identity be replaced with true, fulfilling relationships with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
- Lift up the relational fabric of Japan: Pray that the Gospel would spread not just person-to-person, but household-to-household, as entire families come to know and follow Jesus together. Pray for disciple makers to engage natural social and family networks, sparking discovery-based Bible engagement that leads to obedience and multiplication.
- Pray for movements of God’s Spirit to ignite across Japan—where disciples make disciples, and simple, Spirit-led churches multiply rapidly and organically, transforming entire neighborhoods and prefectures for His glory.
- Don’t forget the Japanese diaspora: Pray that Japanese living abroad would encounter Jesus through relationships, communities, or Scripture, and return to Japan with a passion to multiply disciples among their own people.
- Above all, pray that leaders will rise up from within Japan who are bold, obedient, and committed to helping others follow Jesus. Ask that they would be trained to coach new believers, facilitate Discovery Bible Studies, and start new multiplying gatherings across Japan.
3. Pray in Response to Crisis
Japan is no stranger to disaster—earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, floods, and landslides regularly affect entire regions. Each crisis is an opportunity for God’s people to serve, listen, and love well.
Pray these specific things during times of disaster:
- That followers of Jesus would be the first to respond, showing compassion and practical help.
- That brokenness would open hearts to spiritual truth.
- That entire communities would experience healing and transformation through the Gospel.
- That disciple makers would be protected and empowered to continue multiplying even amid disruption.
4. Pray Through Everyday Culture
God invites us to pray “at all times with all kinds of prayers” (Ephesians 6:18). That includes using culture, habits, and even holidays as prayer prompts.
Here are some creative ways to turn everyday life in Japan into fuel for intercession:
- When you see a bento box or convenience store meal…
- Pray for the busy worker eating alone. Ask God to send someone into their life with hope.
- When you see Mt. Fuji or travel photos of Japan…
- Pray that spiritual strongholds will be torn down and God’s glory will be seen in every region.
- When you see children’s toys or Japanese koinobori (carp flags)…
- Pray that the next generation in Japan would grow up with access to the Bible, godly mentors, and spiritual freedom.
- When you pass a shrine photo or hear temple bells in a video…
- Pray that entire households would turn from idols and experience the presence of the one true God.
5. Prayer for the Church in Japan
The Church in Japan is small but faithful. The average congregation is aging, and many pastors carry heavy burdens. Yet in recent years, a new generation is rising. We are praying for Japanese believers who are eager to multiply disciples and live out simple obedience to Jesus. Pray for:
- Strength for tired pastors and encouragement for faithful Christians.
- Wisdom for churches to embrace new models that prioritize obedience, not attendance.
- Boldness for believers to gather new seekers in homes, cafes, parks, and gyms.
- Multiplying disciples and Discovery Bible Studies that lead to movements in every prefecture.
- A fresh wind of revival—starting not in platforms but in prayer closets.
Keep This Going
Don’t let this just be a one-time inspiration. Choose one of these ways to keep your heart aligned with God’s purposes for Japan:
- Subscribe to regular updates and prayer prompts
- Share this page with your church, youth group, or DMM team
- Adopt one of Japan’s unreached people group to pray for weekly
- Host a prayer night focused on praying for Japan
- Ask God to show you your next step—pray, give, go, or train others
JAPANESE PRAYER RESOURCES
Operation Japan Prayer
Join the Operation Japan Facebook group to see daily prayer requests for the Japanese people. Pray as you learn about different regions, cities & villages, and churches & ministries all across the nation.
